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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

 

February 16, 2023

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

Nubia Brand International Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   001-41323   87-1993879
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

13355 Noel Rd, Suite 1100

Dallas, TX

  75240
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 918-5120

 

N/A

(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

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol   Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Common Stock and one-half of one Redeemable Warrant   NUBIU   The Nasdaq Capital Market LLC
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   NUBI   The Nasdaq Capital Market LLC
Redeemable Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50   NUBIW   The Nasdaq Capital Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

Emerging growth company

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The Merger Agreement

 

On February 16, 2023, Nubia Brand International Corp. (the “Registrant” or the “Nubia”) entered into a Merger Agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company” or “Honeycomb”) ), the Registrant, and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) with the Company as the surviving corporation of the Merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nubia. In connection with the Merger, Nubia will change its name to “Honeycomb Battery Company” or such other name designated by the Company by notice to Nubia, which is referred to herein as the “Combined Company.” The board of directors of Nubia (the “Nubia Board”) has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby (collectively, the “Transactions”) and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement and related matters by the stockholders of the Registrant. The description of the Merger Agreement in this Current Report on Form 8-K is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Merger Consideration

 

The Merger Agreement provides for Nubia to issue to the Honeycomb shareholders aggregate consideration of 70,000,000 shares of the Combined Company’s common stock (the “Closing Merger Consideration Shares”) at the effective time of the Merger Agreement (the “Effective Time”), plus up to an additional 22,500,000 shares of the Combined Company’s common stock (the “Earnout Shares”) upon the occurrence of the following events (or earlier upon a change of control of Nubia but subject to (and only to the extent that) the valuation of Nubia common stock implied by such change of control transaction meeting the respective VWAP (as defined below) thresholds set forth below):

 

(i) 5,000,000 Earnout Shares if, over any ten (10) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is thirty (30) days following the closing date of the Transactions (the “Closing Date”) until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement);

 

(ii) 7,500,000 Earnout Shares if, over any ten (10) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until the date that is forty-two (42) months following the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement); and

 

(iii) 10,000,000 Earnout Shares if over any ten (10) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, the VWAP of the shares of Nubia’s Class A common stock is greater than or equal to $25.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement).

 

For purposes of the foregoing,  “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date(s), the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average) or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. If the VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date(s) on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date(s) shall be the fair market value per share on such date(s) as reasonably determined by Nubia.

 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of Honeycomb’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive its allocable portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and the Earnout Shares, if any.

 

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Representations and Warranties

 

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties thereto with respect to, among other things, (i) entity organization, good standing and qualification, (ii) capital structure, (iii) authorization to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iv) compliance with laws and permits, (v) taxes, (vi) financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, (vii) real and personal property, (viii) material contracts, (ix) environmental matters, (x) absence of changes, (xi) employee matters, (xii) litigation, and (xiii) brokers and finders.

 

Covenants

 

Conduct of Business Pending the Business Combination

 

Each of Honeycomb and Nubia have agreed that, except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the other agreements related thereto (the “Additional Agreements”), as required by law, or as consented to in writing by the other (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, or delayed), from the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, each party must:

 

(i)conduct its business only in the ordinary course (including the payment of accounts payable and the collection of accounts receivable), consistent with past practices,

 

(ii)duly and timely file all tax returns required to be filed (or obtain a permitted extension with respect thereto) and pay any and all taxes due and payable during such time period,

 

(iii)duly observe and comply with all applicable laws, and

 

(iv)use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact in all material respects its business organization, assets, permits (with respect to Honeycomb only), properties, and material business relationships with employees, clients, suppliers, contract manufacturing organizations, contract research organizations and other third parties.

 

In addition, except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Additional Agreements, as required by applicable law, or as previously disclosed, from the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, without the other’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), neither Honeycomb nor Nubia shall, or permit its subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

(i)amend, modify, or supplement its governing documents;

 

(ii)amend, waive any provision of, terminate prior to its scheduled expiration date, or otherwise compromise in any way or relinquish any material right under any material contract;

 

(iii)other than in the ordinary course of business, modify, amend, or enter into any contract, agreement, lease, license, or commitment, including for capital expenditures, that extends for a term of one year or more or obligates the payment by Honeycomb or Nubia, as applicable, of more than $200,000 (individually or in the aggregate);

 

(iv)make any capital expenditures in excess of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate);

 

(v)sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its material assets, except pursuant to existing contracts or commitments disclosed in the Merger Agreement or in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vi)solely in the case of Honeycomb, sell, exclusively license, abandon, permit to lapse, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any intellectual property owned by Honeycomb;

 

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(vii)solely in the case of Honeycomb, permit any material registered owned intellectual property to go abandoned or expire for failure to make an annuity or maintenance fee payment, or file any necessary paper or action to maintain such rights;

 

(viii)(A) pay, declare, or set aside any dividends, distributions or other amounts with respect to its capital stock or other equity securities; (B) pay, declare or promise to pay any other amount to any stockholder or other equity holder in its capacity as such; or (C) amend any term, right or obligation with respect to any outstanding shares of its capital stock or other equity securities;

 

(ix)(A) make any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or guarantee for the benefit of, any person or entity; (B) incur any indebtedness including drawings under the lines of credit, if any, other than (1) loans evidenced by promissory notes made by Nubia as working capital advances and (2) intercompany indebtedness; or (C) repay or satisfy any indebtedness, other than the repayment of indebtedness in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(x)suffer or incur any lien, except for permitted liens, on its assets;

 

(xi)delay, accelerate or cancel, or waive any material right with respect to, any receivables or Indebtedness owed to it, or write off or make reserves against the same (other than, in the case of Honeycomb, in the ordinary course of business);

 

(xii)merge or consolidate or enter a similar transaction with, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or business of, any other person or entity, make any material investment in any person or entity, or be acquired by any other person;

 

(xiii)terminate or allow to lapse any insurance policy protecting any of Honeycomb’s, its subsidiaries’, or Nubia’s, as applicable, assets, unless simultaneously with such termination or lapse, a replacement policy underwritten by an insurance company of nationally recognized standing having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the terminated or lapsed policy for substantially similar premiums or less is in full force and effect;

 

(xiv)adopt any severance, retention, or other employee benefit plan or fail to continue to make timely contributions to each such plan in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(xv)institute, settle or agree to settle any legal action, litigation, suit, claim, hearing, proceeding or investigation before any governmental authority in excess of $250,000 (exclusive of any amounts covered by insurance) or that imposes injunctive or other non-monetary relief on such party;

 

(xvi)except as required by GAAP, make any material change in its accounting principles, methods or practices or write down the value of its assets;

 

(xvii)change its principal place of business or jurisdiction of organization;

 

(xviii)issue, redeem or repurchase any capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any shares of its capital stock or other securities, other than any redemption by Nubia of shares of common stock held by its public stockholders as contemplated under the Merger Agreement;

 

(xix)(A) make, change, or revoke any material tax election; (B) change any method of accounting other than as required under GAAP or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules or requirements; (C) settle or compromise any material claim, notice, audit report or assessment in respect of taxes; (D) enter into any tax allocation, tax sharing, tax indemnity or other closing agreement relating to any taxes; or (E) surrender or forfeit any right to claim a tax refund;

 

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(xx)enter into any transaction with or distribute or advance any material assets or property to any of its affiliates, other than the payment of salary and benefits in the ordinary course;

 

(xxi)solely in the case of Honeycomb, other than as required by any employee benefit or compensation plans, policies, programs, arrangements or payroll practices (each, a “Plan”), (A) increase or change the compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider, (B) accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider, (C) enter into, amend or terminate any Plan (or any plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a Plan if in effect on the date hereof) or grant, amend or terminate any awards thereunder, (D) fund any payments or benefits that are payable or to be provided under any Plan, (E) make any loan to any present or former employee or other individual service provider, other than advancement of expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, or (F) enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union or labor organization;

 

  (xxii) fail to duly observe and conform to any applicable laws and orders;

 

(xxiii)authorize, recommend, propose, or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization, or similar transaction involving it or any subsidiary; or

 

(xxiv)enter into any agreement or otherwise agree or commit to take, or cause to be taken, any of the foregoing.

 

Other Covenants of the Parties

 

The Merger Agreement contains certain additional covenants of Nubia and Honeycomb, including covenants regarding:

 

(i)providing the other with reasonable access to its properties and books and records;

 

(ii)notifying the other of any occurrence of any fact or circumstance that constitutes or results, or would reasonably be expected to constitute or result, in a material adverse effect with respect to such party;

 

(iii)notifying the other of any legal action, litigation, suit, claim, hearing, proceeding or investigation before any governmental authority relating to, involving, or otherwise affecting it, its stockholders, or their equity, assets, or business, or that relate to the consummation of the Transactions, or any notice or other communication from any governmental authority in connection with the Transactions;

 

  (iv) cooperating in the preparation of this proxy statement and in all other public announcements and filings;

 

(v)Honeycomb’s delivery to Nubia of financial statements and other financial information;

 

(vi)Nubia maintaining the director and officer indemnity provisions of Honeycomb for six years following closing;

 

(vii)Nubia ensuring that it remains listed as a public company on, and that its securities are listed and tradable over, Nasdaq through the Closing Date;

 

(viii)that Nubia use its reasonable best efforts to cause its initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions to be approved;

 

(ix)Nubia calling and hold a meeting of its stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Business Combination and the other matters presented to Nubia’s stockholder for approval or adoption at the Nubia Special Meeting; and

 

(x)Honeycomb obtaining the written consent of the requisite voting power of its stockholders approving the Merger Agreement.

 

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Non-Solicitation Restrictions

 

Nubia and Honeycomb have each agreed that, from the date of the Merger Agreement to the Closing Date, it will not take, nor will it permit any of its representatives to, encourage or initiate any negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, any party in connection with a business combination other than with the other or take any other action intended or designed to facilitate the efforts to do so. Each of Nubia and Honeycomb has also agreed to be responsible for any acts or omissions of any of its respective representatives that, if they were the acts or omissions of the Nubia or Honeycomb, as applicable, would be deemed a breach of the party’s obligations with respect to these non-solicitation restrictions.

 

Conditions to Closing

 

The consummation of the Transactions is conditioned upon customary closing conditions including:

 

(i)no governmental authority having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order that is then in effect that makes the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Transactions;

 

(ii)no legal action having been commenced or asserted in writing (and not orally) by any governmental authority to enjoin or otherwise materially restrict the consummation of the Closing;

 

(iii)the approval of the Merger Agreement by the requisite vote of the stockholders of Honeycomb;

 

(iv)each of the proposals being considered at the Nubia Special Meeting having been approved by Nubia’s stockholders;

 

(v)the Combined Company’s initial listing application filed with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions having been approved;

 

(vi)the proxy statement having been cleared by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

(vii)each party to the Merger Agreement having performed or complied with the provisions of the Merger Agreement applicable to it, subject to agreed-upon standards;

 

(viii)the truth and accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties included in the Merger Agreement, subject to agreed-upon standards;

 

(ix)the absence of any material adverse effect with respect to a party to the Merger Agreement;

 

(x)the receipt by each of Nubia and Honeycomb of a certificate, dated as of the Closing, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the other, certifying the compliance with various closing conditions;

 

(xi)the execution by the relevant party or parties of the Additional Agreements;

  

(xii)Honeycomb having provided all required third party consents;

 

(xiii)the requisite stockholders of Honeycomb having entered into a Company Lock-Up Agreement (as defined below) with respect to such holder’s shares of the Combined Company’s common stock;

 

(xiv)the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Combined Company having been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and become effective;

 

(xv)Honeycomb and Nubia will have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, from the Secretary of the other certifying certain matters;

 

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(xvi)each requisite party, as applicable, will have executed and delivered to the other party a copy of each Additional Agreement to which they are a party;

 

(xvii)the receipt by Honeycomb of the resignations of Nubia’s directors;

 

(xviii)the shareholders of Honeycomb shall satisfy the “control” requirements of Section 368(c) of the Code in connection with the Merger; and

 

(xix)the post-Effective Time Combined Company’s board of directors and the Honeycomb board of directors being in compliance with the size and composition requirements of the Merger Agreement.

 

Termination

 

The Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain customary and limited circumstances at any time prior to the Closing, including, without limitation:

 

  (i) by the mutual written consent of the parties;

 

(ii)by either Nubia or Honeycomb if the Closing does not occur on or prior to September 15, 2023 (the “Outside Termination Date”), unless the breach of any covenants or obligations under the Merger Agreement by the party seeking to terminate (or, in the case of Nubia, by Merger Sub) proximately caused the failure to consummate the Transactions by the applicable date;

 

(iii)by either Nubia or Honeycomb if any governmental authority shall have issued an order, enacted a law, or taken any other action that has the effect of making the Transactions illegal or permanently restraining, enjoining, or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions and such law, order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable, unless the failure by such party or its affiliates to comply with any provision of the Merger Agreement was a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such governmental authority;

 

(iv)by Nubia, subject to certain exceptions, if Honeycomb has breached any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements in the Merger Agreement and such breach cannot be cured at all or within the earlier of (A) 30 days after written notice thereof and (B) the Outside Termination Date;

 

(v)by Nubia, subject to certain exceptions, if Honeycomb does not receive the required stockholder approval of the Merger Agreement within five business days after the date when the proxy statement is cleared by the SEC; and

 

(vi)by Honeycomb, subject to certain exceptions, if Nubia or Merger Sub has breached any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements in the Merger Agreement and such breach cannot be cured at all or within the earlier of (A) 30 days after written notice thereof and (B) the Outside Termination Date.

 

If the Merger Agreement is validly terminated, none of the parties to the Merger Agreement will have any liability or any further obligation under the Merger Agreement other than customary confidentiality obligations, except in the case of a willful breach of any covenant or agreement under the Merger Agreement or fraud.

 

Certain Related Agreements

 

Contribution Agreement

 

Honeycomb and Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the parent of Honeycomb (“G3”), will enter into the Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, G3 will contribute and transfer all its right, title and interest in, to and under certain assets and Honeycomb will assume certain liabilities as more specifically set forth thereunder. The parties intend that such contribution will qualify as a transaction described in Section 351(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The foregoing description of the Contribution Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Contribution Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Supply and License Agreement

 

Honeycomb and G3 will enter into the Supply and License Agreement (the “Supply and License Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, G3 will sell to Honeycomb certain graphene and graphite products and license certain intellectual property to Honeycomb as more specifically set forth thereunder. The foregoing description of the Supply and License Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Supply and License Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Shared Services Agreement   

 

Honeycomb and G3 will enter into the Shared Services Agreement (the “Shared Services Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, G3 will continue to provide Honeycomb with certain operational and other support services, including assigning certain employees to work for Honeycomb to provide support to Honeycomb’s operations and sending its employees to Honeycomb on a short-term basis to provide support, and sharing the use of certain equipment, administrative office space, production space, laboratory space and loading space. In exchange for receipt of such services and uses, the Shared Services Agreement contemplates that the parties will pay fees to each other as more specifically set forth thereunder. The foregoing description of the Shared Services Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Shared Services Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Company Support Agreement

 

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, G3 and Honeycomb entered into the Company Support Agreement (the “Company Support Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, each of G3 and certain requisite G3 securityholders have agreed to vote in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement, approval of the business combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The foregoing description of the Company Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Company Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Parent Support Agreement

 

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Mach FM Acquisitions LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Honeycomb and Nubia entered into the Parent Support Agreement (the “Parent Support Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed (i) to vote the shares of Nubia common stock held by them in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder, (ii) to not transfer, during the term of the Parent Support Agreement, any Nubia common stock owned by them, and (iii) to not transfer any Nubia common stock held by them in accordance with the lock-up provisions set forth in Nubia’s final prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2021. The foregoing description of the Parent Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Parent Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Company Lock-Up Agreement

 

Honeycomb and G3 will enter into the Company Lock-Up Agreement (the “Company Lock-Up Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, G3 will agree to the restriction of the sale, transfer or other disposition of certain of the shares it will received at the Closing in connection with the business combination, subject to certain exceptions. The foregoing description of the Company Lock-Up Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Company Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Merger Agreement and other agreements described above have been included to provide investors with information regarding their respective terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Registrant or the Company or the other parties thereto. In particular, the assertions embodied in the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement were made as of a specified date, are modified or qualified by information in one or more confidential disclosure letters prepared in connection with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, may be subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from what might be viewed as material to investors, or may have been used for the purpose of allocating risk between the parties. Accordingly, the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement are not necessarily characterizations of the actual state of facts about the Registrant, the Company or the other parties thereto at the time they were made or otherwise and should only be read in conjunction with the other information that the Registrant makes publicly available in reports, statements and other documents filed with the SEC. The Registrant’s and the Company’s investors and securityholders are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement.

 

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Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On February 16, 2023, the Registrant and the Company issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1, attached hereto will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor will it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed Transactions between Nubia and Honeycomb. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “think,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “seeks,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.

 

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on 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 factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Transactions, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the Combined Company or the expected benefits of the proposed Transactions or that the approval of the shareholders of Nubia or Honeycomb is not obtained; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Honeycomb or Nubia following announcement of the proposed Transactions; (iv) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transactions; (v) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Honeycomb; (vi) risks related to the performance of Honeycomb’s batteries; (vii) the extent to which original equipment manufacturers may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies; (viii) risks related to the safety of Honeycomb’s high-capacity anode and high-energy solid-state battery technology, for which only preliminary safety testing has occurred and for which additional and extensive safety testing will need to occur prior to being installed in electric vehicles; (ix) risks related to any substantial increases in the prices for Honeycomb’s raw materials and components, some of which are obtained from a limited number of sources where demand may exceed supply; (x) consumers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles; (xi) risks related to Honeycomb being an early-stage company with a history of financial losses that expects to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; (xii) the possibility that Honeycomb may require additional capital to support business growth, and that this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all; (xiii) Honeycomb’s heavy reliance on owned intellectual property, which includes patent rights, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, and know-how, and its ability to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights; (xiv) risks related to the intentional disruption, security breaches and other security incidents, or alleged violations of laws, regulations, or other obligations relating to data handling of Honeycomb’s technology and its website, systems, and data it maintains; (xv) the amount of redemption requests made by Nubia’s public stockholders; (xvi) the ability of Nubia or the Combined Company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transactions or in the future; (xvii) the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xviii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Honeycomb, Nubia, the Combined Company’s projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics, or on any of the foregoing risks; and (xix) those factors discussed in Nubia’s filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Transactions.

 

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the “Risk Factors” section of the preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement, and other documents to be filed by Nubia from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Nubia and Honeycomb may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither of Nubia or Honeycomb gives any assurance that Nubia or Honeycomb, or the Combined Company, will achieve its expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Nubia’s or Honeycomb’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

 

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Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

 

This document relates to a proposed transaction between the Registrant and the Company. This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor will there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Registrant intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement (that includes a preliminary proxy statement, and when available, a definitive proxy statement). Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, the Registrant will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Special Meeting relating to the transaction. The Registrant also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting decision, investors and security holders of the Registrant are urged to read the proxy statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The definitive proxy statement, the preliminary proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the transaction (when they become available), and any other documents filed by the Registrant with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

Nubia and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Nubia’s stockholders with respect to the business combination. Information about Nubia’s directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Nubia will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction and be available at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction when available.

 

The Company and its directors and executive officers also may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Nubia in connection with the proposed business combination. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction.

 

No Offer or Solicitation 

 

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

  

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1*   Merger Agreement, dated February 16, 2023, by and among Nubia Brand International Corp., Honeycomb Battery Company, and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc.
     
10.1   Form of Contribution Agreement
     
10.2   Form of Supply and License Agreement
     
10.3   Form of Shared Services Agreement
     
10.4   Company Support Agreement, dated February 16, 2023, by and between Global Graphene Group, Inc. and Honeycomb Battery Company.
     
10.5   Parent Support Agreement, dated February 16, 2023, by and between Mach FM Acquisitions LLC, Honeycomb Battery Company and Nubia Brand International Corp.
     
10.6   Company Lock-Up Agreement, dated February 16, 2023, by and between Global Graphene Group, Inc. and Honeycomb Battery Company
     
99.1   Press Release dated February 16, 2023
     
104   Cover page interactive data file (inbeddded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*Certain of 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 a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated February 17, 2023  
   
NUBIA BRAND INTERNATIONAL CORP.  
   
By: /s/ Jaymes Winters  
Name: Jaymes Winters  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

 

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Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERGER AGREEMENT

 

dated February 15, 2023

by and among

Honeycomb Battery Company, as the Company,

Nubia Brand International Corp., as Parent, and

Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., as Merger Sub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

    Page
     
Article I DEFINITIONS 3
1.1 Definitions 3
1.2 Construction 17
Article II MERGER 18
2.1 Merger 18
2.2 Merger Effective Time 18
2.3 Effect of the Merger 19
2.4 U.S. Tax Treatment 19
2.5 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws 19
2.6 Closing 20
2.7 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation 20
2.8 Directors and Officers of Parent 20
2.9 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action 20
2.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock 21
Article III EFFECT OF THE MERGER 21
3.1 Effect of the Merger on Parent Class B Common Stock 21
3.2 Effect of the Merger on Company Common Stock 21
3.3 Surrender and Payment 22
3.4 Earnout 22
3.5 Holdback Shares 24
3.6 No Fractional Shares 24
3.7 No Withholding 24
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY 25
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power 25
4.2 Authorization 25
4.3 Governmental Authorization 26
4.4 Non-Contravention 26
4.5 Capitalization 27
4.6 Corporate Records 27
4.7 Subsidiaries 28
4.8 Consents 28
4.9 Financial Statements 28
4.10 Internal Accounting Controls 29
4.11 Absence of Certain Changes 29
4.12 Properties; Title to the Company’s Assets 29
4.13 Litigation 29
4.14 Contracts 30
4.15 Licenses and Permits 32
4.16 Compliance with Laws 32

 

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4.17 Intellectual Property 33
4.18 Accounts Payable; Affiliate Loans 37
4.19 Employees; Employment Matters 37
4.20 Withholding 40
4.21 Employee Benefits 41
4.22 Real Property 42
4.23 Tax Matters 44
4.24 Complete Assets 46
4.25 Environmental Laws 46
4.26 No Finders’ Fees 46
4.27 Directors and Officers 46
4.28 Anti-Money Laundering Laws 47
4.29 Insurance 48
4.30 Related Party Transactions 48
Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB 49
5.1 Corporate Existence and Power 49
5.2 Corporate Authorization 49
5.3 Governmental Authorization 50
5.4 Non-Contravention 50
5.5 Finders’ Fees 50
5.6 Issuance of Shares 50
5.7 Capitalization 51
5.8 Information Supplied 51
5.9 Trust Fund 52
5.10 Listing 52
5.11 Board Approval 52
5.12 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements 53
5.13 Certain Business Practices 53
5.14 Anti-Money Laundering Laws 54
5.15 Affiliate Transactions 54
5.16 Litigation 54
5.17 Expenses, Indebtedness and Other Liabilities 54
5.18 Contracts 54
5.19 No Employees 54
5.20 Absence of Certain Changes 55
5.21 Tax Matters 55
Article VI COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES PENDING CLOSING 58
6.1 Conduct of the Business 58
6.2 Exclusivity 61
6.3 Access to Information 62
6.4 Notices of Certain Events 62
6.5 Cooperation with Proxy Statement; Other Filings 63
6.6 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Governmental Consents 66

 

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6.7 Nasdaq Listing Requirements 67
6.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Liability Insurance 67
6.9 Confidentiality 68
6.10 Publicity 68
Article VII  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 69
7.1 No Trading in Parent Securities During the Interim Period 69
7.2 Company’s Stockholders Approval 69
7.3 Additional Financial Information 69
7.4 Lock-Up Agreements 69
7.5 G3 Tax Lien 69
Article VIII  COVENANTS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB 70
8.1 Trust Account 70
8.2 Obligations of Merger Sub 70
8.3 Compliance with SPAC Agreements 70
8.4 Parent Public Filings; Nasdaq 70
8.5 Amended Parent Charter; Amended Bylaws 70
8.6 Certain Tax Matters 70
8.7 Extensions of Time to Consummate a Business Combination 71
8.8 Section 16 Matters 72
8.9 Equity Plan 72
8.10 Financing Agreements 72
8.11 Post-Closing Directors 73
Article IX CONDITIONS TO CLOSING 73
9.1 Condition to the Obligations of the Parties 73
9.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub 73
9.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company 74
Article X TERMINATION 76
10.1 Termination Without Default 76
10.2 Termination Upon Default 76
10.3 Effect of Termination 76
Article XI MISCELLANEOUS 77
11.1 Notices 77
11.2 Amendments; Waivers; Extensions; Remedies 77
11.3 Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter 78
11.4 Non-Survival 78
11.5 Expenses 78
11.6 No Assignment or Delegation 78
11.7 Governing Law 79
11.8 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures 79
11.9 Entire Agreement 79
11.10 Severability 79
11.11 Further Assurances 79
11.12 Third Party Beneficiaries 79
11.13 Trust Account Waiver 79
11.14 No Other Representations; No Reliance 80
11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial 81
11.16 Submission to Jurisdiction 82
11.17 Remedies 82
11.18 Non-Recourse 82
11.19 Privileged Communications 82

 

Exhibit A - Form of Contribution Agreement
Exhibit B - Form of Supply and License Agreement
Exhibit C - Form of Shared Services Agreement
Exhibit D - Form of Company Support Agreement
Exhibit E - Form of Parent Support Agreement
Exhibit F - Form of Company Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit G - Form of Amended Parent Charter
Exhibit H - Form of Amended Bylaws
     
Schedule I - Persons to Execute Company Support Agreement

 

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MERGER AGREEMENT

 

This MERGER AGREEMENT dated as of February 15, 2023 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), Nubia Brand International Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

RECITALS:

 

I.The Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company Group”) are in the business of researching, developing and manufacturing battery components and materials, batteries, and related energy storage products, all for the automotive electric vehicle and other markets (as conducted by the Company Group, the “Business”);

 

II.Prior to the Effective Time (defined below) and as a condition and an inducement to Parent and the Company entering into this Agreement, all of the rights and assets owned by Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“G3”) used in the Business (other than the rights assets provided under the Supply and License Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement), including but not limited to those assets necessary for the continued operation of the Business, shall have been transferred by G3 to the Company (the “Restructuring”) pursuant to a Contribution Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Contribution Agreement”), and the remaining business(es) of the G3 Group (the “Graphene Business”) will then be operated solely through the G3 Group;

 

III.As a condition to the Parties’ entry into this Agreement and in connection with the Restructuring, the Company and G3 have agreed to enter into a Graphene Supply and License Agreement at or prior to the Closing substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Supply and License Agreement”), and a transition and shared services agreement at or prior to the Closing in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C to enable the continued operation of the Business and the Graphene Business (the “Shared Services Agreement”);

 

IV.Parent is a blank check company formed for the sole purpose of entering into a share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, and Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

 

V.Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) in accordance with this Agreement and Section 1701.78 of the Ohio Revised Code, after which the Company will be the surviving company (the “Surviving Corporation”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

 

VI.The Company’s valuation immediately prior to the Merger, as mutually agreed by the parties, is contemplated to be $700,000,000;

 

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VII. Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to Parent and the Company entering into this Agreement, G3 and the G3 Securityholders listed on Schedule I hereto are entering into and delivering Support Agreements, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (each, a “Company Support Agreement”), pursuant to which each of G3 and such G3 Securityholders has agreed to vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement, approval of the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

 

VIII. Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to the Company entering into this Agreement, the Sponsor (defined below) is entering into and delivering a Support Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Parent Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed (a) not to transfer or redeem any shares of Parent Common Stock held by the Sponsor, and (b) to vote in favor of the adoption and approval of each of the Parent Proposals at the Parent Stockholder Meeting;

 

IX. For U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes, the parties hereto intend that the Restructuring shall qualify as a transaction described in Section 351(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment”);

 

X.For U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes, the parties hereto intend that the Merger shall qualify either as (a) a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or (b) a transaction described in Section 351(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Merger Intended Tax Treatment”), and the Company’s Board of Directors and the Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub have approved this Agreement and intend that it constitute a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a); and

 

XI.The Boards of Directors of each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which they are or will be party, including the Merger, and the performance of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein or therein, (b) determined that this Agreement and such transactions are advisable and in the best interests of, them and their respective stockholders and (c) resolved to recommend that their respective stockholders approve the Merger and such other transactions and adopt this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which they are or will be a party and the performance of such party of their obligations hereunder and thereunder.

 

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In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms as follows:

 

2022 Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

 

Action” means any legal action, litigation, suit, claim, hearing, proceeding or investigation, including any audit, claim or assessment for Taxes or otherwise, by or before any Authority.

 

Additional Agreements” means the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company Support Agreements, the Parent Support Agreement, the Company Lock-Up Agreement, the Supply and License Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement.

 

Additional Parent SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

Additional Per Share Merger Consideration” means the pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares payable to Company Earnout Holders, if any, with respect to a share of Company Common Stock, in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.

 

Aggregate Parent Transaction Proceeds” means an amount equal to the sum of (a) the cash proceeds to be received by Parent at the Closing from the Trust Account in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (after, for the avoidance of doubt, giving effect to the Parent Stockholder Redemptions and all costs and expenses relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement paid or reimbursed as provided in Section 11.5), (b) the financing commitments under the Financing Agreements, and (c) the unrestricted cash on the balance sheet of the Company as of immediately after giving effect to the Closing.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Alternative Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).

 

Alternative Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).

 

Amended Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Amended Parent Charter” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.28(a).

 

Antitrust Laws” means any applicable domestic or foreign, supranational, national, federal, state, municipality or local Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade, including the HSR Act.

 

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Applicable Taxes” mean such Taxes as defined in Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (and any corresponding Taxes under state or local tax applicable Law).

 

Applicable Wages” mean such wages as defined in Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (and any corresponding wages under state or local tax applicable Law).

 

Arbor Lake Capital” means Arbor Lake Capital Inc., a British Virgin Islands corporation.

 

Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of Law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

Balance Sheet” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as the Balance Sheet Date.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

Books and Records” means all books and records, ledgers, employee records, customer lists, files, correspondence, and other records of every kind (whether written, electronic, or otherwise embodied) owned or controlled by a Person in which a Person’s assets, the business or its transactions are otherwise reflected, other than stock books and minute books.

 

Business” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York 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 New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.

 

CARES Act” means Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

 

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Change in Control” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any transaction or series of related transactions that results in any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) acquiring Equity Interests that represent more than 50% of the total voting power of such Person or (ii) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, other than (in the case of (i) above) a transaction or series of related transactions which results in at least 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such Person (or any successor to such Person) immediately following the closing of such transaction (or series of related transactions) being beneficially owned (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by individuals and entities (or Affiliates of such individuals and entities) who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of at least 50% of the Equity Interests of such Person (or any successor to such Person) immediately prior to such transaction (or series of related transactions).

 

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Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.

 

Closing Exchange Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Closing Merger Consideration Shares by (B) the Fully Diluted Company Shares.

 

Closing Merger Consideration Shares” means the number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock equal to (a) $700,000,000, minus the G3 Tax Lien Amount if the G3 Tax Lien is not released prior to Closing in accordance with Section 7.5, divided by (b) $10.00.

 

Closing Per Share Merger Consideration” means with respect to a share of Company Common Stock, a number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock equal to the applicable Closing Exchange Ratio.

 

COBRA” means, collectively, the requirements of Sections 601 through 606 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Company Articles of Incorporation” means the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on April 23, 2014, as amended.

 

Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.07 per share, of the Company.

 

Company Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.

 

Company Earnout Holders” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Company Exclusively Licensed IP” means all Company Licensed IP that is solely and exclusively licensed to any member of the Company Group.

 

Company Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 4.24 and 4.26.

 

Company Group” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Company Information Systems” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17(n).

 

Company IP” means, collectively, all Company Owned IP and Company Licensed IP.

 

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Company Licensed IP” means all Intellectual Property owned by a third Person and licensed to any member of the Company Group or that any member of the Company Group otherwise has a right to use.

 

Company Lock-Up Agreement” means the agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, restricting the sale, transfer or other disposition of certain of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock received by G3 and Arbor Lake Capital at the Closing in connection with the Merger.

 

Company Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by any member of the Company Group, in each case, whether exclusively, jointly with another Person or otherwise.

 

Company Product” means any product that is being, or has previously been, researched, tested, developed, commercialized, manufactured, sold or distributed by or behalf of the Company Group and all products (if any) with respect to which the Company Group has the right to receive payment.

 

Company Stock Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Confidential Information” means any information, knowledge or data concerning the businesses and affairs of the Company Group, or any suppliers, customers or agents of the Company Group that is not already generally available to the public, including Intellectual Property of a confidential nature.

 

Confidentiality Agreement” means the Non-Disclosure Agreement dated as of November 9, 2022, by and between the Company and Parent.

 

Contracts” means the Leases and all other contracts, agreements, leases (including equipment leases, car leases and capital leases), licenses, Permits, commitments, client contracts, statements of work, sales and purchase orders and similar instruments, oral or written, to which any member of the Company Group is a party or by which any of its respective properties or assets is bound.

 

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.

 

Copyleft Licenses” means all licenses or other Contracts to Software that requires as a condition of use, modification, or distribution of such Software that other Software or technology incorporated into, derived from, or distributed with such Software (i) be disclosed or distributed in source code form, (ii) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (iii) be redistributable at no or minimal charge.

 

Copyrights” means all rights in copyrights, and other rights in any works of authorship of any type, in all forms, media or medium, and whether or not completed, published, or used, including all drafts, plans, sketches, artwork, layouts, copy, designs, photographs, illustrations, collections, serials, printed or graphic matter, slides, compilations, serials, promotions, audio or visual recordings, transcriptions, Software, and all derivative works, translations, adaptations and combinations of any of the foregoing, all registrations and applications therefor and all extensions, restorations, and renewals of any of the foregoing, all worldwide rights and priorities afforded under any Law with respect to any of the foregoing, and all termination rights, moral rights, author rights and all other rights associated therewith.

 

Databases” means all compilations of data, the selection and arrangement of that data, and all related documentation, including documentation regarding the procedures used in connection with the selection, collection, arrangement, processing and distribution of data contained therein to the extent they exist, together with documentation regarding the attributes of the data contained therein or the relationships among such data and documentation regarding data structures and formats, and file structures and formats, whether registered or unregistered, and any registrations or applications for registration therefor.

 

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Data Protection Laws” means all applicable Laws in any applicable jurisdiction relating to the Processing, privacy, security, or protection of Personal Information, and all regulations or guidance issued thereunder.

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Domain Names” means domain names and URLs, including all registration records associated with same.

 

Earnout Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Earnout Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Effect” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Material Adverse Effect.”

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

 

Environmental Laws” shall mean all applicable Laws that prohibit, regulate, or control any Hazardous Material or any Hazardous Material Activity, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act of 1976, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Clean Water Act.

 

Equity Interest” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock of, or other ownership, membership, partnership, voting, joint venture, equity interest, preemptive right, stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights in, such Person or any indebtedness, securities, options, warrants, call, subscription or other rights or entitlements of, or granted by, such Person or any of its Affiliates that are convertible into, or are exercisable or exchangeable for, or give any person any right or entitlement to acquire any such capital stock or other ownership, partnership, voting, joint venture, equity interest, preemptive right, stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights, in all cases, whether vested or unvested, of such Person or any of its Affiliates or any similar security or right that is derivative or provides any economic benefit based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of any such capital stock or other ownership, partnership, voting, joint venture, equity interest, preemptive right, stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights, in all cases, whether vested or unvested.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means each entity, trade or business that is, or was at the relevant time, a member of a group described in Section 414(b) or (c) (o) of the Code that includes the Company Group.

 

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

 

Excluded Matter” means any one or more of the following: (i) general economic or political conditions; (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which such Person or its Subsidiaries operates; (iii) any changes in financial, banking or securities markets in general, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index or any change in prevailing interest rates; (iv) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, international or national political conditions, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (v) (A) any changes in applicable Laws (including in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic) or accounting rules (including U.S. GAAP) or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation thereof, or (B) new pronouncements or interpretations by the SEC or other U.S. federal regulators with respect to prior accounting rules; (vi) the announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (vii) any natural or man-made disaster, acts of God, epidemics, or pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic (including any action taken or refrained from being taken in response to COVID-19), or the worsening thereof; (viii) any failure by a party to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise an Excluded Matter may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect); (ix) the taking of any action expressly required to be taken under this Agreement; or (x) the impact on the Company of any action taken by, or at the request of, Parent or Merger Sub or the impact on Parent and/or Merger Sub or Parent of any action taken by, or at the request of, the Company; provided, however, that the exclusions provided in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), and clause (vii) shall not apply to the extent that Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole, on the one hand, or the Company Group, taken as a whole, on the other hand, is disproportionately affected by any such exclusions or any change, event or development to the extent resulting from any such exclusions relative to all other similarly situated companies that participate in the industry in which they operate.

 

7

 

 

Export Control Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.28(a).

 

Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.10.

 

Financing Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.10.

 

First Earnout Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

First Extension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.7(a).

 

FFDCA” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(a).

 

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(a).

 

FTC Act” has the meaning set forth in 4.16(a).

 

Fully Diluted Company Shares” means the sum, without duplication, of: (i) all shares of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; plus (ii) all shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any other in-the-money securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock.

 

G3” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

G3 Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of G3.

 

G3 Group” means G3 and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company Group).

 

G3 Securityholders” means the G3 Stockholders and all other holders of securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of G3 Common Stock.

 

G3 Stockholders” means the holders of G3 Common Stock.

 

G3 Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

 

G3 Stockholder Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

G3 Stockholder Written Consent Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

G3 Tax Lien” means the Federal Tax Lien filed against G3 in the Montgomery County Recorder’s Office on October 21, 2020.

 

G3 Tax Lien Amount” means Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) plus any additional interest or penalties incurred prior to the Closing in respect of the G3 Tax Lien.

 

Graphene Business” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Hazardous Material” shall mean any material, emission, chemical, substance, or waste that has been designated by any Authority to be radioactive, toxic, hazardous, a pollutant or a contaminant including, but not limited to, any designated as a “Hazardous Substance,” “Hazardous Waste,” or “Hazardous Material”.

 

8

 

 

Hazardous Material Activity” shall mean the transportation, transfer, recycling, storage, use, treatment, manufacture, removal, remediation, release, exposure of others to, sale, labeling, or distribution of any Hazardous Material or any product or waste containing a Hazardous Material, or product manufactured with ozone depleting substances, including any required labeling, payment of waste fees or charges (including so- called e-waste fees) and compliance with any recycling, product take-back or product content requirements.

 

Holdback Shares” means a number of shares Parent Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient of (a) G3 Tax Lien Amount divided by (b) Ten Dollars ($10.00).

 

HSR Act” shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, including with respect thereto, all interests, fees and costs, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (iv) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable to creditors for goods and services incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), (v) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien or security interest on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (vi) all obligations of such Person under leases required to be accounted for as capital leases under U.S. GAAP, (vii) all guarantees by such Person of the Indebtedness of another Person (other than any guarantee by a member of the Company Group of the Indebtedness of another member of the Company Group), (viii) all liability of such Person with respect to any hedging obligations, including interest rate or currency exchange swaps, collars, caps or similar hedging obligations, (ix) any unfunded or underfunded liabilities pursuant to any retirement or nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement, and any earned but unpaid compensation (including salary, bonuses and paid time off), other than earned but unpaid compensation outstanding as of the end of the current monthly period, (x) long term and short term deferred revenue, (xi) any obligations that the Company has elected to defer pursuant to the CARES Act or as a result of COVID-19, including any deferred rent or deferred Taxes, and any liabilities associated with any loans or other stimulus packages received by the Company under the CARES Act and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and (xii) any agreement to incur any of the same.

 

Intellectual Property” means all of the worldwide intellectual property rights and proprietary rights associated with and including any Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Domain Names and social media accounts and identifiers (including usernames, handles, hashtags and account names) whether or not registered, unregistered or registrable, to the extent recognized in a particular jurisdiction and other intellectual property, and all embodiments and fixations thereof and related documentation and registrations and all additions, improvements and accessions thereto.

 

9

 

 

Interim Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

 

International Trade Control Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.28(a).

 

IP Assignment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(h).

 

IP Contracts” means, collectively, any and all Contracts material to the operation of the Business to which any member of the Company Group is a party or by which any of its respective properties or assets is bound, in any case under which any member of the Company Group (i) is granted a right (including option rights, rights of first offer, first refusal, first negotiation, etc.) in or to any Intellectual Property of a third Person, (ii) grants a right (including option rights, rights of first offer, first refusal, first negotiation, etc.) to a third Person in or to any Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by the Company Group or (iii) has entered into an agreement not to assert or sue with respect to any Intellectual Property (including settlement agreements and co-existence arrangements), in each case other than (A) “shrink wrap” or other licenses for generally commercially available software (including Publicly Available Software) or hosted services, (B) customer, distributor or channel partner Contracts on Company’s standard forms, (C) Contracts with the Company Group’s employees or contractors on Company’s standard forms, and (D) customary non-disclosure agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices (subparts (A)-(D) collectively, the “Standard Contracts”).

 

IPO” means the initial public offering of Parent pursuant to a prospectus dated March 15, 2022.

 

Knowledge of the Company” or “to the Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of Dr. Bor Jang, Dr. Songhai Chai, Robert Crouch and Stuart Blair.

 

Knowledge of Parent” means the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of Jaymes Winters and Vlad Prantsevich.

 

Law” means any domestic or foreign, federal, state, municipality or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, or regulation.

 

Leases” means, collectively, the leases described on Schedule 4.22(b) attached hereto, together with all fixtures and improvements erected on the premises leased thereby.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, claim, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such property or asset, and any conditional sale or voting agreement or proxy, including any agreement to give any of the foregoing.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means any fact, effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence (an “Effect”) that, individually or together with one or more other contemporaneous Effects, (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the financial condition, assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of the Company Group, on the one hand, or on Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, in each case, taken as a whole, or (ii) prevents or materially impairs or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of the Company, on the one hand, or on Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, however, that a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include Effects (and solely to the extent of such Effects) resulting from an Excluded Matter.

 

10

 

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(a). The phrase “Material Contracts” shall not include any Contracts that are also Plans.

 

Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Merger Consideration Shares” means, collectively, (i) the Closing Merger Consideration Shares, (ii) any portion of the Holdback Shares that are issued pursuant to Section 3.5 and (iii) any portion of the Earnout Shares to which the Company Earnout Holders become entitled to receive under the terms of this Agreement.

 

Merger Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Merger Sub Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(b).

 

Milestone Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC.

 

Order” means any decree, order, judgment, writ, award, injunction, stipulation, determination, award, rule or consent of or by an Authority.

 

OSHA” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(l).

 

Other Filings” means any filings to be made by Parent required under the Exchange Act, Securities Act or any other United States federal, foreign or blue-sky laws, other than the SEC Statement.

 

Outside Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(a).

 

Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Parent Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(a).

 

Parent Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent.

 

Parent Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent.

 

Parent Class B Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

Parent Common Stock” means the Parent Class A Common Stock and the Parent Class B Common Stock, collectively.

 

Parent Counsel” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.19.

 

11

 

 

Parent Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.5.

 

Parent Parties” has the meaning set forth in Article V.

 

Parent Private Warrants” means each warrant issued to the Sponsor in a private placement at the time of the consummation of the IPO, entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Parent Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share.

 

Parent Privileged Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.19.

 

Parent Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).

 

Parent Public Warrant” means each warrant issued as part of a Parent Unit.

 

Parent SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

Parent Stockholder Redemption” means the election of an eligible (as determined in accordance with the Parent certificate of incorporation) holder of Parent Common Stock prior to the Effective Time to exercise its redemption rights in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement

 

Parent Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.

 

Parent Stockholder Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

 

Parent Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Parent Unit” means each unit of Parent issued in the IPO consisting of (i) one share of Parent Class A Common Stock, and (ii) one half of one warrant to purchase one share of Parent Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share upon consummation of a business combination.

 

Parent Warrant” means each Parent Private Warrant and Parent Public Warrant.

 

Patents” means all (a) U.S. and foreign patents (including certificates of invention, supplementary protection certificates and other patent equivalents), utility models, design, and applications for any of the foregoing, including provisional applications, and all continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, renewals, confirmations, substitutions, counterparts, validations and extensions thereof or related thereto, and all applications or counterparts in any jurisdiction pertaining to any of the foregoing, including applications filed pursuant to any international patent law treaty, and (b) other patent rights and any other governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventors’ certificates, petty patents and innovation patents), together with all worldwide rights and priorities afforded under any Law with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

12

 

 

Permit” means each license, franchise, permit, order, approval, consent, or other similar authorization required to be obtained and maintained by or on behalf of any member of the Company Group under applicable Law to carry out, or otherwise affecting or relating in any way to, the Business.

 

Permitted Liens” means: (i) all defects, exceptions, restrictions, easements, rights of way and encumbrances disclosed in policies of title insurance that have been made available to Parent; (ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for amounts (A) that are not delinquent or that are being contested in good faith, (B) that are not material to the business, operations and financial condition of the Company so encumbered, either individually or in the aggregate, and (C) not resulting from a breach, default or violation by a member of the Company Group of any Contract or Law; or (iii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established on the Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP).

 

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 Information” means: (i) any data or information that, alone or in combination with other data or information identifies an individual natural Person (including any part of such Person’s name, physical address, telephone number, email address, financial account number or credit card number, government issued identifier (including social security number and driver’s license number), user identification number and password, billing and transactional information, medical, health or insurance information, date of birth, educational or employment information, vehicle identification number, IP address, cookie identifier, or any other number or identifier that identifies or relates to an individual natural Person, or such Person’s vehicle, browser or device); or (ii) any other data or information that constitutes personal data, personal health information, protected health information, personally identifiable information, personal information or similar defined term under any Data Protection Law.

 

Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA and all other compensation and benefits plans, policies, programs, arrangements or payroll practices, but excluding multiemployer plans within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, and each other stock purchase, stock option, restricted stock, severance, retention, employment (other than any employment offer letter in such form as previously provided to Parent that is terminable “at will” without any contractual obligation on the part of the Company Group to make any severance, termination, change of control, or similar payment), consulting, change-of-control, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan, fringe benefit and other benefit plan, agreement, program, policy, commitment or other arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA (including any related funding mechanism now in effect or required in the future), whether formal or informal, oral or written, in each case, that is sponsored, maintained, contributed or required to be contributed to by the Company Group, or under which the Company Group has any current or potential liability.

 

13

 

 

Pre-Closing Engagements” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.19.

 

Process,” “Processed” or “Processing” means any operation or set of operations performed upon Personal Information or sets of Personal Information, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination, or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure, or destruction.

 

Prospectus” means the final prospectus of Parent, dated March 10, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2022.

 

Proxy Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

 

Publicly Available Software” means each of any Software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any Software that is distributed as free software, “copyleft,” open source software (e.g. Linux), or under similar licensing and distribution models, including but not limited to any of the following: (i) the GNU General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the Sun Community Source License (SCSL); (vi) the Sun Industry Source License (SISL); and (vii) the Apache Server License, including for the avoidance of doubt all Software licensed under a Copyleft License.

 

Real Property” means, collectively: all real properties and interests therein (including the right to use), together with all buildings, fixtures, trade fixtures, plant and other improvements located thereon or attached thereto; all rights arising out of use thereof (including air, water, oil and mineral rights); and all subleases, franchises, licenses, permits, easements and rights-of-way that are appurtenant thereto.

 

Registered Exclusively Licensed IP” means all Company Exclusively Licensed IP that is the subject of a registration or an application for registration, including issued patents and patent applications, issued and pending trademark registrations, domain names and issued or pending copyrights.

 

Registered Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property constituting Company Owned IP or filed in the name of any member of the Company Group, and in each instance is the subject of a registration or an application for registration, including issued patents and patent applications, issued and pending trademark registrations, domain names and issued or pending copyrights.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” “means the registration rights agreement, in form and substance mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company.

 

Representatives” means a party’s officers, directors, Affiliates, managers, consultants, employees, representatives and agents.

 

Required Parent Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).

 

Restructuring” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Sanctions Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.28(a).

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SEC Statement” means the Proxy Statement, whether in preliminary or definitive form, and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

Second Earnout Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Second Extension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.7(b).

 

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

 

Shared Services Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Software” means computer software, programs, and Databases and data collections (including development tools, library functions, and compilers) in any form, including in or as Internet Web sites, web content, links, source code, object code, operating systems, database management code, utilities, graphical user interfaces, menus, images, icons, forms, methods of processing, software engines, platforms, and data formats, together with all versions, updates, corrections, enhancements and modifications thereof, and all related specifications, documentation, developer notes, comments, and annotations.

 

Sponsor” means Mach FM Acquisitions LLC.

 

Standards Setting Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(o).

 

Standard Contracts” has the meaning set forth in the definition of IP Contracts.

 

Standards Setting Body” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17(o).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, each entity of which at least 50% of the capital stock or other equity or voting securities are Controlled or owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Supply and License Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Tangible Personal Property” means all tangible personal property and interests therein, including machinery, computers and accessories, furniture, office equipment, communications equipment, automobiles, laboratory equipment and other equipment owned or leased by the Company Group.

 

Tax Return” means any return, information return, declaration, claim for refund or credit, report or any similar statement, and any amendment thereto, including any attached schedule and supporting information, whether on a separate, consolidated, combined, unitary or other basis, that is filed or required to be filed with any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of a Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.

 

15

 

 

Tax(es)” means any and all U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. tax, charge, fee, levy, custom, duty, deficiency, or other assessment of any kind or nature imposed by any Taxing Authority (including any income (net or gross), gross receipts, profits, windfall profit, sales, use, goods and services, ad valorem, franchise, license, escheat, withholding, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, employment, payroll, transfer, excise, import, real property, personal property, intangible property, occupancy, recording, minimum, alternative minimum), together with any interest, penalty, additions to tax or additional amount imposed with respect thereto.

 

Taxing Authority” means the Internal Revenue Service and any other Authority responsible for the collection, assessment or imposition of any Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.

 

Third Earnout Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

Trademarks” means all trademarks, service marks, trade names, business names, corporate names, trade dress, look and feel, product and service names, logos, brand names, slogans, 800 numbers, product configurations, symbols, emblems, insignia and other distinctive identification and indicia of source of origin, whether or not registered, including all common law rights thereto, and all applications and registrations therefor, and all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing or the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing.

 

Trade Secrets” means all discoveries, inventions (whether or not reduced to practice), ideas, technology, know-how, trade secrets, and Databases, in each case whether or not patentable or copyrightable (including proprietary or confidential information, systems, methods, processes, procedures, practices, algorithms, formulae, techniques, knowledge, results, protocols, models, designs, drawings, specifications, materials, technical data or information, and other information related to the development, marketing, pricing, distribution, cost, sales and manufacturing) together with any and all notes, analysis, compilations, lab reports, notebooks, invention disclosures, studies, summaries, and other material containing or based, in whole or in part, on any information included in the foregoing, including all copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing in whatever form or medium.

 

Transaction Litigation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(c).

 

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated under the Code, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.

 

Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.

 

Trust Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.

 

Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

U.S. GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

 

16

 

 

VWAP” means, for any security as of any date(s), the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average) or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. If the VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date(s) on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date(s) shall be the fair market value per share on such date(s) as reasonably determined by Parent.

 

WARN Act” means the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as amended.

 

1.2 Construction.

 

(a) References to particular sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits not otherwise specified are cross-references to sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits of this Agreement. Captions are not a part of this Agreement but are included for convenience only.

 

(b) The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement and, unless the context requires otherwise, “party” means a party signatory hereto.

 

(c) Any use of the singular or plural, or the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, includes the others, unless the context otherwise requires; the word “including” means “including without limitation”; the word “or” means “and/or”; the word “any” means “any one, more than one, or all”; and, unless otherwise specified, any financial or accounting term has the meaning of the term under U.S. GAAP. 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 Additional Agreement to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the Equity Interests of such Person.

 

(d) Unless otherwise specified, any reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), instrument, or other document includes all schedules, exhibits, or other attachments referred to therein, and any reference to a statute or other law means such law as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and includes any rule, regulation, ordinance or the like promulgated thereunder, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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(e) Any reference to a numbered schedule means the same-numbered section of the Schedules to this Agreement. Any reference in a schedule contained in the Schedules to this Agreement delivered by a party hereunder shall be deemed to be an exception to (or, as applicable, a disclosure for purposes of) the applicable representations and warranties (or applicable covenants) that are contained in the section or subsection of this Agreement that corresponds to such Schedule and any other representations and warranties of such party that are contained in this Agreement to which the relevance of such item thereto is reasonably apparent on its face. Nothing in the Schedules to this Agreement constitutes an admission of any liability or obligation of the disclosing party to any third party or an admission to any third party, including any Authority, against the interest of the disclosing party, including any possible breach of violation of any Contract or Law. Summaries of any written document in the Schedules to this Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the written document itself.

 

(f) If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given within a specified number of days following a specific date or event, the day of such date or event is not counted in determining the last day for such action or notice. If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given on or before a particular day that is not a Business Day, such action or notice shall be considered timely if it is taken or given on or before the next Business Day.

 

(g) 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, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall be deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to Parent or its Representatives if such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted not later than two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement to the electronic data site maintained on behalf of the Company for the benefit of Parent and its Representatives and Parent and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information.

 

Article II

MERGER

 

2.1 Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease, and the Company shall be the Surviving Corporation, and (c) the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be “Honeycomb Battery Company” or such other name as shall be designated by the Company by notice to Parent.

 

2.2 Merger Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company shall file with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio a certificate of merger as required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ohio Revised Code (the “Certificate of Merger”). The Merger shall become effective upon the later of (a) the date and time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger and (b) such later date and time as is agreed to by the parties and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the time at which the Merger becomes effective is herein referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

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2.3 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger, and the applicable provisions of the Ohio Revised Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the assets, property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

 

2.4 U.S. Tax Treatment.

 

(a) For U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) the Restructuring is intended to qualify for the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment, and (ii) the Merger is intended to qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties to this Agreement hereby (A) adopt this Agreement insofar as it relates to the Merger as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g) of the Treasury Regulations, (B) agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3 or Treasury Regulation Section 1.351-3, and (C) agree to (and cause their respective Affiliates to) file all Tax and other informational returns on a basis consistent with the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment and Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that, other than the representations set forth in Sections 4.23(s) and Section 5.21(t) through Section 5.21(x), (i) no party is making any representation or warranty as to the qualification of the Restructuring for the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment, or as to the effect, if any, that any transaction consummated on, after or prior to the Effective Time has or may have on any such reorganization status, and (ii) no party is making any representation or warranty as to the qualification of the Merger for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment, or as to the effect, if any, that any transaction consummated on, after or prior to the Effective Time has or may have on any such reorganization status.

 

(c) Each party acknowledges and agrees that such party (i) has had the opportunity to obtain independent legal and tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if (A) the Restructuring is determined not to qualify for the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment, or (B) the Merger is determined not to qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

2.5 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws.

 

(a) The Company Articles of Incorporation as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, in accordance with the terms thereof and the Ohio Revised Code, be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the Ohio Revised Code.

 

(b) The Bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended at the Effective Time to read in its entirety as the Bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and applicable Law.

 

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2.6 Closing. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated in accordance with Article X, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place virtually at 10:00 a.m. local time, on the second Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) of the conditions set forth in Article IX or at such other time, date and location as Parent and the Company agree in writing. The parties may participate in the Closing, and any certificate, opinion, instrument or other document to be delivered at the Closing may be delivered, via electronic means. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”.

 

2.7 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist of the same persons serving on Parent’s Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2.8, and such directors shall hold office until their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation’s articles of incorporation and bylaws.

 

(b) At the Effective Time, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Parent and the officers of the Company shall become the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal; provided, appointments of any additional executive officers with the title of “Chief” or similar authority, and officers specializing in science or technology shall require approval of the Company prior to the Effective Time.

 

2.8 Directors and Officers of Parent.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, Parent’s Board of Directors will consist of seven (7) directors. The Company shall have the right to designate five (5) of such directors, three (3) of whom shall qualify as “Independent Directors” under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2). Parent shall have the right to designate two (2) of such directors, one (1) of whom shall qualify as “Independent Directors” under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2).

 

(b) At the Effective Time, the following individuals shall be the initial officers of Parent: Bor Jang (Executive Chairman, Chief Science Officer), Jaymes Winters (Chief Executive Officer), Vlad Prantsevich (Chief Financial Officer), and such other officers as the Parent Board of Directors may agree upon; provided, appointments of any additional executive officers with the title of “Chief” or similar authority, and officers specializing in science or technology shall require approval of the Company prior to the Effective Time.

 

2.9 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Closing, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and interest in, to and under, or possession of, all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized, in the name and on behalf of the Company and Merger Sub, to take all lawful action necessary or desirable to accomplish such purpose or acts, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.

 

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2.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All Merger Consideration Shares paid or payable in respect of shares of Company Common Stock hereunder, shall be deemed to have been paid or payable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock, and from and after the Effective Time there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation. If, after the Effective Time, certificates formerly representing shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Company Stock Certificate”) are presented to the Surviving Corporation, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration Shares provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in Article III.

 

Article III

EFFECT OF THE MERGER

 

3.1 Effect of the Merger on Parent Class B Common Stock. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each share of Parent Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be converted into and exchanged for a number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Class A Common Stock (the “Parent Class B Conversion”) and Parent shall cause its register of members to be updated, with effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, to reflect the Parent Class B Conversion.

 

3.2 Effect of the Merger on Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of any shares of capital stock of any of them:

 

(a) Cancellation of Certain Shares of Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock, if any, that is owned by Parent or Merger Sub (or any other Subsidiary of Parent) or the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise), will automatically be cancelled and retired without any conversion thereof and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

(b) Conversion of Shares of Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any such shares of Company Common Stock cancelled pursuant to Section 3.2(a)) shall, in accordance with and subject to this Agreement, be converted into the right to receive: (i) the Closing Per Share Merger Consideration; plus (ii) the applicable number of Holdback Shares, if any, that are released subject to the contingencies set forth in Section 3.5, plus (iii) the Additional Per Share Merger Consideration, if any, at the time and subject to the contingencies set forth in Section 3.4.

 

(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

 

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3.3 Surrender and Payment. As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, and in any event within two Business Days following the Effective Time (but in no event prior to the Effective Time), Parent shall (or shall cause Parent’s transfer agent and stock registrar to) deliver the Closing Merger Consideration Shares to G3 and Arbor Lake Capital.

 

3.4 Earnout.

 

(a) Earnout Amounts. From and after the date that is thirty (30) days following the Closing Date until the second anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to Section 3.4(a)(i) (the “First Earnout Period”), from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until the date that is forty-two (42) months following the Closing Date with respect to Section 3.4(a)(ii) (the “Second Earnout Period”), and from and after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date until the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to Section 3.4(a)(iii) (the “Third Earnout Period” and together with the First Earnout Period and the Second Earnout Period, the “Earnout Period”), as additional consideration in the Merger, in respect of Company Common Stock (and without the need for additional consideration from any holder thereof), promptly (but in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after the occurrence of any of the following events described in Sections 3.4(a)(i), 3.4(a)(ii), and 3.4(a)(iii) below (each a “Milestone Event”), Arbor Lake Capital and G3, or to the extent designated in writing by G3 from time to time, the G3 Stockholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time in the amounts set forth by G3 (Arbor Lake Capital, G3 and such Persons, collectively, the “Company Earnout Holders”) shall be entitled to earn, up to an aggregate amount of 22,500,000 additional shares of Parent Class A Common Stock, in accordance with Sections 3.4(a)(i), 3.4(a)(ii), and 3.4(a)(iii) (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3.4(f), the “Earnout Shares”):

 

(i) 5,000,000 Earnout Shares if over any ten (10) Trading Days within any thirty (30) Trading Day period during the First Earnout Period the VWAP of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $12.50 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3.4(f));

 

(ii) 7,500,000 Earnout Shares if over any ten (10) Trading Days within any thirty (30) Trading Day period during the Second Earnout Period the VWAP of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3.4(f)); and

 

(iii) 10,000,000 Earnout Shares if over any ten (10) Trading Days within any thirty (30) Trading Day period during the Third Earnout Period the VWAP of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $25.00 per share (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3.4(f)).

 

(b) Earnout Cap. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company Earnout Holders shall be entitled to earn Earnout Shares upon the occurrence of each Milestone Event (or a Change in Control as described below in Section 3.4(c), if applicable) during the applicable Earnout Period; provided, however, that each Milestone Event (or a Change in Control as described below in Section 3.4(c), if applicable) shall only occur once, if at all, and in no event shall the Company Earnout Holders be entitled to earn more than 22,500,000 Earnout Shares (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 3.4(f)).

 

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(c) Change in Control Event.

 

(i) If, prior to the expiration of the First Earnout Period, there occurs any transaction resulting in a Change in Control, and the corresponding valuation of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to the amount set forth in Section 3.4(a)(i), then, immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control, the Milestone Event set forth in Section 3.4(a)(i) (if not previously satisfied) shall be deemed to have occurred; provided, however, that the applicable Earnout Shares shall be released to the Company Earnout Holders as of immediately prior to such Change in Control, and the Company Earnout Holders shall be eligible to participate in such Change in Control transaction with respect to such Earnout Shares.

 

(ii) If, prior to the expiration of the Second Earnout Period, there occurs any transaction resulting in a Change in Control, and the corresponding valuation of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to the amount set forth in Section 3.4(a)(ii), then, immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control, the Milestone Event set forth in Section 3.4(a)(ii) (if not previously satisfied) shall be deemed to have occurred; provided, however, that the applicable Earnout Shares shall be released to the Company Earnout Holders as of immediately prior to such Change in Control, and the Company Earnout Holders shall be eligible to participate in such Change in Control transaction with respect to such Earnout Shares.

 

(iii) If, prior to the expiration of the Third Earnout Period, there occurs any transaction resulting in a Change in Control, and the corresponding valuation of Parent Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to the amount set forth in Section 3.4(a)(iii), then, immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control, the Milestone Event set forth in Section 3.4(a)(iii) (if not previously satisfied) shall be deemed to have occurred; provided, however, that the applicable Earnout Shares shall be released to the Company Earnout Holders as of immediately prior to such Change in Control, and the Company Earnout Holders shall be eligible to participate in such Change in Control transaction with respect to such Earnout Shares.

 

(d) Evidence of Issuance of Earnout Shares; Stock Reservation. Parent shall take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Company Earnout Holders to evidence the issuances pursuant to this Section 3.4, including through the provision of an updated stock ledger showing such issuances (as certified by an officer of Parent responsible for maintaining such ledger or the applicable registrar or transfer agent of Parent). From and after the Closing, at all times during the Earnout Period, Parent will keep available for issuance a sufficient number of unissued shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to permit Parent to satisfy its issuance obligations set forth in this Section 3.4 and will take all actions required to increase the authorized number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock if at any time there will be insufficient unissued shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to permit such reservation.

 

(e) Adjustments to Earnout Shares. During the Earnout Period the Earnout Shares and the underlying target price for each Milestone Event will be adjusted appropriately to reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Parent Class A Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the Parent Class A Common Stock, occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the time any such Earnout Shares are issued. It is the intent of the Parties that such adjustments will be made in order to provide to the Company Earnout Holders the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement as if no change with respect to the Parent Class A Common Stock had occurred.

 

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(f) Efforts to Remain Listed. During the Earnout Period, Parent shall take all reasonable efforts for Parent to remain listed as a public company on, and for the Parent Class A Common Stock to be tradable over, Nasdaq; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit Parent from consummating a Change in Control or entering into a Contract that contemplates a Change in Control. Upon the consummation of any Change in Control during the Earnout Period, other than as set forth in Section 3.4(b), Parent shall have no further obligations pursuant to this Section 3.4(f).

 

(g) Company Earnout Holders. In the event that G3 instructs Parent to issue Earnout Shares to G3 Securityholders in accordance with Section 3.4(a), G3 shall provide Parent with written instruction of the number of Earnout Shares payable to each Company Earnout Holder along with any explanatory or supporting information, including calculations, as Parent may reasonably request. Under no circumstances shall Parent or the Surviving Corporation be responsible for the calculations or determinations regarding the allocation of any Earnout Shares amongst the Company Earnout Holders and shall be entitled to rely on any instructions delivered by G3 to Parent.

 

3.5 Holdback Shares. In the event that the G3 Tax Lien is not released prior to Closing in accordance with Section 7.5, the Holdback Shares will not be issued at the Closing. Upon the release of the G3 Tax Lien with no further liability to G3, the Company or any of their respective assets, such Holdback Shares, less any Holdback Shares that are forfeited in respect of G3 or the Company’s indemnification obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement, shall be issued pro rata to the Persons who held Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Closing.

 

3.6 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, or certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, will be issued in connection with the conversion of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Parent. After aggregating all shares of Company Common Stock represented by all Company Stock Certificates and in book-entry form delivered by a holder thereof, any fractional share of Parent Common Stock will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock.

 

3.7 No Withholding. Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or under any provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authorities, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to provide a schedule of any anticipated withholdings and the reasons therefor at least five (5) Business Days prior to any such proposed withholding.

 

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Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the Schedules to this Agreement delivered by the Company to Parent concurrent with execution of this Agreement, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

 

4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company and each other member of the Company Group is a corporation, limited liability company or legal entity duly incorporated, organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, in each case with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept or any equivalent thereof, in each case) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, as the case may be. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on the Business as currently conducted. Each other member of the Company Group has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its portion of the Business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company and each other member of the Company Group is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, in each case, with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept or any equivalent thereof, in each case) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or other assets makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company and each other member of the Company Group has offices located only at the addresses set forth on Schedule 4.1. The Company has made available to Parent, prior to the date of this Agreement, complete, current and accurate copies of the Company Articles of Incorporation and the Company’s Bylaws, and the comparable organizational or constitutive documents of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to the date hereof. The Company Articles of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws and the comparable organizational or constitutive documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries so delivered are in full force and effect. The Company is not in violation of the Company Articles of Incorporation or the Company’s Bylaws and none of its Subsidiaries is in violation of such Subsidiaries’ respective comparable organizational or constitutive documents.

 

4.2 Authorization.

 

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby subject, in the case of the Merger, to receipt of the G3 Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Additional Agreements to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than, in the case of the Merger, the receipt of the G3 Stockholder Approval) or the Additional Agreements. This Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and thereto, this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

 

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(b) By resolutions duly adopted (and not thereafter modified or rescinded) by the requisite vote of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Directors of G3, each of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Directors of G3 has: (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which the Company or G3, as applicable, is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein; (ii) determined that this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which it is a party, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, are in the best interests of the Company, G3 and the G3 Stockholders; (iii) adopted this Agreement; and (iv) directed that the approval of this Agreement be submitted to G3 and the G3 Stockholders and recommended that G3 and the G3 Stockholders approve this Agreement. The affirmative vote or written consent of (i) G3 and (ii) those Persons holding a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of G3 entitled to vote thereon to approve this Agreement (collectively, the “G3 Stockholder Approval”) are the only votes or consents of any of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company or G3 that is necessary in order for the Company to consummate the Merger and G3 and the Company to consummate the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.3 Governmental Authorization. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Parent Parties set forth in Section 5.3, none of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party, or the consummation the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, requires any consent, approval, license, Order or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Authority, except for (a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code, (b) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Proxy Statement and (ii) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (c) any consent, approval, license, Order or other action, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or, after the Closing, to Parent or the Surviving Corporation.

 

4.4 Non-Contravention. None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby does or will (a) contravene or conflict with the Company Articles of Incorporation or the Company’s Bylaws, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or Order binding upon or applicable to any member of the Company Group or to any of their respective properties, rights or assets, (c) except for the Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8 requiring Company Consents (but only as to the need to obtain such Company Consents), (i) require consent, approval, authorization, Order, waiver or other action under, (ii) constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), (iii) violate, or (iv) give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company Group or to a loss of any material benefit to which any member of the Company Group is entitled, in the case of each of clauses (i) - (iv), under any provision of any material Permit, Contract or other instrument or obligations binding upon any member of the Company Group or any of their respective properties, rights or assets, (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any of the Company Group’s properties, rights or assets, or (e) require any consent, approval, authorization, Order, waiver, or other action from any Person pursuant to any provision of the Company Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the organizational or constitutive documents of any other member of the Company Group, except (1) for any such consent, approval, authorization, Order, waiver, or other action that shall be obtained (and a copy provided to Parent) prior to the Closing and (2) in the case of clauses (c) and (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or, after the Closing, to Parent or the Surviving Corporation.

 

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4.5 Capitalization.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 1,500 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 1,000 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and are held by G3, and 25.6410256 are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and are held by Arbor Lake Capital. No other shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company are authorized or reserved for issuance or issued or outstanding. All issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable Laws (including any applicable securities laws) and in compliance with the Company Articles of Incorporation and the Company’s Bylaws. No shares of Company Common Stock are subject to or were issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right (including under any provision of the Ohio Revised Code, the Company Articles of Incorporation or any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties, rights or assets are bound). As of the date of this Agreement, all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are owned of record by G3 and Arbor Lake Capital.

 

(b) There are no (i) outstanding warrants, options, agreements, convertible securities, performance units or other commitments or instruments pursuant to which the Company is or may become obligated to issue or sell any of its shares of Company Common Stock or other securities, (ii) outstanding obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire outstanding capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company, (iii) treasury shares of capital stock of the Company, (iv) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote, are issued or outstanding, (v) preemptive or similar rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares or other securities of the Company (including pursuant to any provision of Law, the Company Articles of Incorporation or any Contract to which the Company is a party), or (vi) Liens (including any right of first refusal, right of first offer, proxy, voting trust, voting agreement or similar arrangement) with respect to the sale or voting of shares or securities of the Company (whether outstanding or issuable). There are no issued, outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the Company.

 

4.6 Corporate Records. All material proceedings occurring since January 1, 2020 of the Board of Directors of the Company, including all committees thereof, and all consents to actions taken thereby, are, in all material respects, accurately reflected in the minutes and records contained in the corporate minute books of the Company and made available to Parent. The stockholder ledger of the Company is true, correct and complete in all material respects.

 

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4.7 Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.7 lists each Subsidiary of the Company (including its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation). All the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other Equity Interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear of all Liens. Except for the Subsidiaries of the Company, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, as of the date hereof, (a) any capital stock of, or other voting securities or other equity or voting interests in, any Person or (b) any other interest or participation that confers on the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company the right to receive (i) a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, any other Person or (ii) any economic benefit or right similar to, or derived from, the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders of capital stock of any other Person.

 

4.8 Consents. The Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8 are the only Contracts requiring a consent, approval, authorization, Order or other action of or filing with any Person as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (each of the foregoing, a “Company Consent”), except for any consent, approval, authorization, Order or other action, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material the Company or, after the Closing, to Parent or the Surviving Corporation.

 

4.9 Financial Statements.

 

(a) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Business, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, including the notes thereto (collectively, the “Annual Financial Statements”), and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2022 (the “Balance Sheet Date”) and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the nine-month period then ended (the “Unaudited Financial Statements” and, together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Company Financial Statements”). The Company Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis and in accordance with the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for public companies. The Company Financial Statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations of the Company for the periods reflected therein subject, in the case of the Unaudited Financial Statements, to normal audit adjustments and the absence of notes thereto. The Company Financial Statements were prepared from the Books and Records of the Company Group in all material respects. Since the Balance Sheet Date, except as required by applicable Law or U.S. GAAP, there has been no change in any accounting principle, procedure or practice followed by the Company or in the method of applying any such principle, procedure or practice.

 

(b) Except: (i) as specifically disclosed, reflected or fully reserved against on the Balance Sheet; (ii) for liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices since the Balance Sheet Date; (iii) for liabilities that are executory obligations arising under Contracts to which a member of the Company Group is a party (none of which, with respect to the liabilities described in clause (ii) and this clause (iii) results from, arises out of, or relates to any breach or violation of, or default under, a Contract or applicable Law); (iv) for expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement, any Additional Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; and (v) for liabilities set forth on Schedule 4.9(b), the Company Group does not have any material liabilities, debts or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, asserted or unasserted or otherwise).

 

(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9(c), the Company Group does not have any Indebtedness.

 

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(d) Except as reflected in the Company Financial Statements, since December 31, 2022 through the date hereof, the Company has not incurred any material losses in excess of $100,000.

 

4.10 Internal Accounting Controls. The Company Group has established a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (a) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (b) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and the Company Group’s historical practices and to maintain asset accountability; (c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (d) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

4.11 Absence of Certain Changes. From the Balance Sheet Date until the date of this Agreement, except in connection with the Restructuring, and except as set forth on Schedule 4.11: (a) the Company and each other member of the Company Group has conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices; (b) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Company; and (c) neither the Company nor any other member of the Company Group has taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Merger, would require the consent of Parent pursuant to Section 6.1, except where Parent has given such consent.

 

4.12 Properties; Title to the Company’s Assets.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(a), to the Knowledge of the Company, all items of Tangible Personal Property are in good operating condition and repair and function in accordance with their intended uses (ordinary wear and tear excepted), have been properly maintained and are suitable for their present uses and meet all specifications and warranty requirements with respect thereto, in each case in all material respects. All of the Tangible Personal Property is located at the offices or properties of the Company or another member of the Company Group.

 

(b) The Company or a Subsidiary of the Company has good and valid title in and to, or in the case of the Leases and the assets that are leased or licensed pursuant to Contracts, a valid leasehold interest or license in or a right to use all of the tangible assets reflected on the Balance Sheet. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(b), no such tangible asset is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens. After giving effect to the Restructuring and the Shared Services Agreement, the Company Group’s assets constitute all of the rights, properties, and assets of any kind or description whatsoever, including goodwill, that are necessary to operate the Business in substantially the same manner as the Business is currently being conducted.

 

4.13 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting any member of the Company Group, any of the officers or directors of any member of the Company Group in their capacity as such, or any of the Company Group’s rights, properties or assets or that, as of the date hereof, in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement and there are no outstanding judgments against any member of the Company Group or any of its respective rights, properties or assets. No member of the Company Group or any of its respective rights, properties or assets is, nor has been since January 1, 2020, subject to any Action.

 

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4.14 Contracts.

 

(a) Schedule 4.14(a) sets forth a complete and correct list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all of the following Contracts to which any member of the Company Group is a party, as amended to date that are currently in effect (collectively, “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) Contracts with the top ten (10) customers and partners based on amounts received by the Company in the 12-month period immediately preceding the Balance Sheet Date;

 

(ii) Contracts with the top ten (10) vendors and suppliers based on amounts paid by the Company in the 12-month period immediately preceding the Balance Sheet Date;

 

(iii) all Contracts that require annual payments or expenses incurred by, or annual payments or income to, the Company Group of $100,000] or more and, in each case, that is not terminable by the applicable member(s) of the Company Group without penalty upon less than 30 days’ prior written notice (other than standard purchase and sale orders entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices);

 

(iv) each Contract with any current officer, director, employee or consultant of any member of the Company Group, under which the Company Group: (A) has continuing obligations for payment of an annual compensation of at least $100,000, and which is not terminable for any reason or no reason upon reasonable notice without payment of any penalty, severance or other obligation; (B) has severance or post-termination obligations to such Person (other than COBRA obligations); or (C) has an obligation to make a payment upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or as a result of a Change in Control of the Company;

 

(v) all Contracts creating a joint venture, strategic alliance, limited liability company or partnership arrangement to which any member of the Company Group is a party;

 

(vi) all Contracts relating to any acquisitions or dispositions of material assets by any member of the Company Group (other than acquisitions or dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices);

 

(vii) all IP Contracts, separately identifying all such IP Contracts under which any member of the Company Group is obligated to pay royalties thereunder and all such IP Contracts under which any member of the Company Group is entitled to receive royalties hereunder;

 

(viii) all Contracts limiting the freedom of any member of the Company Group to compete in any line of business or industry, with any Person or in any geographic area;

 

(ix) all Contracts providing for guarantees, indemnification arrangements and other hold harmless arrangements made or provided by any member of the Company Group, including all ongoing agreements for repair, warranty, maintenance, service, indemnification or similar obligations, other than Standard Contracts;

 

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(x) all Contracts with or pertaining to the Company Group to which any Affiliate of the Company Group is a party;

 

(xi) all Contracts relating to property or assets (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible) in which any member of the Company Group holds a leasehold interest (including the Lease) and that involve payments to the lessor thereunder in excess of $100,000 per year;

 

(xii) all Contracts creating or otherwise relating to outstanding Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness), except any such Contract with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $50,000;

 

(xiii) all Contracts relating to the voting or control of the Equity Interests of any member of the Company Group or the election of directors of any member of the Company Group (other than the organizational or constitutive documents of any member of the Company Group);

 

(xiv) all Contracts not cancellable by the Company Group with no more than 60 days’ notice if the effect of such cancellation would result in monetary penalty to the Company Group in excess of $100,000 per the terms of such contract;

 

(xv) all Contracts that may be terminated, or the provisions of which may be altered, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement;

 

(xvi) all Contracts under which any of the benefits, compensation or payments (or the vesting thereof) will be increased or accelerated by the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement, or the amount or value thereof will be calculated on the basis of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement; and

 

(xvii) all collective bargaining agreements or other agreement with a labor union or labor organization.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is (i) valid and binding on the applicable member(s) of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the counterparties thereto, (ii) in full force and effect, and (iii) enforceable by and against the member(s) of the Company Group that are a party thereto and, to the Company’s Knowledge, each counterparty thereto, subject, in the case of this clause (iii), to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither the Company Group nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to a Material Contract is in material breach or default (whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both) under the terms of any such Material Contract. No member of the Company Group has assigned, delegated or otherwise transferred any of its rights or obligations under any Material Contract or granted any power of attorney with respect thereto (other than, in each case, to another member of the Company Group).

 

(c) Each member of the Company Group is in compliance in all material respects with all covenants, including all financial covenants, in all notes, indentures, bonds and other instruments or Contracts establishing or evidencing any Indebtedness to which it is a party. The consummation and closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not cause or result in an event of default under any instruments or Contracts establishing or evidencing any Indebtedness, other than to the extent any such event of default would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

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4.15 Licenses and Permits. Schedule 4.15 sets forth a complete and correct list of each Permit except for such Permits that are immaterial to the Company Group, taken as a whole, together with the name of the Authority issuing the same. Except as could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Group, taken as a whole, to the Company’s Knowledge, such Permits are valid and in full force and effect and none of such Permits will, to the Company’s Knowledge, be terminated or impaired or become terminable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement. Except as could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Group, taken as a whole, no member of the Company Group is in material breach or violation of, or material default under, any such Permit issued to it, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no basis (including the execution of this Agreement and the other Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement) exists that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably constitute any such breach, violation or default or give any Authority grounds to suspend, revoke, or terminate any such Permit. The Company has not received any written (or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral) notice from any Authority regarding any material violation of any such Permit. Neither the Company Group, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative or other Person acting on behalf of the Company Group, has made any false statement in, or omission from, the Permits required to be set forth on Schedule 4.15 or any applications, reports, or other submissions to or correspondence with any Authority in connection therewith. Except as could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Group, taken as a whole, there has not been and there is not any pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, any Action, investigation or disciplinary proceeding by or from any Authority against the Company involving any Permit required to be set forth on Schedule 4.15, and the Company Group has not received any written communications from any Authority notifying the Company of a Permit it does not currently possess, or has not applied for, that is required in connection with the Company’s operation of the Business.

 

4.16 Compliance with Laws.

 

(a) Each member of the Company Group currently conducts and, since January 1, 2020, has conducted, its part of the Business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Orders and is not and, since January 1, 2020, has not been, in violation of any applicable Law or Order in any material respect. Since January 1, 2020, (i) no Action by any Authority or other adversarial litigant is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, alleging any such violation or noncompliance by a member of the Company Group, and (ii) no member of the Company Group has been threatened in writing or, to the Company’s Knowledge, orally, to be charged with, or given written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral, notice of any material violation of any material Law or Order applicable to it. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each member of the Company Group is, and since January 1, 2020 has been, in compliance in all material respects with: (i) all material Laws applicable to it due to the specific nature of the Business, including Data Protection Laws; (ii) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”) and any comparable or similar Law of any jurisdiction applicable to it; (iii) the Federal Trade Commission Act (the “FTC Act”) and FTC regulations promulgated thereunder; and (iv) all material Laws regulating or covering conduct in the workplace, including regarding sexual harassment or, on any legally impermissible basis, a hostile work environment. Since January 1, 2020, no member of the Company Group has been threatened or charged in writing (or to the Company’s Knowledge, orally) with or given written (or to the Company’s Knowledge, oral) notice of any actual or potential violation of any Data Protection Law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or any other Law referred to in or generally described in foregoing sentence by any Authority and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company Group is not under any investigations with respect to any such Law. Neither the Company Group nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative or other Person acting on behalf of the Company Group, has received any written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral, notice, order, complaint or correspondence that would restrict the ability of the Company Group to produce, sell, market, or distribute any Company Product as it is being produced, sold, marketed, or distributed currently or in the future.

 

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(b) Since January 1, 2020, neither the Company Group, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Person acting on behalf of the Company Group, has been the subject of any ban, suspension, recall, market withdrawal, inventory destruction, safety alert, or other notice relating to an alleged lack of safety or regulatory compliance involving a Company Product, whether voluntarily or as required by any Authority. To the Company’s Knowledge, there are presently no facts or circumstances that exist that could reasonably be expected to result in any such actions.

 

(c) Neither the Company Group nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative or other Person acting on behalf of the Company Group, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.

 

4.17 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(a), the Company Group is the sole and exclusive owner of each item of Company Owned IP, free and clear of any Liens (except for Permitted Liens). To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Group is the sole and exclusive licensee of each item of Company Exclusively Licensed IP, free and clear of any Liens. The Company Group has a valid right to use the Company Licensed IP as currently used.

 

(b) Schedule 4.17(b) sets forth a complete and correct list of all: (i) Registered Owned IP; (ii) unregistered material Trademarks constituting Company Owned IP; (iii) Registered Exclusively Licensed IP; and (iv) all social media accounts and identifiers constituting Company Owned IP, accurately specifying as to each of the foregoing, as applicable: the jurisdiction/registrar, registration/application number filing date, date of issuance, status, and ownership.

 

(c) All Registered Owned IP is to the Knowledge of the Company subsisting, valid, and enforceable. All Registered Exclusively Licensed IP is to the Knowledge of the Company subsisting, valid, and enforceable. All Persons (including members of the Company Group) have, to the Knowledge of the Company, in connection with the prosecution of all Patents including in Company IP before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and other similar offices in other jurisdictions complied with the applicable obligations of candor owed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office and such other offices. Since January 1, 2020, no Registered Owned IP and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Registered Exclusively Licensed IP is or has been involved in any interference, opposition, reissue, reexamination, revocation, cancellation, domain-name dispute proceeding, or equivalent proceeding, and no such proceeding has been threatened in writing with respect thereto. Since January 1, 2020, there have been no claims filed, served or threatened in writing, or to the Knowledge of the Company orally threatened, against the Company contesting the validity, use, ownership, enforceability, patentability, registrability, or scope of any Registered Owned IP. All registration, maintenance and renewal fees currently due in connection with any Registered Owned IP have been paid, and all documents, recordations and certificates in connection therewith (other than with respect to the Registered Owned IP obtained by the Company pursuant to the Restructuring) have been filed with the authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of perfecting the Company Group’s ownership or interests therein.

 

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(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the Business as currently conducted and as conducted since January 1, 2020 does not conflict with, infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property right of any third Person. Since January 1, 2020, there have been no claims filed, served, or threatened in writing, or to the Knowledge of the Company orally threatened, against the Company alleging any conflict with, infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any Intellectual Property of a third Person. There are no Actions pending that involve a claim against a member of the Company Group by a third Person alleging infringement or misappropriation of such third Person’s Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2020, no third Person has conflicted with, infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated any Company IP.

 

(e) Since January 1, 2020, no member of the Company Group has filed, served, or threatened a third Person with any claims alleging any conflict with, infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any Company IP. There are no Actions pending involving a claim against a third Person by a member of the Company Group alleging infringement or misappropriation of Company IP. No member of the Company Group is subject to any Order that adversely restricts the use, transfer, registration or licensing of any such Intellectual Property by it.

 

(f) Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.17(f), each employee, agent, consultant, and contractor who has contributed to or participated in the creation or development of any material Company IP on behalf of the Company Group or any predecessor in interest thereto has executed a form of proprietary information and/or inventions agreement or similar written Contract with a member of the Company Group under which such Person: (i) has assigned all right, title and interest in and to such Company IP to one or more members of the Company Group (or such predecessor in interest, as applicable); and (ii) is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the applicable member(s) of the Company Group’s confidential information both during and after the term of such Person’s employment or engagement. To the extent that any such proprietary information and/or inventions agreement or other similar written Contract permitted any such employee, agent, consultant, or contractor to exclude from the scope of such agreement or Contract any Intellectual Property in existence prior to the date of the employment or relationship, no such employee, agent, consultant, or contractor excluded Intellectual Property that would otherwise be included in the Company IP. To the Knowledge of the Company, no employee, agent, consultant, or contractor of any member of the Company Group is or has been in violation of any term of any such Contract.

 

(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, except as set forth on Schedule 4.17(g), no government funding or facility of a university, college, other educational institution or research center was used in the development of any item of Company Owned IP.

 

(h) None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements to which the Company is or will be a party or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will (i) cause any item of Company Owned IP, or any material item of Company Licensed IP immediately prior to the Closing, to not be owned, licensed or available for use by the Company Group on substantially the same terms and conditions immediately following the Closing or (ii) require any additional payment obligations by any member of the Company Group in order to use or exploit any other such Intellectual Property to the same extent as the Company Group was permitted immediately before the Closing.

 

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(i) Except with respect to the agreements listed on Schedule 4.18(i), no member of the Company Group is obligated under any Contract to make any payments by way of royalties, fees, or otherwise to any owner or licensor of, or other claimant to, any Intellectual Property.

 

(j) The Company Group has exercised reasonable efforts necessary to maintain, protect and enforce the confidentiality of all Trade Secrets constituting Company Owned IP and all other material Confidential Information. No Company IP is subject to any technology or source code escrow arrangement or obligation. No Persons other than the Company Group and their employees and contractors (i) have a right to access or possess any source code of the Software constituting the Company Owned IP, or (ii) will be entitled to obtain access to or possession of such source code as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of by the Company of this Agreement. One or more members of the Company Group is in actual possession of the source code of any Software constituting Company Owned IP.

 

(k) The Company Group does not collect or use Personal Information in connection with the operation of the Business or from any visitors to the Sites maintained by, or on behalf of the Company Group. For purposes of this subsection (k), “Sites” means any websites or applications made available to the general public provided by or on behalf of one or more members of the Company Group.

 

(l) In connection with its Processing of any Personal Information, the Company is and has been in compliance with all applicable Laws, including without limitation all applicable data privacy laws and Laws related to data loss, theft, and security breach notification obligations, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized disclosure of any Personal Information for which the Company would be required to make a report to an Authority, a data subject, or any other Person. In addition, the Company Group has in place and since January 1, 2020 has had in place industry standard policies (including a privacy policy and any other similar internal and external policies), rules, and procedures regarding its collection, use, disclosure, disposal, dissemination, storage, protection and other Processing of Personal Information. The Company Group has complied in all respects with such privacy policies, rules, and procedures in connection with any collection, use, or disclosure by the Company Group of any Personal Information of any Person. The Company Group has not been subject to and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no, complaints to or audits, proceedings, investigations or claims pending against any member of the Company Group by any Authority or by any other Person in respect of the collection, use, storage disclosure or other Processing of Personal Information. The Company (i) has implemented industry standard physical, technical, organization and administrative security measures and policies designed to protect all Personal Information of any Person accessed, Processed or maintained by the Company from unauthorized physical or virtual access, use, modification, acquisition, disclosure or other misuse, and (ii) requires by written contract all material third party providers and other persons who have or have had access to Personal Information, or who Process Personal Information on Company’s behalf to implement, appropriate security programs and policies consistent with applicable data privacy Laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, since January 1, 2020, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Group has not experienced any material loss, damage or unauthorized access, use, disclosure or modification, or breach of security of Personal Information maintained by or on behalf of the Company Group (including by any agent, subcontractor, or vendor of the Company Group).

 

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(m) The Software that constitutes Company Owned IP and all Software that is used by the Company Group is, to the Knowledge of the Company, free of all viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other material known contaminants and does not, to the Knowledge of the Company, contain any bugs, errors, or problems of a material nature that would reasonably be expected to disrupt its operation or have an adverse impact on the operation of other Software. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Group has not incorporated Publicly Available Software into the Company Group’s products and services, and the Company Group has not distributed Publicly Available Software as part of the Company Group’s products and services other than as set forth on Schedule 4.17(m) in a manner that subjects, in whole or in part, any Software constituting Company Owned IP to any Copyleft License obligations. The Company Group is in material compliance with all Publicly Available Software license terms that, to the Knowledge of the Company, are applicable to any Publicly Available Software licensed to or used by the Company Group. No member of the Company Group has received any written (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral) notice from any Person that it is in breach of any license with respect to Publicly Available Software.

 

(n) The Company Group has implemented and maintained (or, where applicable, has required its vendors to maintain), consistent with industry practices and in compliance with its contractual obligations to other Persons, reasonable security measures designed to protect, preserve and maintain the performance, security and integrity of all computers, servers, equipment, hardware, networks, Software and systems used, owned, leased or licensed by the Company Group in connection with the operation of the Business (the “Company Information Systems”). To the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized access to or use of the Company Information Systems, nor has there been any downtime or unavailability of the Company Information Systems that resulted in a material disruption of the Business. The Company Information Systems are adequate and sufficient (including with respect to working condition and capacity) for the operation of the Business. There has been no failure with respect to any Company Information System that has had a material effect on the operations of the Company Group.

 

(o) The Company Group is not bound by, and has not agreed in writing to be bound by, any Contract (including any written licensing commitment), bylaw, policy, or rule of any standards-setting organization (including ETSI, 3GPP, 3GPP2, TIA, IEEE, IETF, and ITU-R), university or industry body, consortium, other multi-party special interest group and any other collaborative or other group in which the Company Group is currently participating, or has participated in the past or applied for future participation in, including any of the foregoing that may be organized, funded, sponsored, formed or operated, in whole or in part, by any Authority, in all cases, to the extent related to any Intellectual Property (each a “Standards Setting Body”) that requires or purports to require Company to contribute, disclose or license any Intellectual Property to such Standards Setting Body or its other members, other than the Standards Setting Agreements. Schedule 4.17(o) sets forth a listing of the membership agreements and other Contracts relating to such Standards Bodies, to which any member of the Company Group is bound (collectively, “Standards Setting Agreements”). True, complete and correct copies of all Standards Setting Agreements have been delivered or otherwise made available to Parent. The Company Group has not made any written Patent disclosures to any Standards Setting Body. The Company Group is in material compliance with all Standards Setting Agreements that relate to Intellectual Property. The Company is not engaged in any material dispute with any Standards Setting Body with respect to any Intellectual Property or with any third Persons with respect to Company Group’s conduct with respect to any Standards Setting Body.

 

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4.18 Accounts Payable; Affiliate Loans.

 

(a) The accounts payable of the Company Group reflected on the Company Financial Statements, and all accounts payable arising subsequent to the date thereof, arose from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.

 

(b) The information set forth on Schedule 4.18(b) separately identifies any and all accounts, receivables or notes of the Company Group that are owed by any Affiliate of the Company Group. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(b), no member of the Company Group is indebted to any of its Affiliates and no Affiliates are indebted to a member of the Company Group.

 

4.19 Employees; Employment Matters.

 

(a) Schedule 4.19(a) sets forth a complete and correct list of the five highest compensated officers or employees of the Company Group as of the date hereof, setting forth each such person’s name, title, current base salary or hourly rate, total compensation (including bonuses and commissions) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2022, employer, hire date, status as exempt or non-exempt from overtime Laws, and leave status.

 

(b) No member of the Company Group is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or similar labor agreement with respect to its employees, and, since January 1, 2020, there has been no activity or proceeding by a labor union, other labor organizations or representative thereof to organize any employees of the Company Group. There is no labor strike, picketing, material slowdown or material work stoppage or lockout pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against any member of the Company Group, and, since January 1, 2020, no member of the Company Group has experienced any strike, material slowdown, picketing, material work stoppage or lockout by or with respect to its employees. To the Knowledge of the Company, no member of the Company Group is subject to any attempt by any union or other labor organization to represent Company Group employees as a collective bargaining agent.

 

(c) There are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, Actions against any member of the Company Group under any worker’s compensation policy or long-term disability policy. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no material liabilities, whether contingent or absolute, of the Company Group relating to workers’ compensation benefits that are not fully insured against by a bona fide third-party insurance carrier. With respect to each Plan and with respect to each state workers’ compensation arrangement that is funded wholly or partially through an insurance policy or public or private fund, all premiums required to have been paid to date under such insurance policy or fund have been paid. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, before any applicable Authority relating to employees of the Company Group. Since January 1, 2020, the Company Group has not engaged in, and is not currently contemplating, any location closing, employee layoff, relocation activities or similar event that would trigger the WARN Act or any similar state or local statute, rule or regulation.

 

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(d) The Company Group: (i) is, and since January 1, 2019, has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to employment of labor, including all applicable Laws relating to wages, hours, overtime, terms and conditions of employment, collective bargaining, equal employment opportunity, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment (including, but not limited to sexual harassment), anti-retaliation, immigration, employee leave, disability rights or benefits, employment and reemployment rights of members and veterans of the uniformed services, paid time off/vacation, unemployment insurance, safety and health, workers’ compensation, pay equity, restrictive covenants, child labor, whistleblower rights, classification of employees and independent contractors, meal and rest breaks, business expenses, and the collection and payment of withholding or social security Taxes; (ii) is not and, since January 1, 2019, has not been, liable for any arrears of wages or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing (except for wages and withholding thereon in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice for the current payroll period); (iii) is not and, since January 1, 2019, has not been, liable for any payment to any trust or other fund or to any Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits for employees of the Company Group (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice for the current payroll period); and (iv) is not and, since January 1, 2019, has not been, party to or bound by any consent decree with or citation by any Authority relating to employees or employment practices. Since January 1, 2019, no audits have been conducted, or are currently being conducted, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, are threatened to be conducted, by any Authority with respect to applicable Laws regarding employment or labor Laws. No employee of the Company Group has, since January 1, 2019, brought or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to bring, a claim for unpaid compensation, including overtime amounts.

 

(e) The Company Group has complied, in all material respects, with all Laws relating to the verification of identity and employment authorization of individuals employed in the United States, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no member of the Company Group currently employs, or since January 1, 2020 has employed, any individual who was not permitted to work in the jurisdiction in which such individual was employed. No audit by any Authority is currently being conducted, is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened to be conducted, in respect to any foreign workers employed by any member of the Company Group. Schedule 4.19(e) sets forth each individual who is employed by any member of the Company Group pursuant to a visa and, with respect to each such individual, (i) the expiration date of such visa and (ii) whether the applicable member of the Company Group has made any attempts to renew such visa.

 

(f) To the Knowledge of the Company, no key employee or officer of the Company Group is a party to or is bound by any confidentiality agreement, non-competition or other restrictive covenant agreement or other contract (with any Person) that would materially interfere with: (i) the performance by such officer or key employee of any of his or her duties or responsibilities as an officer or employee of the Company Group or (ii) the Company’s business or operations. No key employee or officer of the Company Group has given written notice of their intent to terminate their employment with the Company Group or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has plans to terminate their employment with the Company Group, nor does the Company Group have any present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing.

 

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(g) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19(g), the employment of each of the employees of the Company Group and engagement of each independent contractor is terminable at will without any prior notice, penalty or severance obligation on the part of the Company Group. All material sums due for employee compensation and all vacation time owing to any employees of any member of the Company Group, and all fees owing to any independent contractors and consultants, have been duly accrued on the accounting records of the applicable member of the Company Group.

 

(h) Each current and former employee and officer, and where appropriate, each independent contractor and consultant, of any member of the Company Group who has contributed to or participated in the creation or development of any material Intellectual Property on behalf of the Company Group or any predecessor in interest thereto has executed a form of proprietary information and/or inventions agreement or similar agreement (each, an “IP Assignment Agreement”). To the Knowledge of the Company, no such current or former employees, officers or consultants are or were, as the case may be, in violation thereof. Other than with respect to exclusions previously accepted by the Company involving works or inventions unrelated to the business of the Company Group, no current or former employee, officer or consultant of any member of the Company Group has disclosed in writing excluded works or inventions made prior to his, her, or its employment or consulting relationship with the applicable member of the Company Group from his, her or its assignment of inventions pursuant to such employee, officer or consultant’s IP Assignment Agreement.

 

(i) Schedule 4.19(i) sets forth a list of the name of each Person currently engaged by the Company Group as a consultant or an independent contractor (including any Person engaged through any arrangement with such Person’s loan-out or similar company), including for each such Person the following: (A) name, (B) principal location of engagement, (C) engagement or start date, (D) compensation structure, (E) average monthly compensation and (F) nature of services provided. With regard to any individual who performs or performed services for the Company Group and who is not treated as an employee for Tax purposes by the Company Group, the Company Group has, to the Knowledge of the Company, complied in all material respects with applicable Laws concerning independent contractors, including for Tax withholding purposes or Plan purposes, and the Company Group does not have any Liability by reason of any individual who performs or performed services for the Company Group, in any capacity, being improperly excluded from participating in any Plan. Each individual engaged by a member of the Company Group as an independent contractor or consultant is, and since January 1, 2019 has been, properly classified by the applicable member of the Company Group as an independent contractor, and no member of the Company Group has received any notice from any Authority or Person disputing such classification. Each of the employees of the Company Group is, and since January 1, 2019 has been, properly classified by the Company Group as “exempt” or “non-exempt” under applicable Law.

 

(j) The Company has provided Parent with a true, correct and complete list of all employees of the Company Group as of the date hereof, which sets forth for each such Person the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position; (iii) hire date, and record employer; (iv) current annual base compensation rate (or, as applicable, hourly rate of pay); (v) the profit sharing, bonus or other form of additional compensation payable by the Company Group to or for the benefit of each such Person for the current fiscal year; (vi) classification as exempt or non-exempt under applicable wage and hour laws and regulations; (vii) full-time or part-time status; (viii) amount of annual vacation or paid time off accrual as of five (5) days prior to the Closing Date; (ix) the amount of sick leave credited to such Person as of five (5) days prior to the Closing Date (x) visa status (if any); (xi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof (xii) leave status (including type of leave), and expected date of return for non-disability related leaves and expiration dates for disability-related leaves and (xiii) principal place of work. To the Knowledge of the Company, all of the full-time employees of the Company Group are devoting all of their business time to the Company Group.

 

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(k) There is no, and since January 1, 2020 there has been no, written notice provided to any member of the Company Group of any claim or litigation relating to, or any complaint or allegation of, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, constructive termination, harassment (including sexual harassment), sexual misconduct, or wage and hour violation against the Company Group; nor there is any pending obligation for any member of the Company Group under any settlement or out-of-court or pre-litigation arrangement relating to such matters nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has any such litigation, settlement or other arrangement been threatened.

 

(l) Since January 1, 2020, the Company Group has investigated all workplace harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination, retaliation, and workplace violence claims or complaints reported to the appropriate Company personnel or third-party Persons retained by the Company Group to receive such claims or complaints relating to current and/or former employees of any member of the Company Group or third-parties who interacted with current and/or former employees of such member of the Company Group. With respect to each such claim or complaint with potential merit, the Company Group has taken corrective action. Further, to the Knowledge of the Company, no allegations of sexual harassment have been made to any member of the Company Group against any individual in his or her capacity as director or an employee of a member of the Company Group.

 

(m) As of the date hereof and since January 1, 2020 there have been no audits by any Authority, nor have there been any charges, fines, or penalties, including those pending or threatened, under any applicable federal, state or local occupational safety and health Law and Orders (collectively, “OSHA”) against the Company Group. The Company Group is in compliance in all material respects with OSHA and there are no pending appeals of any Authority’s decision or fines issued in relation to OSHA.

 

(n) There have been no, and there are no pending or anticipated layoffs, leaves of absence or terminations of employment in respect to the employees of the Company as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company Group has investigated all occupational safety and health complaints, issues, or inquiries related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With respect to each occupational safety and health complaint, issue, or inquiry related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company Group has, to the Knowledge of the Company, taken prompt corrective action that is reasonably calculated to prevent further spread of COVID-19 within the Company Group’s workplace.

 

(o) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19(o), the Company Group has not paid or promised to pay any bonus or commission to any employee in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.20 Withholding. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.20, to the Knowledge of the Company, all obligations of the Company Group applicable to its employees, whether arising by operation of Law, by Contract, or attributable to payments by the Company Group to trusts or other funds or to any Authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits or social security benefits for its employees through the date hereof, have been paid or adequate accruals therefor have been made on the Company Financial Statements. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.20, all obligations of the Company Group with respect to such employees (except for those related to wages during the pay period immediately prior to the Closing Date and arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), whether arising by operation of Law, by contract, by past custom, or otherwise, for salaries and holiday pay, bonuses and other forms of compensation payable to such employees in respect of the services rendered by any of them prior to the date hereof have been or will be paid by the Company Group prior to the Closing Date.

 

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4.21 Employee Benefits.

 

(a) Schedule 4.21(a) sets forth a complete and correct list of all Plans. With respect to each Plan, the Company has made available to Parent or its Representatives a true, complete and correct copy, to the extent applicable, of: (i) each writing constituting a part of such Plan and all amendments thereto, including all plan documents, material employee communications, benefit schedules, trust agreements, and insurance contracts and other funding vehicles; (ii) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 and accompanying schedules; (iii) the current summary plan description and any material modifications thereto; (iv) the most recent annual financial and actuarial reports; (v) the most recent determination or advisory letter received by the Company Group from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the tax-qualified status of such Plan; and (vi) the three most recent written results of all required compliance testing.

 

(b) None of the Company Group, or any ERISA Affiliate, maintains or contributes to or has, within the six-year period immediately prior to the Closing Date, had any Liability (contingent or otherwise) with respect to: (i) any “multiemployer plan,” as that term is defined in Section 4001 of ERISA; (ii) any “employee benefit plan” subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; (iii)  a “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of the Code or ERISA), (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (v) a plan sponsored by a human resources or benefits outsourcing entity, professional employer organization or other similar vendor or provider. No member of the Company Group, or any ERISA Affiliate, has withdrawn at any time since January 1, 2020 from any multiemployer plan or incurred any withdrawal liability which remains unsatisfied, and no events have occurred and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no circumstances exist that could reasonably be expected to result in any such liability to the Company Group with respect to any multiemployer plan.

 

(c) With respect to each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, such Plan, including its related trust, has received a determination letter (or may rely upon opinion letters in the case of any prototype plans) from the Internal Revenue Service that it is so qualified and that its trust is exempt from Tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, and nothing has occurred with respect to the operation of any such Plan that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any material liability, penalty or tax under ERISA or the Code.

 

(d) There are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, Actions against or relating to the Plans, the assets of any of the trusts under such Plans or the Plan sponsor or the Plan administrator, or against any fiduciary of any Plan with respect to the operation of such Plan (other than routine benefits claims). No Plan is presently under audit or examination (nor has written notice been received of a potential audit or examination) by any Authority.

 

(e) Each Plan has been established, administered, and funded in accordance with its terms and in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other applicable Laws. All premiums due or payable with respect to insurance policies funding any Plan have been made or paid in full or, to the extent not required to be made or paid on or before the date hereof, have been fully reflected on the Company Financial Statements.

 

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(f) None of the Plans provide retiree health or life insurance benefits, except as may be required by Section 4980B of the Code, Section 601 of ERISA, or any other applicable Law. There has been no violation of the “continuation coverage requirement” of “group health plans” as set forth in Section 4980B of the Code and Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA with respect to any Plan to which such continuation coverage requirements apply.

 

(g) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in combination with another event): (i) result in any payment becoming due, or increase the amount of any compensation or benefits due, to any current or former employee of the Company Group with respect to any Plan; (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Plan; (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such compensation or benefits, or (iv) result in the payment of any amount that would, individually or in combination with any other such payment, be an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. No Person is entitled to receive any additional payment (including any tax gross-up or other payment) from any member of the Company Group as a result of the imposition of the excise taxes required by Section 4999 of the Code or any taxes required by Section 409A of the Code.

 

(h) Each Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) is in material documentary compliance with, and has been administered in material compliance with, Section 409A of the Code.

 

(i) Each Plan that is subject to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 has been established, maintained, and administered in compliance in all material respects with the requirements thereof.

 

(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21(j), no Plan covers any employees outside of the United States.

 

4.22 Real Property.

 

(a) Owned Real Property. As of the Closing, except as set forth on Schedule 4.22, the Company will have good and marketable fee simple title to the owned Real Property free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. There are no leases, subleases, licenses, or other agreements entered into by Company granting to any Person the right of use or occupancy of any portion of the owned Real Property, except for those constituting Permitted Liens. The Company has not received written notice of any, violation of or default under (including any condition that with the passage of time or the giving of notice would cause such a violation or default under) any restrictive covenants or contract affecting the owned Real Property. The Company has delivered to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all vesting deeds, title insurance policies and exception documents, surveys, zoning reports and similar reports to the extent in its possession or control. The Company is in exclusive possession of all the owned Real Property and has all easements, licenses, permits or other rights required by applicable law for the current use and occupancy of the owned Real Property and as are necessary for the conduct of the business of Company thereon as currently conducted by Company.

 

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(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.22, the Company Group does not own, or otherwise have an interest in, any Real Property, including under any Real Property lease, sublease, space sharing, license, or other occupancy agreement. The Leases are the only Contracts pursuant to which the Company Group leases any Real Property or right in any Real Property. The Company has provided or made available to Parent and Merger Sub accurate and complete copies of all Leases. Each member of the Company Group holds a good and valid leasehold estate in its respective offices described on Schedule 4.22, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. No notice from any Person has been received by any member of the Company Group or served upon any member of the Company Group claiming any violation of any local zoning ordinance.

 

(c) With respect to each Lease: (i) it is valid and binding on and enforceable against the member of the Company Group that is a party to such Lease and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the counterparties thereto, in each case in accordance with its terms and, with respect to enforceability, to the Enforceability Exceptions; (ii) it is in full force and effect; (iii) the applicable member of the Company Group has paid all rents and additional rents and other sums, expenses, and charges due and payable by it thereunder; (iv) the applicable member of the Company Group has been in peaceable possession of the premises leased thereunder since the commencement of the original term thereof; (v) no waiver, indulgence or postponement of the applicable member of the Company Group’s obligations thereunder has been granted by the lessor; (vi) the applicable member(s) of the Company Group has performed all material obligations imposed on it under such Lease and there exist no material default or event of default thereunder by any member of the Company Group or, to the Company’s Knowledge, by any other party thereto; (vii) there exists, to the Company’s Knowledge, no occurrence, condition or act that, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any further event or condition, would reasonably be expected to become a default or event of default by any member of the Company Group thereunder; (viii) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no outstanding claims of breach or indemnification or notice of default or termination thereunder; (ix) the applicable member of the Company Group has not exercised early termination options, if any, under such Lease; (x) to the Company’s Knowledge, no pending proceeding or order exists against the Company or any other person that would require the repair, alteration or correction of any existing condition of any portion of any leased Real Property, and to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company has not received any written or oral notice from any government body that any of the improvements on the leased Real Property or the Company’s use of the leased Real Property violates any use or occupancy restrictions, any covenant of record or any zoning or building Law; (xi) the leased Real Property comprises all of the real property used in, or otherwise related to, the business conducted by the Company; (xii) there is no condemnation, expropriation or other proceeding in eminent domain, pending or threatened in writing or, to the Company’s Knowledge, orally affecting any leased Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein; and (xiii) all of the leased Real Property has access to a public road and to all utilities necessary for the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted. The applicable member of the Company Group holds the leasehold estate established under the Leases free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens and Liens of mortgagees of the Real Property on which such leasehold estate is located. The Real Property leased by the Company Group is in a state of maintenance and repair in all material respects adequate and suitable for the purposes for which it is presently being used, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no material repair or restoration works likely to be required in connection with such leased Real Property. A member of the Company Group is in physical possession and actual and exclusive occupation of the whole of the leased premises, none of which is subleased or assigned to another Person. No member of the Company Group owes any brokerage commission with respect to any Real Property. With respect to alterations or improvements made by a member of the Company Group that require restoration by it upon the expiration or the earlier termination of the applicable Leases in accordance with the terms of such Leases, the cost of the Company Group’s restoration obligations will not exceed $25,000 in the aggregate.

 

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4.23 Tax Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.23:

 

(a) (i) The Company Group has duly and timely filed, taking into account any valid extensions, all income and other material Tax Returns which are required to be filed by or with respect to it, and has paid all Taxes (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns) that have become due; (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct, complete and accurate in all material respects; and (iii) no member of the Company Group has requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed.

 

(b) There is no Action pending, or proposed in writing, with respect to Taxes of the Company Group.

 

(c) No statute of limitations in respect of the assessment or collection of any Taxes of the Company Group for which a Lien may be imposed on any of the Company Group’s assets has been waived or extended, which waiver or extension is in effect.

 

(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, (i) the Company Group has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting, payment, collection and withholding of Taxes, (ii) the Company Group has duly and timely withheld or collected, paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority, and (iii) the Company Group has reported all Taxes (including income, social, security and other payroll Taxes) required to be withheld or collected by the Company Group.

 

(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has (i) properly collected all sales Taxes required to be collected in the time and manner required by applicable Law and remitted all such sales Taxes to the applicable Taxing Authority in the time and in the manner required by applicable Law and (ii) properly requested, received and retained all necessary exemption certificates and other documentation supporting any claimed exemption or waiver of Taxes on sales or similar transactions as to which it would otherwise have been obligated to collect or withhold Taxes.

 

(f) There is no outstanding request for a ruling from any Taxing Authority, request for consent by a Taxing Authority for a change in a method of accounting with respect to the Company Group.

 

(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no Lien (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company Group.

 

(h) No claim has ever been made in writing by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company Group has not paid any Tax or filed Tax Returns, asserting that the Company Group is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Group is not, nor has it ever been, subject to Tax in any country other than the respective countries of incorporation or formation of the Company Group members by virtue of having a permanent establishment or other place of business in that country and the members of the Company Group.

 

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(i) There is no outstanding power of attorney from the Company Group authorizing anyone to act on behalf of the Company Group in connection with any Tax, Tax Return or Action relating to any Tax or Tax Return of the Company Group.

 

(j) The Company Group is not, nor has it ever been a party to, any Tax sharing, Tax indemnity or Tax allocation Contract (other than any customary commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the principal purpose of which is not Taxes).

 

(k) The Company has not been a member of an “affiliated group” within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group that includes, immediately prior to the Closing Date, G3 and other members of the Company Group).

 

(l) The Company has no liability for the Taxes of any other Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor, (iii) by contract (other than any customary commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the principal purpose of which is not Taxes) or (iv) otherwise by operation of applicable Law.

 

(m) The Company is not 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.

 

(n) The Company has not disclosed on its Tax Returns any Tax reporting position taken in any Tax Return which could result in the imposition of penalties under Section 6662 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law).

 

(o) The Company has not been a party to any “reportable transaction” or “listed transaction” as defined in Section 6707A(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

 

(p) No member of the Company Group will be required to include any material item of income or exclude any material item of deduction for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date as a result of: (i) the use of, or change in, a method of accounting with respect to any transaction that occurred on or before the Closing Date; (ii) any closing agreement described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law); (iii) any installment sale or open sale transaction disposition made in a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) any prepaid amount received in a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (v) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law); (vi) an entity in the Company Group that is a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code) having “subpart F income” (within the meaning of Section 952(a) of the Code) accrued on or before the Closing Date; (vii) “global intangible low-taxed income” of the Company Group within the meaning of Section 951A of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law) attributable to any taxable period (or portion thereof) on or before the Closing Date; or (viii) an election made pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

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(q) The unpaid Taxes of the Company Group (i) did not, as of the most recent fiscal month-end, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Unaudited Financial Statements and (ii) will not exceed that reserve (as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company in filing its Tax Return).

 

(r) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Group has been in compliance in all respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and legal requirements.

 

(s) The Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(t) No member of the Company Group has deferred the withholding or remittance of any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to any Applicable Wages for any employees of the Company and shall not defer the withholding or remittance any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to Applicable Wages for any employees of the Company up to and through and including Closing Date, notwithstanding Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (or any comparable regime for state or local Tax purposes).

 

4.24 Complete Assets. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24, the Company Group owns, has the right to use, or has good and valid title to and has full power and right, free and clear of all Liens of any kind or nature all of the assets used in the conduct of the Business as currently conducted.

 

4.25 Environmental Laws. The Company Group is, and since January 1, 2020, has been in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws, and there are no, and since January 1, 2020 there have not been, any Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company Group alleging any failure to so comply. No member of the Company Group has: (a) received any written notice of any alleged claim, violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or any claim of potential liability with regard to any Hazardous Material; (b) disposed of, emitted, discharged, handled, stored, transported, used or released any Hazardous Material; arranged for the disposal, discharge, storage or release of any Hazardous Material; or exposed any employee or other individual or property to any Hazardous Material; or (c) entered into any agreement that may require it to guarantee, reimburse, pledge, defend, hold harmless or indemnify any other Person with respect to liabilities arising out of Environmental Laws or the Hazardous Material Activity. There are no Hazardous Materials in, on or under any properties currently or formerly owned, leased, or used at any time by the Company Group.

 

4.26 No Finders’ Fees. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.26, there is no investment banker, broker, finder, or other intermediary that has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any other member the Company Group or any of its respective Affiliates who is entitled to any fee or commission from the Company, any other member of the Company Group, Merger Sub, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements.

 

4.27 Directors and Officers. Schedule 4.27 sets forth a complete and correct list of all directors and officers of each member of the Company Group.

 

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4.28 Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(a) The Company Group currently is and, since January 1, 2020, has been, in compliance with applicable Laws in all applicable jurisdictions related to (i) anti-corruption or anti-bribery, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”), (ii) economic sanctions administered, enacted or enforced by any Authority (collectively, “Sanctions Laws”), (iii) export controls, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, 15 C.F.R. §§ 730, et seq., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “Export Control Laws”), (iv) anti-money laundering, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957, and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries, (v) anti-boycott regulations, as administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and (vi) importation of goods, including Laws administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Title 19 of the U.S.C. and C.F.R., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “International Trade Control Laws”).

 

(b) Neither the Company Group nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative of the Company Group (acting on behalf of the Company Group), is or is acting under the direction of, on behalf of or for the benefit of a Person that is: (i) the subject of Sanctions Laws or identified on any sanctions or similar lists administered by an Authority, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals List, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Denied Persons List and Entity List, the U.S. Department of State’s Debarred List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant Authority, as amended from time to time, or any Person owned or controlled by any of the foregoing (collectively, “Prohibited Party”); (ii) the target of any Sanctions Laws; (iii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, including, as of the date of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria; or (iv) an officer or employee of any Authority or public international organization, or officer of a political party or candidate for political office. Neither the Company Group nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative of the Company Group (acting on behalf of the Company Group), (A) has participated in any transaction involving a Prohibited Party, or a Person who is the target of any Sanctions Laws, or any country or territory that was during such period or is, or whose government was during such period or is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, (B) to the Knowledge of the Company, has exported (including deemed exportation) or re-exported, directly or indirectly, any commodity, software, technology, or services in violation of any applicable Export Control Laws or (C) has participated in any transaction in violation of or connected with any purpose prohibited by Anti-Corruption Laws or any applicable International Trade Control Laws, including support for international terrorism and nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons proliferation.

 

(c) The Company has not received written notice of, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its Representatives is or has been the subject of, any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any Authority regarding any offense or alleged offense under Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions Laws, Export Control Laws or International Trade Control Laws (including by virtue of having made any disclosure relating to any offense or alleged offense) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry or proceeding.

 

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4.29 Insurance. All liability, property, workers’ compensation, and other insurance policies currently in effect that are owned or held by any member of the Company Group are set forth on Schedule 4.29, and such policies are in full force and effect. All premiums due and payable on such policies as of the date of this Agreement have been paid, and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by the applicable member of the Company Group with respect to any such policy that has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation or termination. There is no claim by any member of the Company Group or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other Person pending under any of such insurance policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters or issuers of such policies except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company. There is no existing default or, to the Knowledge of the Company, event that, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute noncompliance with, or a default under, any such policy or entitle any insurer to terminate or cancel any such policy. Such policies will not in any way be affected by or terminate or lapse by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements. The insurance policies to which any member of the Company Group is a party are, to the Knowledge of the Company, sufficient for compliance with all requirements of all Material Contracts to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and, in light of the nature of the Business and the Company Group’s assets and properties, are, to the Knowledge of the Company, in amounts and have coverage as are carried by Persons engaged in similar business and having similar assets and properties. Since January 1, 2020, no member of the Company Group has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets or operations or had its coverage limited by any insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance. The Company Group does not have any self-insurance arrangements. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.29, no fidelity bonds, letters of credit, performance bonds or bid bonds have been issued to or in respect of the Company Group.

 

4.30 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.30, as contemplated by this Agreement, or as provided in the Company Financial Statements, no Affiliate of the Company Group, current or former director, manager, officer or employee of any Person in the Company Group or any immediate family member or Affiliate of any of the foregoing (a) is a party to any Contract, or has otherwise entered into any transaction, understanding or arrangement, with any member of the Company Group, (b) owns any asset, property or right, tangible or intangible, that is used by any member of the Company Group, or (c) is a borrower or lender, as applicable, under any Indebtedness owed by or to any member of the Company Group since January 1, 2020, other than (i) Contracts with respect to or relating to employment or similar arrangements, including equity compensation awards, that are disclosed on Schedule 4.14(a)(x), and (ii) Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or entered into in accordance with Section 6.1(a).

 

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Article V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

 

Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, other than any risk factor disclosures or other similar cautionary or predictive statements therein, Parent and Merger Sub (each sometimes referred to individually as a “Parent Party” and collectively as the “Parent Parties”) hereby represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Parent is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio. Merger Sub is Parent’s only Subsidiary. Each Parent Party has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Each Parent Party is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or other assets makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Parent Parties. Merger Sub does not hold and has not held any material assets or incurred any material liabilities and has not carried on any business activities other than in connection with the Merger.

 

5.2 Corporate Authorization. Each of the Parent Parties has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in the case of the Merger, subject to receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery by each of the Parent Parties of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by each of the Parent Parties of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Parent Party. No other corporate proceedings on the part of such Parent Party are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Additional Agreements to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than, in the case of the Merger, the receipt of the Parent Stockholder Approval) or the Additional Agreements. This Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which such Parent Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Parent Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and thereto (other than a Parent Party), this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which such Parent Party is a party constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Parent Party, enforceable against such Parent Party in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The approval of the Merger and this Agreement by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Parent Stockholder Meeting, assuming a quorum is present, is the only vote of the holders of any of Parent’s capital stock necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger (the “Parent Stockholder Approval”), and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby and approve the Parent Proposals. The affirmative vote or written consent of the sole stockholder of the Merger Sub is the only vote of the holders of any of Merger Sub’s capital stock necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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5.3 Governmental Authorization. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4.3, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement by a Parent Party or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby requires any consent, approval, authorization, Order, license or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Authority except for (a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio, (b) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Proxy Statement and the clearance thereof by the SEC and (ii) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (c) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by the Company under the HSR Act and the termination of the waiting period required thereunder, or (d) any consent, approval, license, Order or other action, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Parent or Merger Sub.

 

5.4 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by a Parent Party of this Agreement or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with the organizational or constitutive documents of the Parent Parties, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or Order binding upon the Parent Parties, (c) (i) require consent, approval or waiver under, (ii) constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), (iii) violate, (iv) give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Parent Parties or to a loss of any material benefit to which any Parent Party is entitled, in the case of each of clauses (i) – (iv), under any provision of any material Contract to which a Parent Party is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any Parent Party’s properties, rights or assets, in the cases of clauses (b) through (d), other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Parent Parties.

 

5.5 Finders’ Fees. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.5, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Parent Parties or their Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Company or any of its Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements.

 

5.6 Issuance of Shares. The Closing Merger Consideration Shares and Earnout Shares, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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5.7 Capitalization.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 111,000,000 shares, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of Parent Class B Common Stock, and 1,000,000 shares of Parent Preferred Stock. As of the date hereof, there are 12,473,500 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock, 3,162,500 shares of Parent Class B Common Stock (held by the Persons and in the amounts set forth on Schedule 5.7(a)) and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. 11,580,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of 6,175,000 Parent Warrants and 5,405,000 Parent Private Warrants. No other shares of capital stock or other securities of Parent are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, Parent’s organizational documents or any contract to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound. Except as set forth in Parent’s organizational documents with respect to the Parent Stockholder Redemptions, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Parent Common Stock or any capital equity of Parent. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.

 

(b) Merger Sub is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Merger Sub Common Stock”), of which 1,000 shares of Merger Sub Common Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof. Parent owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of Merger Sub Common Stock and no other shares of capital stock or other securities of Merger Sub are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding shares of Merger Sub Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Ohio Revised Code, Merger Sub’s organizational documents or any contract to which Merger Sub is a party or by which Merger Sub is bound. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Merger Sub Common Stock or any equity capital of Merger Sub. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.

 

5.8 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Parent Parties expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the filings with the SEC and mailings to Parent’s stockholders with respect to the solicitation of proxies to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, if applicable, will, at the date of filing or mailing, at the time of the Parent Stockholder Meeting or at the Effective Time, 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 (subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth in the materials provided by Parent or included in the Parent SEC Documents, the Additional Parent SEC Documents, the SEC Statement or any Other Filing).

 

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5.9 Trust Fund. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent has at least $126,717,311 in the trust fund established by Parent for the benefit of its public stockholders (the “Trust Fund”) in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”) located in the United States and such monies are invested in specified U.S. government treasury bills or in specified money market fund and held in trust by the Trustee pursuant to the trust agreement dated as of the date of the Prospectus, between Parent and the Trustee (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions, and has not been amended or modified. There are no separate agreements, side letters or other agreements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Parent SEC Documents to be inaccurate in any material respect or that would entitle any Person (other than stockholders of Parent holding shares of Parent Class A Common Stock sold in the IPO who shall have elected to redeem their shares of Parent Class A Common Stock pursuant to Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except in accordance with the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Parent has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in material default or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and, to the Knowledge of Parent, no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to constitute such a material default thereunder. There are no claims or proceedings pending with respect to the Trust Account.

 

5.10 Listing. The Parent Class A Common Stock, Parent Warrants and Parent Units, are listed on Nasdaq, with trading tickers “NUBI,” “NUBIW” and “NUBIU”.

 

5.11 Board Approval.

 

(a) By resolutions duly adopted (and not thereafter modified or rescinded) by Parent’s Board of Directors (including any required committee or subgroup of such board), the Board of Directors of Parent has unanimously (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein; (ii) determined that this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which a Parent Party is a party, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are advisable and in the best interests of Parent and Parent’s stockholders; (iii) directed that the Parent Proposals be submitted to Parent’s stockholders for consideration at the Parent Stockholder Meeting, (iv) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby constitutes a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and (v) recommended to Parent’s stockholders to adopt and approve each of the Parent Proposals (“Parent Board Recommendation”).

 

(b) By resolutions duly adopted (and not thereafter modified or rescinded) by Merger Sub’s Board of Directors (including any required committee or subgroup of such board), Merger Sub’s Board of Directors has, unanimously (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Merger Sub of this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein, (ii) declared the advisability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of its sole stockholder and (iv) recommended to Merger Sub’s sole stockholder to adopt this Agreement.

 

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5.12 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements.

 

(a) Parent has timely filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any exhibits thereto, required to be filed or furnished by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing (the “Additional Parent SEC Documents”). Parent has made available to the Company true and complete copies in the form filed with the SEC of all of the following, except to the extent available in full without redaction on the SEC’s website through EDGAR for at least two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement: (i) Parent’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each fiscal quarter of Parent beginning with the first quarter Parent was required to file such a form, (ii) its Form 8-Ks filed since its initial public offering, and (iii) all other forms, reports, registration statements and other documents (other than preliminary materials if the corresponding definitive materials have been provided to the Company pursuant to this Section 5.12(a)) filed by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation (the forms, reports, registration statements and other documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above, whether or not available through EDGAR, collectively, the “Parent SEC Documents”).

 

(b) Parent SEC Documents were, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will be, 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. Parent SEC Documents did not, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will not, at the time they were or are filed, as the case may be, with the SEC (except to the extent that information contained in any Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document has been or is revised or superseded by a later filed Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document, then on the date of such filing) 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; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions in any information supplied or to be supplied by the Company Group expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the SEC Statement or Other Filing.

 

5.13 Certain Business Practices. Neither Parent nor any Representative of Parent has (a) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (b) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials, employees or political parties or campaigns, (c) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or (d) made any other unlawful payment. Neither Parent nor any director, officer, agent or employee of Parent (nor any Person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing, but solely in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of Parent) has, since the IPO, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any 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 Parent or assist Parent in connection with any actual or proposed transaction, which, if not given or continued in the future, would reasonably be expected to (i) adversely affect the business of Parent and (ii) subject Parent to suit or penalty in any private or governmental Action.

 

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5.14 Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of Parent are and have at all times been conducted in compliance with the Money Laundering Laws, and no Action involving Parent with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened.

 

5.15 Affiliate Transactions. Except as described in Parent SEC Documents, there are no transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between Parent or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of Sponsor or its Affiliates or any director, officer, employee, stockholder, warrant holder or Affiliate of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, on the other hand.

 

5.16 Litigation. There is no (a) Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their respective officers or directors or that affects its or their assets or properties or which, as of the date hereof, in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional Agreement, or (b) Order outstanding against Parent or any of its subsidiaries or that affects its or their assets or properties. Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is party to a settlement or similar agreement regarding any of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence that contains any ongoing obligations, restrictions or liabilities (of any nature) that are material to Parent and its subsidiaries.

 

5.17 Expenses, Indebtedness and Other Liabilities. Except as set forth in Parent SEC Documents, Parent does not have any Indebtedness, or other liabilities other than payables for expense incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

5.18 Contracts. Other than this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or any Contracts that are exhibits to the SEC Documents, there are no Contracts to which any of the Parent Parties are a party, which (a) creates or imposes a liability greater than $25,000, (b) may not be cancelled by Parent on less than sixty (60) calendar days’ prior notice without payment of a material penalty or termination fee or (c) prohibits, prevents, restricts or impairs in any material respect any business practice of any of the Parent Parties as its business is currently conducted, any acquisition of material property by the Parent Parties, or restricts in any material respect the ability of the Parent Parties from engaging in business as currently conducted by it or from competing with any other Person (each such contract, a “Parent Material Contract”). All Parent Material Contracts have been made available to the Company

 

5.19 No Employees. Neither of the Parent Parties (a) have any employees, except as set forth on Schedule 5.19, or (b) maintain, sponsor, contribute to or otherwise have any liability under any employee benefit plans. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Ancillary Agreements nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will: (a) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due by Parent to any director, officer or employee of Parent; or (b) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Parent’s officers and directors in connection with activities on Parent’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by Parent outside of the Trust Account, Parent has no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any officer or director.

 

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5.20 Absence of Certain Changes. Since its respective date of formation through the date of this Agreement, neither of the Parent Parties has (a) conducted business other than its formation, 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 Prospectus (including the investigation of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement) and related activities and (b) been subject to a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Parent’s SEC reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, since June 30, 2022 through the date of this Agreement, there has not been any action taken or agreed upon by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that would be prohibited by Section 6.1 if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of the Company.

 

5.21 Tax Matters.

 

(a) (i) Parent has duly and timely filed, taking into account any valid extensions, all income and other material Tax Returns which are required to be filed by or with respect to it, and has paid all Taxes (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns) that have become due; (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct, complete and accurate in all material respects; and (iii) Parent has not requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed.

 

(b) There is no Action pending, or proposed in writing, with respect to Taxes of the Parent.

 

(c) No statute of limitations in respect of the assessment or collection of any Taxes of Parent for which a Lien may be imposed on any of Parent’s assets has been waived or extended, which waiver or extension is in effect.

 

(d) To the Knowledge of Parent, (i) Parent has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting, payment, collection and withholding of Taxes, (ii) Parent has duly and timely withheld or collected, paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority, and (iii) Parent has reported all Taxes (including income, social, security and other payroll Taxes) required to be withheld or collected by Parent.

 

(e) To the Knowledge of Parent, Parent has (i) properly collected all sales Taxes required to be collected in the time and manner required by applicable Law and remitted all such sales Taxes to the applicable Taxing Authority in the time and in the manner required by applicable Law and (ii) properly requested, received and retained all necessary exemption certificates and other documentation supporting any claimed exemption or waiver of Taxes on sales or similar transactions as to which it would otherwise have been obligated to collect or withhold Taxes.

 

(f) There is no outstanding request for a ruling from any Taxing Authority, request for consent by a Taxing Authority for a change in a method of accounting with respect to Parent.

 

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(g) To the Knowledge of Parent, there is no Lien (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon any of the assets of Parent.

 

(h) No claim has ever been made in writing by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where Parent has not paid any Tax or filed Tax Returns, asserting that Parent is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction. To the Knowledge of Parent, Parent is not, nor has it ever been, subject to Tax in any country other than the respective countries of incorporation or formation of Parent by virtue of having a permanent establishment or other place of business in that country.

 

(i) There is no outstanding power of attorney from Parent authorizing anyone to act on behalf of Parent in connection with any Tax, Tax Return or Action relating to any Tax or Tax Return of Parent.

 

(j) Parent is not, nor has it ever been a party to, any Tax sharing, Tax indemnity or Tax allocation Contract (other than any customary commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the principal purpose of which is not Taxes).

 

(k) Parent has not been a member of an “affiliated group” within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return.

 

(l) Parent has no liability for the Taxes of any other Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor, (iii) by contract (other than any customary commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the principal purpose of which is not Taxes) or (iv) otherwise by operation of applicable Law.

 

(m) Parent is not 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.

 

(n) The Parent has not disclosed on its Tax Returns any Tax reporting position taken in any Tax Return which could result in the imposition of penalties under Section 6662 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law).

 

(o) Partner has not been a party to any “reportable transaction” or “listed transaction” as defined in Section 6707A(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

 

(p) Parent will not be required to include any material item of income or exclude any material item of deduction for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date as a result of: (i) the use of, or change in, a method of accounting with respect to any transaction that occurred on or before the Closing Date; (ii) any closing agreement described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law); (iii) any installment sale or open sale transaction disposition made in a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) any prepaid amount received in a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (v) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law); (vi) Parent having “subpart F income” (within the meaning of Section 952(a) of the Code) accrued on or before the Closing Date; (vii) “global intangible low-taxed income” of Parent within the meaning of Section 951A of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law) attributable to any taxable period (or portion thereof) on or before the Closing Date; or (viii) an election made pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

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(q) The unpaid Taxes of Parent (i) did not, as of the most recent fiscal month-end, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth in the financial statements of Parent and (ii) will not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of Parent in filing its Tax Return.

 

(r) To the Knowledge of Parent, Parent has been in compliance in all respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and legal requirements.

 

(s) Parent has not deferred the withholding or remittance of any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to any Applicable Wages for any employees of Parent and shall not defer the withholding or remittance any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to Applicable Wages for any employees of Parent up to and through and including Closing Date, notwithstanding Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (or any comparable regime for state or local Tax purposes).

 

(t) Parent is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(u) Merger Sub is a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent that was created for the sole purpose of facilitating the Merger. Merger Sub has not conducted and is not conducting any business activities, and has had no assets prior to the Effective Time (other than nominal assets contributed upon the formation of Merger Sub. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent owns all of the equity interests of Merger Sub, and other than the said equity interests, there are no outstanding obligations regarding the Merger Sub’s securities (including without limitations, with respect to any options, warrants, debentures and/or any other commitments and/or contingencies in connection with the Merger Sub’s security interests).

 

(v) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is an investment company as defined in (i) Sections 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or (ii) Section 351(e) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(w) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is under the jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11 or similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

 

(x) All Parent Common Stock exchanged in the Merger for Company Common Stock will be voting stock.

 

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Article VI

COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES PENDING CLOSING

 

6.1 Conduct of the Business. Each of the Company and Parent covenants and agrees that:

 

(a) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements, as required in connection with the Restructuring, as required by applicable Law, as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a), or as consented to in writing (which shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed) by Parent, with respect to any deviation by the Company, or the Company, with respect to any deviation by Parent or Merger Sub, from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (the “Interim Period”), each party shall (i) conduct its business only in the ordinary course (including the payment of accounts payable and the collection of accounts receivable), consistent with past practices, (ii) duly and timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed (or obtain a permitted extension with respect thereto) with the applicable Taxing Authorities and pay any and all Taxes due and payable during such time period, (iii) duly observe and comply with all applicable Law and Orders, and (iv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization, assets, Permits, properties, and material business relationships with employees, clients, suppliers, contract manufacturing organizations, contract research organizations and other third parties.

 

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements, as required in connection with the Restructuring, as required by applicable Law, or as set forth on Schedule 6.1(b), during the Interim Period, without the other party’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), neither the Company nor Parent shall, or permit its Subsidiaries to:

 

(i) amend, modify, or supplement its articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or governing documents except as contemplated hereby, or engage in any reorganization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, or similar transaction;

 

(ii) amend, waive any provision of, terminate prior to its scheduled expiration date, or otherwise compromise in any way or relinquish any material right under, (A) in the case of the Company, any Material Contract, or (B) in the case of Parent, any material contract, agreement, lease, license, or other right or asset of Parent;

 

(iii) other than in the ordinary course of business, modify, amend, or enter into any contract, agreement, lease, license, or commitment, including for capital expenditures, that extends for a term of one year or more or obligates the payment by the Company or Parent, as applicable, of more than $200,000 (individually or in the aggregate);

 

(iv) make any capital expenditures in excess of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate);

 

(v) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its material assets, except pursuant to existing contracts or commitments disclosed herein or in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vi) sell, exclusively license, abandon, permit to lapse, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any Company Owned IP;

 

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(vii) fail to use all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any material Registered Owned IP from becoming abandoned or expire, or intentionally fail to make an annuity or maintenance fee payment or file any necessary paper or action to maintain such rights;

 

(viii) (A) pay, declare, promise to pay or set aside any dividends, distributions or other amounts with respect to its capital stock or other equity securities; (B) pay, declare or promise to pay any other amount to any stockholder or other equity holder in its capacity as such; or (C) amend any term, right or obligation with respect to any outstanding shares of its capital stock or other equity securities;

 

(ix) (A) make any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or guarantee for the benefit of, any Person; (B) incur any Indebtedness in excess of $50,000 including drawings under the lines of credit, if any, other than (1) loans evidenced by promissory notes made to Parent as working capital advances as described in the Prospectus and (2) intercompany Indebtedness; or (C) repay or satisfy any Indebtedness, other than the repayment of Indebtedness in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(x) suffer or incur any Lien, except for Permitted Liens and Liens on Indebtedness permitted under clause (ix) above, on its assets;

 

(xi) delay, accelerate or cancel, or waive any material right with respect to, any receivables or Indebtedness owed to it, or write off or make reserves against the same (other than, in the case of the Company, in the ordinary course of business);

 

(xii) merge or consolidate or enter a similar transaction with, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or business of, any other Person, make any material investment in any Person, or be acquired by any other Person;

 

(xiii) terminate or allow to lapse any insurance policy protecting any of the Company Group’s or Parent’s, as applicable, assets, unless simultaneously with such termination or lapse, a replacement policy underwritten by an insurance company of nationally recognized standing having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the terminated or lapsed policy for substantially similar premiums or less is in full force and effect;

 

(xiv) adopt any severance, retention, or other employee benefit plan or fail to continue to make timely contributions to each such plan in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(xv) institute, settle or agree to settle any Action before any Authority, in each case in excess of $250,000 (exclusive of any amounts covered by insurance) or that imposes injunctive or other non-monetary relief on such party;

 

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(xvi) except as required by U.S. GAAP, make any material change in its accounting principles, methods or practices or write down the value of its assets;

 

(xvii) change its principal place of business or jurisdiction of organization;

 

(xviii) issue, redeem or repurchase any capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any shares of its capital stock or other securities, other than any Parent Stockholder Redemptions by its public stockholders as contemplated by Section 6.5(f);

 

(xix) (A) make, change, or revoke any material Tax election; (B) change any method of accounting other than as required under U.S. GAAP or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules or requirements; (C) settle or compromise any material claim, notice, audit report or assessment in respect of Taxes; (D) enter into any Tax allocation, Tax sharing, Tax indemnity or other closing agreement relating to any Taxes; or (E) surrender or forfeit any right to claim a Tax refund;

 

(xx) enter into any transaction with or distribute or advance any material assets or property to any of its Affiliates, other than the payment of salary and benefits in the ordinary course;

 

(xxi) other than as required by a Plan (A) increase or change the compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider, (B) accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider, (C) enter into, amend or terminate any Plan (or any plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a Plan if in effect on the date hereof) or grant, amend or terminate any awards thereunder, (D) fund any payments or benefits that are payable or to be provided under any Plan, (E) make any loan to any present or former employee or other individual service provider, other than advancement of expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, or (F) enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union or labor organization;

 

(xxii) fail to duly observe and conform to any applicable Laws and Orders;

 

(xxiii) authorize, recommend, propose, or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization, or similar transaction involving it or any Subsidiary; or

 

(xxiv) enter into any agreement or otherwise agree or commit to take, or cause to be taken, any of the actions set forth in this Section 6.1(b).

 

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(c) Neither party shall (i) take or agree to take any action with the intent to cause any representation or warranty of such party to be inaccurate or misleading in any respect at, or as of any time prior to, the Closing Date, or (ii) omit to take, or agree to omit to take, any action with the intent to cause any such representation or warranty to be inaccurate or misleading in any respect at any such time.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and Parent and their respective Subsidiaries shall be permitted to take any and all actions required to comply in all material respects with the quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or another Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any governmental authority (including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization) in each case in connection with, related to or in response to COVID-19, including the CARES Act or any changes thereto, or any future epidemics, pandemics, or similar health emergencies.

 

6.2 Exclusivity.

 

(a) Subject to Section 6.2(b), during the Interim Period, neither the Company, on the one hand, nor Parent, on the other hand, shall, and such Persons shall cause each of their respective Representatives not to, without the prior written consent of the other (which consent may be withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the party asked to provide consent), directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, engage or participate in negotiations with any Person concerning any Alternative Transaction, (ii) take any other action intended or designed to facilitate the efforts of any Person relating to a possible Alternative Transaction or (iii) approve, recommend or enter into any Alternative Transaction or any contract or agreement related to any Alternative Transaction. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, shall, and shall cause each of their Representatives, to terminate any existing discussion or negotiations with any Persons other than the Company or Parent, as applicable, concerning any Alternative Transaction. Each of the Company and Parent shall be responsible for any acts or omissions of any of its respective Representatives that, if they were the acts or omissions of the Company or Parent, as applicable, would be deemed a breach of such party’s obligations hereunder (it being understood that such responsibility shall be in addition to and not by way of limitation of any right or remedy the Company or Parent, as applicable, may have against such Representatives with respect to any such acts or omissions). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Alternative Transaction” means any of the following transactions involving the Company or Parent or their respective Subsidiaries (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements): (A) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other similar transaction; (B) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or a material portion of the assets of such Person or any capital stock or other Equity Interests of such party or its Subsidiaries in a single transaction or series of transactions; and (C) any purchase, lease, exchange, transfer or other acquisition of (1) all or a material portion of the assets of any Person by the Company or Parent or their respective Subsidiaries or (2) any capital stock or other Equity Interests of any Person by the Company or Parent or their respective Subsidiaries, in each case, in a single transaction or series of transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6.2 shall prohibit the G3 Group from any activity or Alternative Transaction involving the Graphene Business.

 

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(b) In the event that there is an unsolicited proposal for, or an indication of interest in entering into, an Alternative Transaction, communicated in writing to the Company or Parent or any of their respective Representatives (each, an “Alternative Proposal”), such party shall as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day after receipt thereof) advise the other parties to this Agreement, orally and in writing, of such Alternative Proposal and the material terms and conditions thereof (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Proposal. The Company and Parent shall keep each other informed on a reasonably current basis of material developments with respect to any such Alternative Proposal. As used herein with respect to Parent, the term “Alternative Proposal” shall not include the receipt by Parent of any unsolicited communications (including the receipt of draft non-disclosure agreements) in the ordinary course of business inquiring as to Parent’s interest in a potential target for a business combination; provided, however, that Parent shall inform the Person initiating such communication of the existence of this Agreement and its obligations under this Section 6.2.

 

6.3 Access to Information. During the Interim Period, each of the Company and Parent shall, and shall direct their Subsidiaries to, upon reasonable advance written notice, provide, or cause to be provided, to the other and their authorized Representatives during normal business hours reasonable access to their offices, properties and Books and Records, in a manner so as to not interfere with their normal business operations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or any member of the Company Group, on the other hand, shall be required to provide to the other or any of its authorized Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any applicable Law, including any Data Protection Law, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any contract or other agreement with such third party, (C) violate any legally-binding obligation with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure. or privacy, or (D) jeopardize protections afforded under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in case of each of clauses (A) through (D), the Company or Parent shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, use their commercially reasonable efforts to (1) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, doctrine, contract, agreement, obligation or Law and (2) provide such information in a manner without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law), or (ii) if any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and any Parent Party or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto; provided that, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), the withholding party shall provide to the other prompt written notice of the withholding of access or information on any such basis.

 

6.4 Notices of Certain Events. During the Interim Period, each of Parent and the Company shall promptly notify the other of:

 

(a) any notice from any Person alleging or raising the possibility that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement might give rise to any Action or other rights by or on behalf of such Person or result in the loss of any rights or privileges of the Company (or Parent Parties, post-Closing) to any such Person or create any Lien on any of the Company Group’s or Parent’s assets;

 

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(b) any notice or other communication from any Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements;

 

(c) any Actions commenced or, to the Knowledge of Parent or the Company, as applicable, threatened, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting either party or any of their stockholders or their equity, assets, or business or that relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements;

 

(d) the occurrence of any fact or circumstance that constitutes or results, or would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in, a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(e) any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of such party contained in this Agreement, or any failure of such party to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder, that would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article IX not to be satisfied by the Closing; provided, however, that no such notification or failure to provide such notification pursuant to clause (d) or clause (e) of this Section 6.4 shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement, and a failure to comply with clause (d) or clause (e) of this Section 6.4 shall not, of itself, cause the condition stated in Section 9.2(a) or Section 9.3(a), as the case may be, to fail to be satisfied.

 

6.5 Cooperation with Proxy Statement; Other Filings.

 

(a) The Company shall promptly provide to Parent such information concerning the Company Group, G3 and the G3 Securityholders as is either required by the federal securities Laws or reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. Promptly after the receipt by Parent from the Company of all such information, Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC, and with all other applicable regulatory bodies, a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from holders of Parent Common Stock sufficient to obtain Parent Stockholder Approval at a meeting of holders of Parent Common Stock to be called and held for such purpose (the “Parent Stockholder Meeting”).

 

(b) Parent: (i) shall permit the Company and its counsel to review and comment on the Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto (or other related documents) at a reasonable time prior to the filing except to the extent not legally permissible; (ii) shall consider any such comments reasonably and in good faith; and (iii) shall not file the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without giving reasonable and good faith consideration to the comments of the Company. As promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, Parent shall provide to the Company and its counsel notice and a copy of all correspondence (or, to the extent such correspondence is oral, a summary thereof), including any comments from the SEC or its staff, between Parent or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff or other government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement and, in each case, shall consult reasonably and in good faith with the Company and its counsel concerning any such correspondence. Parent shall not file any response letters to any comments from the SEC without consulting reasonably and in good faith with the Company except to the extent not practicable or legally permissible. Parent will advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed with the SEC and the time when Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC.

 

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(c) As soon as practicable following the date on which the Proxy Statement is cleared (the “Proxy Statement Clearance Date”), Parent shall distribute the Proxy Statement to the holders of Parent Common Stock and, pursuant thereto, shall call the Parent Stockholder Meeting to be held on a date no later than 45 days after the Proxy Statement Clearance Date in accordance with its organizational documents and the laws of the State of Delaware and, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, solicit proxies from such holders to vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the transactions contemplated hereby and the other matters presented to the Parent Stockholders for approval or adoption at the Parent Stockholder Meeting.

 

(d) Parent and the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of and rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and all applicable Laws of the State of Delaware and the State of Ohio, and Nasdaq rules, in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), as applicable, the solicitation of proxies pursuant to the Proxy Statement and the calling and holding of the Parent Stockholder Meeting. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Proxy Statement, on the date it is first distributed to Parent Stockholders and on the date of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, (i) complies in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and (ii) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, that Parent shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any information relating to the Company (or any other information) that is furnished by the Company expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the information relating to the Company that has been supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, (i) complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) on the date that the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first distributed to Parent Stockholders or on the date of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, a change in the information relating to the Company or any other information furnished by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement that would make the preceding sentence incorrect should be discovered by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, as applicable, such party shall promptly notify the other parties of such change or discovery and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to Parent’s and the Company’s stockholders. In connection therewith, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall instruct their respective employees, counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized Representatives to reasonably cooperate with Parent as relevant if required to achieve the foregoing.

 

(e) In accordance with Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including the DGCL and rules and regulations of Nasdaq, in the Proxy Statement, Parent shall seek from the holders of Parent Capital Stock the approval of the following proposals: (i) the Parent Stockholder Approval; (ii) adoption and approval of the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Parent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, including the change of the name of Parent to such name as shall be designated by the Company and Parent (the “Amended Parent Charter”); (iii) the issuance of the Parent Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement; (iv) the approval and election of the members of the Board of Directors of Parent immediately after the Closing (as contemplated by Section 2.7); (v) without limiting the generality of items (iii) and (iv) above, the approval of the issuance of more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to G3 and Arbor Lake Capital in connection with the Merger and/or the Financing Agreements, in each case under applicable Nasdaq rules; (vi) approval and adoption of the Equity Plan; (vii) approval to adjourn the Parent Stockholder Meeting, if necessary; and (viii) approval to obtain any and all other approvals necessary to effect the consummation of the Merger as reasonably determined by the Company and Parent (the proposals set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (ix), collectively, the “Required Parent Proposals” and, together with the proposal set forth in the foregoing clause (viii), the “Parent Proposals”).

 

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(f) Parent, with the assistance of the Company, shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly respond to any comments from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement and have the Proxy Statement cleared under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC. As soon as practicable after clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC, Parent shall cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to holders of Parent Common Stock. The Offer Documents shall provide the public stockholders of Parent with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares of Parent Class A Common Stock, all in accordance with and as required by Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Trust Agreement, applicable Law and any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Parent shall call and hold the Parent Stockholder Meeting as promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement is cleared for the purpose of seeking the approval of each of the Parent Proposals, and Parent shall consult in good faith with the Company with respect to the date on which such meeting is to be held. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the approval of the Required Parent Proposals and the other Parent Proposal. Parent’s Board of Directors shall include the Parent Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement and shall recommend that the Parent Stockholders vote in favor of the Parent Proposals and neither Parent’s Board of Directors, nor any committee thereof, shall withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, amend, modify or change, in each case in a manner adverse to the Company, the Parent Board Recommendation. If on the date for which the Parent Stockholder Meeting is scheduled (including any postponed or adjourned date), Parent has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, Parent shall make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, each such postponement or adjournment to be no more than 10 Business Days, and shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the Required Parent Proposals and the other Parent Proposal; provided that, without the consent of the Company, Parent shall not postpone or adjourn the Parent Stockholder Meeting to a date later than the Closing Date.

 

(g) The Company acknowledges that a substantial portion of the Proxy Statement shall include disclosure regarding the Company and its management, operations and financial condition. Accordingly, the Company agrees to as promptly as reasonably practical provide Parent with such information as shall be requested by Parent for inclusion in or attachment to the Proxy Statement, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that such information is accurate in all material respects and complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company understands that such information shall be included in the Proxy Statement or responses to comments from the SEC or its staff in connection therewith.

 

(h) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any Additional Agreements, each of Parent and the Company may make any public filing with respect to the Merger, this Agreement, or the Additional Agreements to the extent required by applicable Law, provided that (i) prior to making any filing that includes information regarding the Company Group, Parent shall provide a copy of the filing to the Company and permit the Company to make revisions to protect confidential or proprietary information of the Company Group, and (ii) prior to making any filing that includes information regarding the Parent Parties, the Company shall provide a copy of the filing to Parent and permit Parent to make revisions to protect confidential or proprietary information of the Parent Parties.

 

(i) Prior to the date when the Proxy Statement is cleared, each of Parent and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all or any action required under any applicable federal or state securities Laws in connection with the issuance of the Parent Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement. Each of Parent and the Company also agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company, G3 or the G3 Securityholders as may be reasonably requested by Parent in connection with any such action.

 

(j) In connection with the preparation and filing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments thereto, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent and shall make its directors, officers and appropriate senior employees reasonably available to Parent and its counsel in connection with the drafting of the Proxy Statement, and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC or its staff thereon.

 

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(k) Parent and the Company shall mutually agree upon and issue a press release announcing the effectiveness of this Agreement. Parent and the Company shall cooperate in good faith with respect to the prompt preparation of such press release, and, as promptly as practicable after the effective date of this Agreement (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), Parent shall file with the SEC, with cooperation and following consultation from the Company, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act to report the execution of this Agreement as of its effective date. Prior to the Closing, Parent and the Company shall mutually agree upon and prepare the press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Concurrently with or promptly after the Closing, Parent shall issue such press release. Parent and the Company shall cooperate in good faith with respect to the preparation of such press release, and, at least five (5) days prior to the Closing, Parent shall prepare, with cooperation and consultation from the Company, a draft Form 8-K announcing the Closing, together with, or incorporating by reference, the required pro forma financial statements and the historical financial statements prepared by the Company and its accountant. Concurrently with the Closing, or as soon as practicable (but in any event within four (4) Business Days) thereafter, Parent shall file such Form 8-K with the SEC.

 

6.6 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Governmental Consents.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or advisable, or as reasonably requested by the other parties, to consummate and make effective as promptly as is reasonably practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain all necessary actions, nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, authorizations, Orders, or other actions from all applicable Authorities prior to the Effective Time, (ii) avoid an Action by any Authority, and (iii) execute and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Subject to applicable Law, each of the Company and Parent agrees to (i) reasonably cooperate and consult with the other regarding obtaining and making all notifications and filings with Authorities, (ii) furnish to the other such information and assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any notifications or filings, (iii) keep the other reasonably apprised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices and other communications received by such party from, or given by such party to, any third party or any Authority with respect to such transactions, (iv) permit the other party to review and incorporate the other party’s reasonable comments in any communication to be given by it to any Authority with respect to any filings required to be made with, or action or nonactions, consents, approvals, authorizations, Orders, waivers, expirations or terminations of waiting periods, clearances, consents or orders required to be obtained from, such Authority in connection with execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (v) to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other in advance of and not participate in any meeting or discussion relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, either in person or by telephone, with any Authority in connection with the proposed transactions unless it gives the other party the opportunity to attend and observe; provided, however, that, in each of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, that materials may be redacted (A) to remove references concerning the valuation of such party and its Affiliates, (B) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements or applicable Laws, and (C) as necessary to address reasonable attorney-client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Company and Parent agrees, to the extent required by the HSR Act, to file or cause to be filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice, all reports and other documents required to be filed by such party under the HSR Act concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to promptly comply with or cause to be complied with any requests by such Governmental Authorities for additional information concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case so that the initial thirty (30) day waiting period applicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall expire as soon as practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Company and Parent will coordinate and cooperate with one another in exchanging such information and providing such assistance as the other party may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing. To the extent available as of the time of filing, each party agrees to request, and to cooperate with the other party in requesting, early termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act. The Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other, shall be responsible for and pay one-half (1/2) of the filing fees payable to the Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the time of any such filing.

 

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(d) During the Interim Period, Parent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall each notify the other in writing promptly after learning of any stockholder demands or other stockholder Action (including derivative claims) relating to this Agreement, any of the Additional Agreements or any matters relating thereto commenced against Parent, any of the Parent Parties or any of its or their respective Representatives in their capacity as a representative of a Parent Party or against any member of the Company Group, as applicable (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”). Parent shall control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation brought against Parent, the Merger Sub or members of the boards of directors of Parent or Merger Sub and the Company shall control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation brought against any member of the Company Group or the members of their boards of directors; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or Parent settle, compromise or come to any arrangement with respect to any Transaction Litigation, or agree to do the same, without the prior written consent of the other (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, that it shall be deemed to be reasonable for Parent (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) to withhold, condition or delay its consent if any such settlement or compromise (i) does not provide for a legally binding, full, unconditional and irrevocable release of each Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company and its Subsidiaries and related parties (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) and its respective Representative that is the subject of such Transaction Litigation, (ii) provides for any non-monetary, injunctive, equitable or similar relief against any Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company and its Subsidiaries and related parties (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or (iii) contains an admission of wrongdoing or Liability by a Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company and its Subsidiaries and related parties (if the Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) and its respective Representative that is the subject of such Transaction Litigation. Parent and the Company shall each (A) keep the other reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation (to the extent such action would not jeopardize an attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine), (B) give the other the opportunity to, at its own cost and expense, participate in the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation and reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation, (C) consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to any such Transaction Litigation, and (D) reasonably cooperate with each other including with respect to the defense, settlement, and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation.

 

6.7 Nasdaq Listing Requirements. From the date hereof through the Closing, Parent shall ensure that Parent remains listed on Nasdaq as a public company, and that Parent Common Stock remains listed, on Nasdaq. As of the Closing and continuing through the period that is 36 months following the Closing, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that Parent is listed as a public company, and that shares of Parent Common Stock are listed on Nasdaq.

 

6.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Liability Insurance.

 

(a) All rights to indemnification for acts or omissions occurring through the Closing Date now existing in favor of the current directors and officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Parent Parties and Persons who served as a director, officer, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise at the request of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Parent Parties, as provided in their respective organizational documents or in any indemnification agreements shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the organizational documents of Parent and the Surviving Corporation and their respective Subsidiaries to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement in the organizational documents of, with respect to Parent, Parent, and with respect to the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

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(b) Prior to the Closing, Parent and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in order to obtain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for Parent and the Company that shall be effective as of Closing and will cover (i) those Persons who were directors and officers of the Company prior to the Closing and (ii) those Persons who will be the directors and officers of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time) at and after the Closing on terms not less favorable than the better of (x) the terms of the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in place for the Company’s directors and officers and (y) the terms of a typical directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for a company whose equity is listed on Nasdaq which policy has a scope and amount of coverage that is reasonably appropriate for a company of similar characteristics (including the line of business and revenues) as the Company.

 

(c) The provisions of this Section 6.8 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Person who will have been a director or officer of the Company or Parent for all periods ending on or before the Closing Date and may not be changed with respect to any officer or director without his or her written consent.

 

(d) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall obtain a six year prepaid “tail” policy for the extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, for claims reporting or discovery period of six years from and after the Effective Time, on terms and conditions providing coverage retentions, limits and other material terms (other than premiums payable) substantially equivalent to the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company with respect to matters arising on or before the Effective Time, covering without limitation the transactions contemplated hereby. The costs of the policy obtained under this Section 6.8(d), subject to the Closing, will be paid pursuant to Section 11.5.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 6.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger indefinitely and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on all successors and assigns of the Parent and the Surviving Corporation. In the event that Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.8.

 

(f) Parent shall maintain customary D&O insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was a director or officer of the Parent (at any time, including prior to the date hereof) against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any such capacity, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Parent would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of the Parent Certificate of Incorporation, the Parent Bylaws or Section 145 of the DGCL or any other provision of Law.

 

(g) Parent shall obtain and deliver to the Company resignations executed by each director and officer of Parent in office immediately prior to the Effective Time, such resignations to be effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

6.9 Confidentiality. Except as necessary to complete the SEC Statement or any Other Filings, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall comply with the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

6.10 Publicity. None of Parent and/or Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall, nor authorize any of their respective Representatives to, issue any press releases or make any public announcements with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of, with respect to the Company, Parent and, with respect to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld; provided, however, that each party may make any such announcement or other communication (a) if such announcement or other communication is required by applicable Law or applicable stock exchange rules, in which case the disclosing party and its Representatives shall use reasonable best efforts to consult with the Company, if the disclosing party is a Parent Party, or Parent, if the disclosing party is the Company, to review such announcement or communication and the opportunity to comment thereon and the disclosing Party shall consider such comments in good faith, (b) to the extent such announcements or other communications contain only information previously disclosed in a public statement, press release, or other communication previously approved in accordance with this Section 6.10, and (c) to Authorities in connection with any actions, nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, authorizations, Orders, or other actions from such Authorities required to be made or obtained under this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

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Article VII

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

7.1 No Trading in Parent Securities During the Interim Period. The Company shall not, and it shall direct its Representatives to not, directly or indirectly: (a) purchase or sell (including entering into any hedge transaction with respect to) any Parent Class A Common Stock, Parent Unit, or Parent Warrant, except in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, including Regulation M under the Exchange Act; or (b) use or disclose or permit any other Person to use or disclose any information that Parent or its Affiliates has made or makes available to the Company and its Representatives in violation of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other applicable securities Law.

 

7.2 Company’s Stockholders Approval.

 

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC and in any event within five Business Days following the date when the Proxy Statement is cleared (the “G3 Stockholder Written Consent Deadline”), the Company shall obtain and deliver to Parent a true, complete and correct copy of a written consent (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent) evidencing the G3 Stockholder Approval that is duly executed by G3 and the G3 Stockholders that hold at least the requisite number and class of issued and outstanding shares of stock required to obtain the G3 Stockholder Approval (the “G3 Stockholder Written Consent”).

 

(b) The Company’s Board of Directors shall recommend that G3 and the G3 Stockholders vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement and any other related matters that the Company submits to G3 and the G3 Stockholders, and neither the Company’s Board of Directors, nor any committee thereof, shall withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, amend, modify or change, in each case in a manner adverse to Parent, the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

7.3 Additional Financial Information. No later than March 15, 2023, the Company shall provide or make available to Parent the Company’s audited financial statements for the 2022 fiscal year, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet as of such date, the consolidated statement of operations as of such date, the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ deficit, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the 2022 fiscal year (the “2022 Audited Financial Statements”). Subsequent to the delivery of the 2022 Audited Financial Statements, the Company’s reviewed consolidated interim financial information for each quarterly period thereafter shall be delivered or made available to Parent no later than 45 calendar days following the end of each quarterly period. All of the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Section 7.3, shall be prepared under U.S. GAAP in accordance with requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for public companies. The Company will promptly provide additional Company financial information (including information required to prepare a Management Discussion and Analysis) reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and any other filings to be made by Parent with the SEC.

 

7.4 Lock-Up Agreements. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause G3 and Arbor Lake Capital to enter into the Company Lock-Up Agreement with Parent to be effective as of the Closing, pursuant to which that portion of the Merger Consideration Shares covered thereby shall be subject to a lock-up for a period of no less than six months in accordance with the terms and conditions more fully set forth in the Company Lock-Up Agreement. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall cause the Sponsor and the stockholders of Parent set forth on Schedule 7.4(b) to enter into a lock-up arrangement with Parent to be effective as of the Closing, pursuant to which the Merger Consideration Shares shall be subject to a lock-up for a period of no less than six months in accordance with the terms and conditions more fully set forth in the Sponsor Support Agreement.

 

7.5 G3 Tax Lien. Prior to the Closing, G3 and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to pay or otherwise satisfy all Taxes and Tax liabilities, including interest and penalties, associated with the G3 Tax Lien and cause the G3 Tax Lien to be released in full with no further liability to G3, the Company or any of their respective assets.

 

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Article VIII

COVENANTS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

 

8.1 Trust Account. Parent covenants that it shall cause the funds in the Trust Account to be disbursed in accordance with the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including for the payment of (a) all amounts payable to public holders of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock in respect of Parent Stockholder Redemptions, (b) deferred underwriting commissions and the expenses of Parent and the Company Group to the third parties to which they are owed, and (c) the remaining monies in the Trust Account to the Surviving Corporation after the Closing. Upon provision of notice of the anticipated Closing Date to the Trustee (which notice Parent shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), in accordance with, subject to and pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (a) at the Closing, (i) Parent shall cause the documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered, and (ii) Parent shall, with the consent of the Company, provide instructions to the Trustee for the disbursement of any funds remaining in the Trust Account following the payment of all amounts payable for Parent Stockholder Redemptions. The Trust Agreement shall terminate in accordance with its terms.

 

8.2 Obligations of Merger Sub. Merger Sub shall, and Parent shall take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to, perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. No later than one Business Day after the date hereof, Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, shall take all necessary action to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby and shall promptly thereafter provide written evidence of such action to the Company.

 

8.3 Compliance with SPAC Agreements. Without the prior written consent of the Company, during the Interim Period, Parent shall (a) comply with the Trust Agreement, (b) the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2022, by and between Parent and EF Hutton, a division of Benchmark Investments, LLC and (c) enforce the terms of the letter agreement, dated as of March 10, 2022, by and among Parent, Sponsor and each of the officers and directors of Parent named therein.

 

8.4 Parent Public Filings; Nasdaq.

 

(a) During the Interim Period, Parent will 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 reasonable best efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of the Parent Class A Common Stock, the Parent Units and the Parent Warrants on Nasdaq.

 

(b) During the Interim Period, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause (i) Parent’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been approved and (ii) the Parent Class A Common Stock, including the Merger Consideration Shares and the Parent Warrants to be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement and in any event prior to the Effective Time.

 

8.5 Amended Parent Charter; Amended Bylaws. Prior to the Effective Time, subject to the Parent Stockholder Approval, Parent shall duly amend and restate its certificate of incorporation to be in the form of the Amended Parent Charter by filing the Amended Parent Charter with the Delaware Secretary of State. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall duly amend and restate its by-laws in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Amended Bylaws”).

 

8.6 Certain Tax Matters.

 

(a) Each of Parent and the Company shall cause the Restructuring to qualify for the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment. Each of Parent and the Company shall cause the Merger to qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(b) Neither Parent nor the Company shall (and no Party shall permit or cause its respective Affiliates to) take any action, or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause (i) the Restructuring to fail to qualify for the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment, or (ii) the Merger to fail to qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.

 

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(c) Parent and the Company intend to report and, except to the extent otherwise required by a change in Law, shall report, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (A) the Restructuring in accordance with the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required by a “determination” (within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law)), and (B) the Merger in accordance with the Merger Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required by a “determination” (within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law)). Each of the Parties agrees to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment or the Merger Intended Tax Treatment by any Taxing Authority.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither Loeb & Loeb LLP nor Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP shall be required to provide any opinion to any party regarding the Restructuring Intended Tax Treatment or the Merger Intended Tax Treatment; provided, however, in the event that in connection with the preparation and filing of the Proxy Statement, the SEC requests or requires tax opinions, each Party shall execute and deliver customary tax representation letters to the advisor providing such option in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such advisor dated and executed as of the date the Proxy Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and such other date(s) as determined reasonably necessary by such advisor in connection with the preparation and filing of the Proxy Statement.

 

(e) Each of the Parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to) cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by another party, in connection with the filing of relevant Tax Returns, and any Tax proceeding, audit or examination. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other Party’s request) the provision (with the right to make copies) of records and information reasonably relevant to any Tax proceeding, audit or examination, making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder; provided, however, that the Party requesting assistance shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the party providing such assistance; provided, further, no party shall be required to provide assistance at times or in amounts that would interfere unreasonably with the business and operations of such party.

 

(f) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other substantially similar Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “Transfer Taxes”) (other than Transfer Taxes that are solely the obligation of G3 pursuant to state or local Law) shall be borne equally by the Company and the Parent. All necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Transfer Taxes (other than Transfer Taxes that are solely the obligation of G3 pursuant to state or local Law) shall be prepared and filed by the party required to file such Tax Returns under applicable Law and the cost and expense associated with the preparation and filing of such Tax Returns shall be borne equally by the Company and the Parent.

 

8.7 Extensions of Time to Consummate a Business Combination.

 

(a) First Extension Period. If the Closing has not occurred by March 15, 2023, Parent shall, with the Company’s reasonable cooperation, take such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months (i.e., to June 15, 2023) (the “First Extension Period”), including providing any required notices to the Trustee. Each of Parent and, so long as Parent takes such actions as are described in the immediately preceding sentence and provides written notice thereof to the Company not less than two Business Days prior to March 15, 2023, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, into the Trust Account, not later than March 15, 2023, 100% of such funds as are required pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months through the First Extension Period.

 

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(b) Second Extension Period. If the Closing shall not be consummated on or prior to the expiration of the First Extension Period, Parent shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time for it to complete an initial business combination for a second additional period of three months (i.e., to September 15, 2023) (the “Second Extension Period”), including providing any required notices to the Trustee. Each of Parent and, so long as Parent takes such actions as are described in the immediately preceding sentence and provides written notice thereof to the Company not less than two Business Days prior to the expiration of the First Extension Period, Parent and the Company, shall each deposit, or cause to be deposited, into the Trust Account, not later than September 15, 2023, 50% of such funds as are required pursuant to the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months through the Second Extension Period.

 

(c) If (i) Parent and the Company reasonably and in good faith determine that it has become impossible for the Closing to occur prior to the expiration of the Second Extension Period and (ii) neither Parent nor the Company determines in its sole discretion not to extend the period of time to complete an initial business combination for an additional period, then Parent and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to determine the portion of the extension payment required under the Trust Agreement and Parent’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that each party shall pay by or on September 1, 2023 in order to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination for another three (3) months. The portion of the extension payment payable by the Company, if any, shall be deposited in an escrow account with an escrow agent as mutually determined by Parent and the Company. In the event that the Closing occurs prior to the expiration of the Second Extension Period, the applicable extension fee deposited in the escrow account shall be returned to the Company.

 

8.8 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall take all such steps (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) as are reasonably necessary to cause any acquisition or disposition of the Merger Consideration Shares or any derivative thereof that occurs or is deemed to occur by reason of or pursuant to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby by each Person who is or will be or may become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Parent, including by virtue of being deemed a director or executive officer, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

8.9 Equity Plan. Prior to the Proxy Statement Clearance Date, Parent shall approve, and subject to approval of the Parent Stockholders, adopt, an incentive equity plan that provides for grant of awards to employees and other service providers of the Parent, Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (the “Incentive Equity Plan”). The Incentive Equity Incentive Plan shall have such number of shares available for issuance equal to ten percent (10%) of the shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing. The Incentive Equity Incentive Plan shall have such number of shares available for issuance equal to ten percent (10%) of the shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing and shall include a five percent (5%) “evergreen” provision that will provide for an automatic increase on the first day of each fiscal year equal to five percent (5%) of the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding on December 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding the date of such increase.

 

8.10 Financing Agreements.

 

(a) During the Interim Period, Parent, with the assistance of the Company and its Affiliates, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain subscription agreements with investors relating to a purchase of Parent Class A Common Stock through a private placement (the “Financing” and such documents, the “Financing Agreements”). The Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken all things necessary, proper or advisable to pursue such Financing. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Financing Agreements on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the Financing Agreements and to: (a) satisfy in all material respects on a timely basis all conditions and covenants in the Financing Agreements and otherwise comply with its obligations thereunder; and (b) enforce its rights under the Financing Agreements in accordance with its terms. For the avoidance of doubt, the failure to obtain any binding commitments or agreements in respect of Financing shall not constitute a breach in any material respect or otherwise of any covenant, agreement or obligation under this Agreement required to be complied with by Parent for purposes of Section 9.3 or otherwise.

 

(b) Both Parent and the Company shall in good faith endeavor to execute a committed Financing Agreement for an amount no less than Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date.

 

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8.11 Post-Closing Directors. Each of Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that, effective at the Effective Time: (i) each of Parent’s Board of Directors and Merger Sub’s Board of Directors consist of seven directors; (ii) the members of Parent’s Board of Directors are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 2.8; and (iii) the members of the Surviving Corporation’s Parent’s Board of Directors are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 2.7(a).

 

Article IX

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

9.1 Condition to the Obligations of the Parties. The obligations of all of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible under applicable law) by Parent and the Company of all the following conditions:

 

(a) No Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order which is then in effect that makes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibits consummation of such transactions.

 

(b) All applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act with respect to the Merger shall have expired or been terminated, and (ii) each consent, approval or authorization of any Authority required of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to consummate the Merger, as may be reasonably agreed upon by the Parties after the date hereof shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.

 

(c) There shall not be any Action commenced or asserted in writing (and not orally) by any Authority to enjoin or otherwise materially restrict the consummation of the Closing.

 

(d) The G3 Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

 

(e) Each of the Required Parent Proposals shall have been approved at the Parent Stockholder Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

(f) Parent’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved and, immediately following the Effective Time, Parent shall satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and Parent shall not have received any notice of non-compliance therewith, and the Parent Class A Common Stock shall have been listed on Nasdaq.

 

(g) The Proxy Statement shall have been cleared by the SEC in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

9.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver in Parent’s sole and absolute discretion, of all the following further conditions:

 

(a) The Company shall have duly performed or complied with, in all material respects, all of its covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder required to be performed or complied with (without giving effect to any “in all material respects” qualifiers contained therein) by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (without giving effect to any materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifications therein), other than the Company Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and, after taking into account the completion of the Restructuring and full compliance with the Supply and License Agreement and/or the Shared Services Agreement, as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date), except for, in each case, such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) The Company Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and, after taking into account the completion of the Restructuring and full compliance with the Supply and License Agreement and/or the Shared Services Agreement, as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date).

 

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(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any Effect in respect of the Company Group that individually, or together with any other Effect, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

(e) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, in such Person’s capacity as an officer of the Company and not in such Person’s individual capacity, certifying the accuracy of the provisions of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 9.2.

 

(f) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of the Company, in such Person’s capacity as an officer of the Company and not in such Person’s individual capacity, attaching true, correct and complete copies of: (i) the Company Articles of Incorporation, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio; (ii) the Company’s Bylaws; (iii) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company approving this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the G3 Stockholder Written Consent; and (iv) a certificate of good standing of the Company, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio.

 

(g) Each of the Company, G3, Arbor Lake Capital and the G3 Securityholders, as applicable, shall have duly executed and delivered to Parent a copy of each Additional Agreement to which the Company, G3 or such G3 Securityholder, as applicable, is a party.

 

(h) G3 and Arbor Lake Capital shall have delivered to Parent a duly executed IRS Form W-9; provided, however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to deliver such certificate, the transaction shall nonetheless be able to close and Parent shall be entitled to make a proper withholding of Tax pursuant to Section 3.6.

 

(i) The Company shall have obtained each Company Consent set forth on Schedule 4.8.

 

(j) The Company shall have delivered to Parent the financial statements required to be included in the Parent SEC Documents and the 2022 Audited Financial Statements prior to March 15, 2023.

 

(k) G3 and Arbor Lake Capital shall have entered into the Company Lock-Up Agreement with respect to the Merger Consideration Shares covered thereby.

 

(l) G3 and the Company shall have complied with the terms of the Contribution Agreement and the Restructuring shall have been completed.

 

(m) G3 and the Company shall have agreed to enter into the Supply and License Agreement and the Shared Services Agreement.

 

9.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, of all of the following further conditions:

 

(a) Parent and Merger Sub shall each have duly performed or complied with, in all material respects, all of its respective covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder required to be performed or complied with (without giving effect to any “in all material respects” qualifiers contained therein) by Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (without giving effect to any materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifications therein), other than the Parent Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date) except for, in each case, such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c) The Parent Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date).

 

(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred and be continuing any Effect in respect of Parent or Merger Sub that individually, or together with any other Effect, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub.

 

(e) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent in such Person’s capacity as an officer of the Company and not in such Person’s individual capacity, certifying the accuracy of the provisions of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 9.3.

 

(f) The Amended Parent Charter shall have been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and become effective.

 

(g) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of Parent, in such Person’s capacity as an officer of the Company and not in such Person’s individual capacity, attaching true, correct and complete copies of: (i) the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Parent, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (ii) bylaws of Parent; (iii) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Parent authorizing this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which Parent is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the Parent Proposals; and (iv) a certificate of good standing of Parent, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

(h) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of Merger Sub attaching true, correct and complete copies of (i) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors and sole stockholder of Merger Sub authorizing this Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which Merger Sub is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) a certificate of good standing of Merger Sub, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio.

 

(i) Each of Parent, Sponsor or other stockholder of Parent, as applicable, shall have executed and delivered to the Company a copy of each Additional Agreement to which Parent, Sponsor or such other stockholder of Parent, as applicable, is a party.

 

(j) Parent shall have delivered to the Company true and complete copies of the resignations from Parent’s Board of Directors of all directors of Parent’s Board of Directors, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

(k) The size and composition of the post-Effective Time Parent Board of Directors shall have been established as set forth in Section 2.8.

 

(l) The size and composition of the post-Effective Time Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall have been established as set forth in Section 2.7.

 

(m) The Merger is reasonably expected to qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment, and G3 shall satisfy the “control” requirements of Section 368(c) of the Code.

 

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Article X

TERMINATION

 

10.1 Termination Without Default.

 

(a) In the event that the Closing has not occurred by September 15, 2023 (such date, the “Outside Closing Date”), then each of Parent and the Company shall have the right, at its sole option and by written notice to the other, to terminate this Agreement without liability to the other; provided, however, that (i) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(a) shall not be available to Parent if Parent’s or Merger Sub’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on or before the Outside Closing Date, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(a) shall not be available to the Company if the Company’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on or before the Outside Closing Date.

 

(b) In the event an Authority shall have issued an Order or enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered a Law or Order then in effect and that has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, which Order or Law is final and non-appealable, Parent or the Company shall have the right, at its sole option and by written notice to the other, to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to Closing without liability to the other; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall not be available to the Company or Parent if the failure by such party or its Affiliates to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Authority.

 

(c) This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to Closing by mutual written consent of the parties.

 

10.2 Termination Upon Default.

 

(a) Parent may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to Closing by giving notice to the Company if: (i)(A) the Company shall have breached any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant contained herein to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date, which has rendered or would reasonably be expected to render the satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.2(a), Section 9.2(b), Section 9.2(c), Section 9.2(d), Section 9.2(l) or Section 9.2(m) impossible and (B) such breach cannot be cured or, if such breach is capable of being cured, such breach is not cured by the earlier of (1) 30 days following receipt by the Company of a written notice from Parent describing in reasonable detail the nature of such breach or (2) the Outside Termination Date; or (ii) at any time after the G3 Stockholder Written Consent Deadline if the Company has not received the G3 Stockholder Approval (provided, that upon the Company receiving the G3 Stockholder Approval, Parent shall no longer have any right to terminate this Agreement under this clause (ii)); provided, however that no Parent Party is then in breach of this Agreement so as to prevent the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 9.3(a), Section 9.3(b), Section 9.3(c) or Section 9.3(d) from being satisfied.

 

(b) The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time prior to Closing by giving notice to Parent, if: Parent or Merger Sub shall have breached any of its covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties contained herein to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date, which has rendered or would reasonably be expected to render the satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.3(a), Section 9.3(b), Section 9.3(c) or Section 9.3(d) impossible, and such breach cannot be cured or is not cured by the earlier of (i) 30 days following receipt by Parent of a written notice from the Company describing in reasonable detail the nature of such breach or (ii) the Outside Termination Date; provided, however that the Company is not then in breach of this Agreement so as to prevent the conditions to the Closing set forth in Section 9.2(a), Section 9.2(b), Section 9.2(c), Section 9.2(d), Section 9.2(l) or Section 9.2(m) from being satisfied.

 

10.3 Effect of Termination.

 

(a) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Article X, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force or effect without liability of any party (or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, Affiliate, agent, consultant or representative of such party) to the other parties hereto; provided that, if such termination shall result from the willful breach by a party or its Affiliate of its covenants and agreements hereunder or fraud in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such party shall not be relieved of liability to the other parties for any such willful breach or fraud. The provisions of Section 6.9, this Section 10.3, Article XI, and Article I (to the extent related to the foregoing) and the Confidentiality Agreement, shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to this Article X.

 

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Article XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1 Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand and other communication hereunder shall be given in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or nationally recognized overnight courier service, (i) if delivered by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on a Business Day, on the date of delivery, and (ii) if delivered after 5:00 PM Eastern Time, on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by electronic mail or facsimile, on the date of transmission with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (c) three Business Days after mailing by prepaid certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:

 

if to the Company (or, following the Closing, the Surviving Corporation or Parent), to:

 

Honeycomb Battery Company
1240 McCook Ave.

Dayton, OH 45404

Attn: Dr. Bor Z. Jang

E-mail: [***]

 

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

 

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP

71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1600

Chicago, IL60606 4637

Attn: William E. Doran; Leslie A. Drockton

E-mail: [***]

 

if to Parent or Merger Sub (prior to the Closing):

 

Nubia Brand International Corp.
One Galleria Tower

13355 Noel Road Suite 1100

Dallas, TX 75240
Attn: Jaymes Winters
E-mail: jaymes@nubiabrand.us

 

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

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attn: Mitchell Nussbaum
E-mail: mnussbaum@loeb.com

 

11.2 Amendments; Waivers; Extensions; Remedies.

 

(a) This Agreement cannot be amended, except by a writing signed by each party, and cannot be terminated orally or by course of conduct. No provision hereof can be waived, except by a writing signed by the party against whom such waiver is to be enforced, and any such waiver shall apply only in the particular instance in which such waiver shall have been given.

 

(b) Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its Board of Directors or other officers or Persons thereunto duly authorized, extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of another party hereto, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver.

 

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(c) Neither any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or in requiring satisfaction of any condition herein nor any course of dealing shall constitute a waiver of or prevent any party from enforcing any right or remedy or from requiring satisfaction of any condition. No notice to or demand on a party waives or otherwise affects any obligation of that party or impairs any right of the party giving such notice or making such demand, including any right to take any action without notice or demand not otherwise required by this Agreement. No exercise of any right or remedy with respect to a breach of this Agreement shall preclude exercise of any other right or remedy, as appropriate to make the aggrieved party whole with respect to such breach, or subsequent exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any other breach.

 

(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no statement herein of any right or remedy shall impair any other right or remedy stated herein or that otherwise may be available.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no party shall seek, nor shall any party be liable for, punitive or exemplary damages under any tort, contract, equity or other legal theory with respect to any breach (or alleged breach) of this Agreement or any provision hereof or any matter otherwise relating hereto or arising in connection herewith.

 

11.3 Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter. This Agreement has been negotiated at arm’s-length by parties of equal bargaining strength, each represented by counsel or having had but declined the opportunity to be represented by counsel and having participated in the drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement creates no fiduciary or other special relationship between the parties, and no such relationship otherwise exists. No presumption in favor of or against any party in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be made based upon which Person might have drafted this Agreement or such provision.

 

11.4 Non-Survival. Other than as otherwise provided in the last sentence of this Section 11.4, each of the representations and warranties, and each of the agreements and covenants (to the extent such agreement or covenant contemplates or requires performance at or prior to the Effective Time), of the parties set forth in this Agreement, shall terminate at the Effective Time, such that no claim for breach of any such representation, warranty, agreement, or covenant, detrimental reliance or other right or remedy (whether in contract, in tort, at law, in equity or otherwise) may be brought with respect thereto after the Effective Time against any party, except in the case of and without in any way limiting any remedies available with regard to fraud. Each covenant and agreement contained herein that, by its terms, expressly contemplates performance after the Effective Time, including but not limited to Section 3.4, Section 6.9, and this Section 11.4, shall so survive the Effective Time in accordance with its terms.

 

11.5 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) if the Closing does not take place, each party shall be solely responsible for its own fees and expenses; and (b) if the Closing occurs, (i) then Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall be jointly and severally responsible for and shall pay, or cause to be paid, all of the unpaid fees and expenses incurred by Parent and the Surviving Corporation in connection with this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

11.6 No Assignment or Delegation. No party may assign any right or delegate any obligation hereunder, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise, without the written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be void. Nothing in this Section 11.6 shall prohibit the transfer or assignment by G3 to the G3 Securityholders or their respective heirs, successors and assigns, of (a) G3’s right to receive the Merger Shares or (b) the right to receive Earnout Shares (provided that, any assignment of Earnout Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.4); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Parent and its stockholders shall not have any liability for any such assignment.

 

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11.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including the applicable statute of limitations, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, except that all disputes concerning patents, including inventorship shall be governed by U.S. patent law.

 

11.8 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.

 

11.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Additional Agreements, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein. No provision of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement may be explained or qualified by any agreement, negotiations, understanding, discussion, conduct or course of conduct or by any trade usage. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein or in any Additional Agreement, there is no condition precedent to the effectiveness of any provision hereof or thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Confidentiality Agreement is not superseded by this Agreement or merged herein and shall continue in accordance with its terms, including in the event of any termination of this Agreement.

 

11.10 Severability. A determination by a court or other legal authority that any provision of this Agreement is legally invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof. The parties shall cooperate in good faith to modify (or cause such court or other legal authority to modify) this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

11.11 Further Assurances. Each party shall execute and deliver such documents and take such action, as may reasonably be considered within the scope of such party’s obligations hereunder, necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

11.12 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.8 and Section 11.18, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof confers any benefit or right upon or may be enforced by any Person not a signatory hereto.

 

11.13 Trust Account Waiver. Reference is made to the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges that it has read the Prospectus and understands that Parent has established the Trust Account containing the proceeds of the IPO for the benefit of the public shareholders of Parent and the underwriters of the IPO pursuant to the Trust Agreement and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, Parent may disburse monies from the Trust Account only for the purposes set forth in the Trust Agreement. For and in consideration of Parent agreeing to enter into this Agreement, the Company, for itself and on behalf of G3 and the G3 Securityholders, hereby agrees that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter prior to the Closing have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with Parent and hereby agrees that it will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason.

 

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11.14 No Other Representations; No Reliance.

 

(a) NONE OF THE COMPANY, G3, ANY G3 SECURITYHOLDER NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER RELATING TO THE COMPANY OR THE BUSINESS OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN Article IV, IN EACH CASE, AS MODIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES TO THIS AGREEMENT. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Company, G3, any G3 Securityholder nor any of their respective Representatives has made, and shall not be deemed to have made, any representations or warranties in the materials relating to the Company made available to Parent and its Representatives, including due diligence materials, or in any presentation of the business of the Company by management of the Company or others in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and no statement contained in any of such materials or made in any such presentation shall be deemed a representation or warranty hereunder or otherwise or deemed to be relied upon by Parent or Merger Sub in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Additional Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement. It is understood that any cost estimates, projections or other predictions, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or offering materials or presentations, including any offering memorandum or similar materials made available by the Company, G3, any G3 Securityholder or their respective Representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties of the Company, G3 or any G3 Securityholder, and are not and shall not be deemed to be relied upon by Parent or Merger Sub in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Additional Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV, in each case, as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Article IV, in each case as modified by the Schedules: (a) Parent acknowledges and agrees that: (i) neither the Company, G3 the G3 Securityholders nor any of their respective Representatives is making or has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, in respect of the Company, the business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company, the nature or extent of any liabilities of the Company, the effectiveness or the success of any operations of the Company or the accuracy or completeness of any confidential information memoranda, projections, forecasts or estimates of earnings, or other information (financial or otherwise) regarding the Company furnished to Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives or made available to any Parent Party and their Representatives in any “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby, or in respect of any other matter or thing whatsoever; and (ii) no representative of G3, any G3 Securityholder or the Company has any authority, express or implied, to make any representations, warranties or agreements not specifically set forth in Article IV and subject to the limited remedies herein provided; (b) each of Parent and Merger Sub specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations or warranties that may have been made by any Person, and acknowledges and agrees that G3, the G3 Securityholders and the Company have specifically disclaimed and do hereby specifically disclaim any such other representation or warranty made by any Person; and (c) none of the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders nor any other Person shall have any liability to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person with respect to any such other representations or warranties, including projections, forecasts, estimates, plans or budgets of future revenue, expenses or expenditures, future results of operations, future cash flows or the future financial condition of the Company or the future business, operations or affairs of the Company. Except as expressly provided in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.14(a), nothing in this Section 11.14(a) is intended, nor shall it be deemed or construed, to limit or excuse the liability of any Person for intentional fraud or willful misconduct.

 

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(b) NONE OF PARENT, MERGER SUB NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER RELATING TO PARENT, MERGER SUB, THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN Article V, IN EACH CASE, AS MODIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PARENT SEC DOCUMENTS. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of Parent, the Merger Sub nor any of their respective Representatives has made, and shall not be deemed to have made, any representations or warranties in the materials relating to Parent and the Merger Sub made available to the Company, G3 and the G3 Securityholders and their Representatives, including due diligence materials, or in any presentation of the business of Parent by management of Parent or others in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and no statement contained in any of such materials or made in any such presentation shall be deemed a representation or warranty hereunder or otherwise or deemed to be relied upon by the Company, G3 and the G3 Securityholders in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Additional Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article V as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement and the Parent SEC Documents. It is understood that any cost estimates, projections or other predictions, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or offering materials or presentations, including any offering memorandum or similar materials made available by Parent, the Merger Sub or their respective Representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties of Parent and Merger Sub, and are not and shall not be deemed to be relied upon by the Company, G3 or G3 Securityholders in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Additional Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article V, in each case, as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement and the Parent SEC Documents. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by Parent and Merger Sub in Article V, in each case as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement and Parent SEC Documents: (a) the Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) none of Parent, Merger Sub nor any of their respective Representatives is making or has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, in respect of Parent, Merger Sub, the business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of Parent or Merger Sub, the nature or extent of any liabilities of Parent or Merger Sub, the effectiveness or the success of any operations of Parent or Merger Sub or the accuracy or completeness of any confidential information memoranda, projections, forecasts or estimates of earnings, or other information (financial or otherwise) regarding Parent or Merger Sub furnished to the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders or their respective Representatives or made available to the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders and their Representatives in any “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby, or in respect of any other matter or thing whatsoever; and (ii) no Representative of Parent or Merger Sub has any authority, express or implied, to make any representations, warranties or agreements not specifically set forth in Article V and subject to the limited remedies herein provided; (b) the Company specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations or warranties that may have been made by any Person, and acknowledges and agrees that Parent and the Merger Sub have specifically disclaimed and do hereby specifically disclaim any such other representation or warranty made by any Person; and (c) none of Parent, Merger Sub nor any other Person shall have any liability to the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders or any other Person with respect to any such other representations or warranties, including projections, forecasts, estimates, plans or budgets of future revenue, expenses or expenditures, future results of operations, future cash flows or the future financial condition of Parent or the future business, operations or affairs of Parent. Except as expressly provided in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.14(b), nothing in this Section 11.14(b) is intended, nor shall it be deemed or construed, to limit or excuse the liability of any Person for intentional fraud or willful misconduct.

 

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY PROCEEDING (A) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR UNDER ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO OR ANY FINANCING IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.15.

 

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11.16 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines or does not otherwise have jurisdiction, a state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware) (or any appellate courts thereof), for the purposes of any Action (a) arising under this Agreement or under any Additional Agreement or (b) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties in respect of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such Action in any such court, and further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such Action has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action (i) arising under this Agreement or under any Additional Agreement, or (ii) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties in respect of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (A) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts as described in this Section 11.16 for any reason, (B) that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any Action 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 (1) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (2) the venue of such Action is improper or (3) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. Each party agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section 11.1 shall be effective service of process for any such Action.

 

11.17 Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any and all remedies provided herein will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that the parties do not perform their respective obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise breach such provisions. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in each case, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages and this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief when expressly available pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity.

 

11.18 Non-Recourse. This Agreement may be enforced only against, and any dispute, claim or controversy based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought only against, the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth in this Agreement with respect to such party. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, agent, attorney, advisor, lender or Representative or Affiliate of any named party to this Agreement (which Persons are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 11.18) shall have any liability (whether in contract or tort, at law or in equity or otherwise, or based upon any theory that seeks to impose liability of an entity party against its owners or Affiliates) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of such named party or for any dispute, claim or controversy based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

11.19 Privileged Communications.

 

(a) Loeb & Loeb LLP and Parent’s in-house legal department (collectively, “Parent Counsel”) have acted as counsel for Parent and the Sponsor for various matters prior to the Closing, including in connection with this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements (collectively, the “Pre-Closing Sponsor Engagements”). The Company agrees, on behalf of itself, G3, the G3 Securityholders and, after the Closing, on behalf of the Surviving Corporation, that (a) all communications in any form or format whatsoever between or among Parent Counsel, on the one hand, and the Sponsor, Parent, or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, that relate to the Pre-Closing Sponsor Engagements (collectively, the “Parent Privileged Communications”) will be deemed to be attorney-client privileged, (b) immediately prior to the Closing, without the need for any further action on the part of any Person, all right, title, and interest of Parent in and to any and all Parent Privileged Communications shall transfer to and be vested solely in the Sponsor, (c) from and after the Closing, the Parent Privileged Communications and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to the Sponsor and shall not pass to or be claimed by Parent or the Surviving Corporation, and (d) Parent Counsel shall have no duty whatsoever to reveal or disclose any such Parent Privileged Communications, or any of its files relating to the Pre-Closing Sponsor Engagements, to the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Representatives by reason of any attorney-client relationship between Parent Counsel and Parent and/or the Sponsor or otherwise. Company and its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation) and/or the G3 Securityholders will not have access to any such Parent Privileged Communications, or to the files of Parent Counsel relating to the Pre-Closing Sponsor Engagements. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.19 to the contrary, if after the Closing a dispute arises between Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates, including G3 and the G3 Securityholders, on the one hand, and a third party, other than the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, the Surviving Corporation may assert the attorney-client privilege to prevent disclosure of Parent Privileged Communications to such third party; provided that none of the Company, G3, the G3 Securityholders, Parent nor the Surviving Corporation may waive such privilege without the prior written consent of the Sponsor.

 

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(b) Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP and the Company’s in-house legal department (collectively, “Company Counsel”) have acted as counsel for the Company and G3 for various matters prior to the Closing, including in connection with this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the negotiation and documentation of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements (collectively, the “Pre-Closing Company Engagements”). The Parent Company agrees, on behalf of itself, the Sponsor, and, after the Closing, on behalf of the Surviving Corporation, that (a) all communications in any form or format whatsoever between or among Company Counsel, on the one hand, and the Company, G3, or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, that relate to the Pre-Closing Company Engagements (collectively, the “Company Privileged Communications”) will be deemed to be attorney-client privileged, (b) immediately prior to the Closing, without the need for any further action on the part of any Person, all right, title, and interest of the Surviving Company in and to any and all Company Privileged Communications shall transfer to and be vested solely in G3, (c) from and after the Closing, the Company Privileged Communications and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to G3 and shall not pass to or be claimed by Parent or the Surviving Corporation, and (d) Company Counsel shall have no duty whatsoever to reveal or disclose any such Company Privileged Communications, or any of its files relating to the Pre-Closing Company Engagements, to the Parent, Sponsor, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Representatives by reason of any attorney-client relationship between Company Counsel and Parent and/or the Sponsor or otherwise. Sponsor and its Affiliates will not have access to any such Company Privileged Communications, or to the files of Company Counsel relating to the Pre-Closing Company Engagements. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.19 to the contrary, if after the Closing a dispute arises between Surviving Corporation or any of its Affiliates, including Sponsor, on the one hand, and a third party, other than G3, the G3 Securityholders or any of their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, the Surviving Corporation may assert the attorney-client privilege to prevent disclosure of Company Privileged Communications to such third party; provided that none of the Company, Sponsor, Parent nor the Surviving Corporation may waive such privilege without the prior written consent of G3.

 

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature pages to follow]

 

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

 

  Parent:
   
  NUBIA BRAND INTERNATIONAL CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Jaymes Winters
  Name:  Jaymes Winters
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Merger Sub:
   
  NUBIA MERGER SUB, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Jaymes Winters       
  Name:  Jaymes Winters
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

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

 

  Company:
   
  HONEYCOMB BATTERY COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Bor Z. Jang
  Name:  Bor Z. Jang
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Contribution Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of Supply and License Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of Shared Services Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

Form of Company Support Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit E

 

Form of Parent Support Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit F

 

Form of Company Lock-Up Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit G

 

Form of Amended Parent Charter

 

 

 

 

Exhibit H

 

Form of Amended Bylaws

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

This Contribution Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Contributor”), and Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation and wholly owned subsidiaryw of Contributor (“Assignee”), and is effective as of [●], 2023. Contributor and Assignee are sometimes collectively referred to hereafter as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, Contributor is in the process of selling (the “Sale”) its business of researching, developing and manufacturing battery components and materials, batteries, and related energy storage products, all for the automotive electric vehicle and other markets (as conducted by Contributor and its Subsidiaries, the “Business”), pursuant to a Merger Agreement, by and among Assignee, Nubia Brand International Corp., a Delaware corporation, and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger Agreement”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement).

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Sale, Contributor is required to contribute and transfer all of its right, title and interest in, to and under those assets set forth in Section 1 (collectively, the “Contributed Assets”) and the Assumed Liabilities (as hereinafter defined) to Assignee (collectively, the “Contribution”).

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Sale, Contributor and Assignee shall enter into that certain Shared Services Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Shared Services Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes, the Parties hereto intend that the Contribution shall qualify either as a transaction described in Section 351(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Intended Tax Treatment”).

 

WHEREAS, Assignee desires to accept the Contributed Assets and the Assumed Liabilities to be transferred to it hereunder.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby mutually acknowledged, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1. Transfer to Assignee. Contributor hereby irrevocably contributes, transfers, grants, conveys, assigns and delivers to Assignee all of Contributor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all of the following assets (other than Retained Assets (as hereinafter defined)), including the following types of assets, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), to have and to hold the same unto Assignee, its successors and assigns, forever:

 

a. all right, title and interest with respect to the real property set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto;

 

b. all tangible personal property, including all equipment, machinery, furniture, fixtures (and all lease rights associated with any of the foregoing to the extent legally assignable) set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto;

 

 

 

 

c. all right, title and interest with respect to all Intellectual Property used in the Business, including the Patents and related Intellectual Property set forth in the Patent Assignment (as defined below);

 

d. all right, title and interest under all Contracts set forth on Schedule 3 attached hereto;

 

e. all accounts receivable, trade receivables, notes receivable, contingent rights, deposits, advances and other receivables and all bank or savings accounts set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto;

 

f. all rights of the Contributor in and to any Permits relating to the Business, to the extent assignable;

 

g. 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Angstron Energy Company, an Ohio corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Contributor; and

 

h. all warranties, indemnities or other rights and causes of action relating to the Contributed Assets.

 

Assignee hereby accepts the sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment and delivery of all of the foregoing Contributed Assets.

 

2. Retained Assets. All assets, properties and rights of Contributor other than the Contributed Assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all employees, Plans and any assets held thereunder) (collectively, the “Retained Assets”) shall be retained by Contributor are not being contributed or assigned hereunder.

 

3. Assumption of Liabilities. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Assignee hereby assumes and agrees to pay, perform and discharge when due any and all liabilities and obligations of Contributor arising out of or relating to the Contributed Assets as utilized in the Business that first arise after the effective date of the Contribution and any of those liabilities that are reflected in the balance sheet of the Business on the effective date of the Contribution, as long as the liabilities reflected in such balance sheet are consistent with past practice (as (the “Assumed Liabilities”). Assignee shall not assume and shall not be responsible to pay, perform or discharge any liabilities of Contributor of any kind or nature whatsoever other than the Assumed Liabilities including (without limitation) (i) Tax liabilities of Contributor for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the date hereof, including any liabilities arising from or relating to the Federal Tax Lien filed against Contributor under File #2020-00063210 however assessed (“Excluded Tax Liabilities”) and (ii) any liabilities of Contributor relating to or arising out of the Retained Assets. For the avoidance of doubt, liabilities arising or incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, investigation and performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be allocated as set forth in Section 11.5 of the Merger Agreement.

 

4. Covenants Regarding Certain Intellectual Property. Contributor hereby covenants that it will not directly or indirectly, commence, maintain, or prosecute any action or proceeding in, of, or before any court of competent jurisdiction against Assignee based upon an assertion of direct or indirect patent infringement of any claim of any of the patents identified on Schedule 6 (the “G3 Special Patents”) by any product manufactured, used, offered for sale, sold, imported, or otherwise transferred by Assignee or by any method or process used by Assignee in manufacturing a product.  Assignee covenants not to directly or indirectly, commence, maintain, or prosecute any action or proceeding in, of, or before any court of competent jurisdiction or applicable governmental patent or intellectual property office asserting that any claim of any of the G3 Special Patents is in any way invalid or unenforceable. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a license agreement will be entered into whereby Assignee will receive a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to the G3 Special Patents.

 

2

 

 

5. Tax Treatment. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Contribution is intended to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties to this Agreement hereby agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.351-3. No Party shall (and no Party shall permit or cause its respective Affiliates to) take any action, or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause the Contribution to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties intend to report and, except to the extent otherwise required by a change in law, shall report, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Contribution in accordance with the Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required by a “determination” (within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law)). Each of the Parties agrees to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the Intended Tax Treatment by any taxing authority.

 

6. Representations and Warranties.

 

a.Each Party has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and its entry into and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other Parties hereto, this Agreement shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parties, enforceable against Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

b.The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of and compliance with the terms of this Agreement such Party does not (i) conflict with or violate the terms, conditions or provisions of such Party’s organizational documents, (ii) constitute a default under or result in a breach or acceleration of, any material contract, agreement or other instrument to which such Party is a party or (iii) violate any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order or regulation of any governmental agency having jurisdiction over such Party or its assets or the businesses undertaken by it (except for such conflicts, breaches, violations, and defaults which would not have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement).

 

c.The Contributor has good and valid title in and to, or in the case of the Leases and the assets that are leased or licensed pursuant to Contracts, a valid leasehold interest or license in or a right to use all of the tangible assets that constitute the Contributed Assets. None of the Contributed Assets are subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens.

 

d.With respect to the 1235 McCook Property, other than as set forth in the Shared Services Agreement, Contributor hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of immediately prior to the Contribution as follows: (i) the Contributor has good and marketable fee simple title to the 1235 McCook Property, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens, (ii) there are no leases, subleases, licenses, or other agreements entered into by the Contributor granting to any Person the right of use or occupancy of any portion of the 1235 McCook Property, except for those constituting Permitted Liens, (iii) the Contributor has not received written notice of any, violation of or default under (including any condition that with the passage of time or the giving of notice would cause such a violation or default under) any restrictive covenants or contract affecting the 1235 McCook Property; (iv) the Contributor has delivered to Assignee true, correct and complete copies of all vesting deeds, title insurance policies and exception documents, surveys, zoning reports and similar reports to the extent in its possession or control, (v) the Contributor is in exclusive possession of 1235 McCook Property and has all easements, licenses, permits or other rights required by applicable law for the current use and occupancy of 1235 McCook Property and as are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Contributor thereon as currently conducted by the Contributor.

 

3

 

 

e.Except for the representations and warranties relating to title set forth in Section 5(c) and the representation and warranties related to the 1235 McCook Property set forth in Section 5(d) above, Assignee understands, acknowledges and agrees that it is accepting the Contributed Assets in their “AS IS” “WHERE IS” condition, without representations or warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, statutory or at common law, including (without limitation), the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, which Contributor expressly disclaims.

 

7. Conveyance Instruments. Contributor and Assignee covenant and agree to take such actions and do such things as reasonably requested by the other Party, including (without limitation) to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such further deeds, assignments, stock transfer powers, agreements, instruments and documents evidencing or confirming the sale, assignment and transfer to Assignee of the Contributed Assets, including a bill of sale with respect to the transfer of any tangible personal property and an assignment and assumption agreement.

 

8. Further Assurances. From and after the date hereof, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, from time to time, execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings (without additional consideration), and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested by the other Party in order to consummate, evidence or implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby. In furtherance of the foregoing, promptly following the date hereof, Contributor will cause all bank accounts in the name of Contributor set forth on Schedule 4 to be transferred to Assignee (and change all authorized signatories on such accounts to those designated by Assignee). Contributor shall further use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all required consents, permits and approvals from parties to any Contracts set forth on Schedule 3 in form, and upon terms and conditions, reasonably satisfactory to Assignee.

 

9. Limited Power of Attorney. Contributor hereby constitutes and appoints Assignee the true and lawful attorney of Contributor, with full power of substitution, in the name of Assignee: (a) to demand and receive from time to time any and all of the Contributed Assets and to make endorsements and give receipts and releases for and in respect of the same and any part thereof; (b) to change the authorized signatories on the Contributed Account and to change the owner/beneficiary thereof; (c) to institute, prosecute, compromise and settle any and all actions or proceedings that Assignee may deem proper in order to collect, assert or enforce any claim, right or title of any kind in or to the Contributed Assets; (d) to defend or compromise any or all actions or proceedings in respect of any of the Contributed Assets; and (e) to do all such acts and things in relation to the matters set forth in the preceding clauses (a) through (d) as Assignee shall deem desirable. Contributor hereby acknowledges that the appointment hereby made and the powers hereby granted are coupled with an interest and are not and shall not be revocable by it in any manner or for any reason.

 

10. Employee Matters. On or before the Closing Date, Contributor shall terminate the employment of the individuals set forth on Schedule 5 attached hereto, and Assignee shall offer employment to those individuals on substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Closing Date.

 

11. Patent Assignment Agreement. To effect the transfer of the Patents the Contributor has delivered to Assignee, the Patent Assignment, dated as of February 8, 2023 (the “Patent Assignment”).

 

12. Limited Indemnity. Contributor shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Parent, the Assignee and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, and representatives from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, actions, judgments, fines, penalties, expenses, or costs (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) (“Damages”) arising out of or in connection with the Excluded Tax Liabilities. Assignee shall be entitled to recover any such Damages first, by offsetting the amount of any Damages from the Holdback Shares pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Merger Agreement and second, directly from the Contributor.

 

13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of, and not the conflicts of laws provisions of, the State of Delaware, except that all disputes concerning patents, including inventorship shall be governed by U.S. patent law.

 

14. Miscellaneous. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by way of electronic transmission), each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be void and unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding upon the parties with the same effect as though the void or unenforceable part has been severed and deleted.

 

(Signature page follows)

 

4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Contribution Agreement to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written.

 

  CONTRIBUTOR
   
  GLOBAL GRAPHENE GROUP, INC.
     
  By:                  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  ASSIGNEE
   
  HONEYCOMB BATTERY COMPANY
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Contribution Agreement]

 

 

 

5

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

SUPPLY AND LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

This Supply and License Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made by and between Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“G3”), Angstron Materials, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“AMI”), and Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (“Customer”), and is effective as of [●], 2023 (the “Effective Date”). G3, AMI and Customer are sometimes collectively referred to hereafter as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, G3 wishes to sell (and/or cause its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including AMI, (the “G3 Designees”) to sell), and Customer wishes to purchase (and/or cause its direct and indirect subsidiaries (the “Customer Designees”) to purchase), the Graphene and Graphite Products (as defined herein), on the terms and subject to the conditions outlined in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, G3 (and/or the G3 Designees) wish to license to Customer (and/or the Customer Designees), and Customer (and/or the Customer Designees) wish to license from G3 (and/or the G3 Designees), the G3 Intellectual Property.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises outlined in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy, and sufficiency of which the Parties acknowledge, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Certain Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein:

 

a. “Battery” means devices in which chemical energy is converted into electrical energy and that are used as a source of electrical power.

 

b. “Battery-Related Product” means Batteries and components used in Batteries.

 

c. “Graphene and Graphite Products” means graphene-based materials set forth on Schedule B (as same may be amended from time to time by G3) (including graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, pristine graphene, functionalized graphene and biomass derived graphite materials) manufactured or distributed by G3 and/or the G3 Designees.

 

d. “G3 Intellectual Property” means the patents set forth on Schedule A attached hereto as well as all proprietary, non-public and/or confidential information relate thereto, in each case owned by G3 and/or the G3 Designees.

 

e. “Taxes” means charge, fee, levy, custom, duty, deficiency, or other assessment of any kind or nature imposed by any Taxing Authority (including any excise, sales, use, value added, goods and services, transfer, import, export, documentary, conveyancing or similar taxes or expenses), together with any interest, penalty, additions to tax or additional amount imposed with respect thereto.

 

f. “Taxing Authority” means any means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction responsible for the collection, assessment or imposition of any Tax or the administration of any law relating to any Tax.

 

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2. Supply of Graphene and Graphite Products and License of G3 Intellectual Property. During the Term (as defined herein), and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

 

a. Supply of Graphene and Graphite Products. G3 shall provide, or cause to be provided by the G3 Designees, to the Customer and the Customer Designees, and the Customer shall, and shall cause the Customer Designees to, purchase from G3 or the G3 Designees, the Graphene and Graphite Products set forth on Schedule B (as same may be amended from time to time by G3).

 

b. License of G3 Intellectual Property.

 

(i)Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, G3 hereby grants to Customer during the Term and perpetually thereafter an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable (except as provided in Section 20(d)), sublicensable (as provided in Section 2(b)(ii)) license under the G3 Intellectual Property solely to: (A) make, have made, use, and import Graphene and Graphite Products; (B) perform methods and processes using Graphene and Graphite Products to manufacture Battery-Related Products; and (C) make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, and import such Battery-Related Products.

 

(ii)Customer may not grant sublicenses under this Agreement, except that Customer may grant a sublicense of any of its rights under this Agreement to one or more of the Customer Designees, provided that: (A) Customer shall ensure that each sublicensee complies with the applicable terms and conditions of this Agreement, including a written acknowledgement of the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement; and (B) any act or omission of a sublicensee that would be a material breach of this Agreement if performed by Customer will be deemed to be a material breach by Customer.

 

(iii)G3 hereby reserves all rights not expressly granted to Customer under this Agreement.

 

(iv)G3 has the sole right, in its discretion and at its expense, to file, prosecute, and maintain all patents and applications under the G3 Intellectual Property and any Improvements (as defined below). Customer shall provide, at the request of G3 and at G3’s sole expense, all necessary assistance with such filing, maintenance, and prosecution.

 

(v)As between the Parties, any improvement, enhancement, or other modification of the inventions, technology, or other subject matter claimed or disclosed in any of the G3 Intellectual Property, whether or not patentable or reduced to practice, made by G3, G3 Designees, by Customer, by Customer Designee, on behalf of Customer or a Customer Designee, or jointly by any of the foregoing (“Improvement”) shall be owned by G3. Customer shall and shall cause each Customer Designee to immediately notify G3 of any Improvement made by Customer, Customer Designee, or on behalf of Customer or a Customer Designee. Customer hereby assigns to G3 all of its and shall cause any Customer Designee or any other party working on behalf of Customer or a Customer Designee to assign all of its right, title, and interest it may have in and to all Improvements, including all rights to apply for any intellectual property rights with respect to such Improvement and all enforcement rights and remedies for past, present, and future infringement thereof and all rights to collect royalties and damages therefor. All patent applications filed by G3 with respect to any Improvement and all patents issuing therefrom shall automatically be included in the G3 Intellectual Property and subject to the license granted to Customer under Section 2(b)(i). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the prior written consent of Customer shall be required (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to the extent G3 intends to incorporate Improvement(s) or license Improvement(s) to any third-party wherein at least one (1) inventor of such Improvement is employed by any of Customer, by Customer Designee, on behalf of Customer or a Customer Designee, into any product developed or manufactured and marketed for use in the electric battery industry. In no event shall Dr. Bor Jang or Aruna Zhamu be deemed to be employed by or on behalf of Customer or any Customer Designee for purposes of this Section 2(b). At the request of G3, Customer, Customer Designee, or a party working on behalf of Customer or a Customer Designee shall promptly execute and deliver such documents as may be necessary or desirable for effecting and perfecting the foregoing assignment of rights.

 

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(vi)G3 shall, at its option, make all necessary filings to record an assignment of rights in any Improvement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in the corresponding offices or agencies in any and all countries where it may be required under applicable law, including as a prerequisite to enforcement of the G3 Intellectual Property or enforceability of this Agreement in the courts of such countries. Customer shall and shall cause Customer Designees and any party working on behalf of Customer or Customer Designee assist G3 in any such actions described in this Section, and any recordation fees and related costs and expenses shall be at G3’s expense.

 

(vii)Customer shall (and shall cause each Customer Designee to) promptly notify G3 in writing of any actual, suspected, or threatened infringement of any G3 Intellectual Property by any third party of which it becomes aware. G3 has the sole right, in its discretion, to bring any action or proceeding with respect to any such infringement, and to defend any declaratory judgment action concerning any G3 Intellectual Property, and to control the conduct of any such action or proceeding (including any settlement thereof). Customer shall (and shall cause each Customer Designee to) provide G3 with all assistance that G3 may reasonably request, at G3’s expense, in connection with any such action or proceeding. G3 will be entitled to retain any monetary recovery resulting from any such action or proceeding (including any settlement thereof) for its own account.

 

3. Pricing.

 

a. Pricing of Graphene and Graphite Products. Customer shall pay G3 or the applicable G3 Designee for Graphene and Graphite Products ordered during the Term in accordance with the prices set forth on Schedule B or as specified from time to time, as applicable, in each case subject to the terms of this Agreement. Prices for Graphene and Graphite Products shall exclude all Taxes. The Customer shall be responsible for all other Taxes with respect to the Graphene and Graphite Products. G3 covenants and agrees that pricing for the Graphene and Graphite Products pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall be equal to or lower than the prices G3 charges for the Graphene and Graphite Products to other customers for the Graphene and Graphite Products in substantially the same volume and under the same terms. During the Term of this Agreement, G3 agrees that Customer shall be allowed the full benefit of any and all lower prices for the sale of the Graphene and Graphite Products in the substantially similar quantities described in this Agreement that are provided to other customers.

 

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b. Price Changes. G3 may change the list prices of its products in accordance with its customary policies, to reflect such matters as G3 deems appropriate, including increases in raw material, commodity or labor costs, changes to applicable statutes, rules, orders, or regulations; provided, however, any such changes shall comply with Section 3(a) hereof. An updated list of prices on Schedule B shall be provided to Customer no less frequently than on an annual basis.

 

4. Exclusivity. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement does not create an exclusive supply relationship between G3 and Customer regarding the supply of Graphene and Graphite Products by G3 or G3 Designees to the Customer and/or the Customer Designees. G3 shall have the right to provide third parties with Graphene and Graphite Products in its sole discretion. The Customer and/or the Customer Designees may themselves manufacture Graphene and Graphite Products or purchase Graphene and Graphite Products from third parties for use in manufacturing Battery-Related Products. In no event shall the Customer and/or the Customer Designees (i) manufacture any Graphene and Graphite Products other than for exclusive use in Customer and/or Customer Designee’s Battery-Related Products and (ii) to the extent Customer and/or a Customer Designee manufactures any Graphene and Graphite Products, such Graphene and Graphite Products shall not under any circumstances be resold, provided, or otherwise transferred to any third party.

 

5. Purchase Orders; Lead Times.

 

a. Purchase Orders. Customer shall submit a purchase order (each a “Purchase Order”) for Graphene and Graphite Products desired to be supplied by G3 or a G3 Designee hereunder from time to time during the Term. Each Purchase Order will provide in reasonable detail (including product numbers if applicable) the type of product, price, required date of receipt and quantity of Graphene and Graphite Products and any other information as is reasonably deemed necessary by G3 (the foregoing, “Required Purchase Order Terms”). Other than with respect to any Required Purchaser Order terms, the terms of any Purchase Orders, acceptances, correspondence, memoranda, listing sheets, or documents forming part of any order or acceptance for Graphene and Graphite Products during the Term shall not govern any transaction under this Agreement; rather the terms of this Agreement shall govern and prevail, and any conflicting and/or additional terms and conditions of any such documents shall be deemed deleted and shall not be binding upon the Parties.

 

b. Lead Times.

 

(i)Standard Purchase Orders. For Purchase Orders for Graphene and Graphite Products that are received by G3 or a G3 Designee at least twenty (20) business days prior to requested delivery, G3 or such G3 Designee will make delivery within twenty (20) business days. The Customer shall be responsible for all freight and insurance costs related to such Purchase Order.

 

(ii)Expedited Purchase Orders. For Purchase Orders for Graphene and Graphite Products that are received by G3 or a G3 Designee fewer than twenty (20) business days prior to the requested delivery date, such Purchaser Orders shall be binding on Customer and G3 or such G3 Designee will make reasonable efforts to make delivery by the requested delivery date, but G3 or such G3 Designee shall not have any liability if the ordered Graphene and Graphite Products are not delivered earlier than twenty (20) business days after G3 or such G3 Designee receipt of the applicable Purchase Order. The Customer shall be responsible for all freight and insurance costs related to such Purchase Order.

 

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6. Invoices & Payment.

 

a. G3 or an applicable G3 Designee shall invoice Customer for Graphene and Graphite Products at the time of shipment.

 

b. The Customer (or applicable Customer Designee) will pay G3 all undisputed amounts for Graphene and Graphite Products within thirty (30) days after receiving the applicable shipment from G3 or a G3 Designee. All such amounts are to be paid electronically (i.e., by ACH) in immediately available Dollars. In the event that any amount due hereunder is not paid when due, such amount shall accrue interest from the date due at a rate of one and one-half percent (1-1/2%) per month; provided, however, that in no event shall such rate exceed the maximum legal annual interest rate. The payment of such interest shall not limit any Party from exercising any other rights it may have as a consequence of such late payment.

 

7. Disputed Invoices. In the event of a good faith dispute regarding any fees for Graphene and Graphite Products delivered to Customer hereunder, Customer shall pay the fees that are not in dispute within the applicable payment term and shall provide written notice of the dispute to G3 within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice. Such notice shall identify the disputed charges, including an explanation of the basis for the dispute, and a proposed resolution. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resolving all disputes in good faith within ten (10) business days of the date of G3’s receipt of the written notice of the disputed invoice.

 

8. Delivery; Title and Risk of Loss. All shipments of Graphene and Graphite Products, regardless of responsibility for freight and insurance costs, shall be FOB shipping point with Title and Risk of Loss to all Graphene and Graphite Products passing to Customer at the time and place of shipment.

 

9. Acceptance of G3 Products; Right to Inspect. Customer or a Customer Designee may reject and refuse to pay for Graphene and Graphite Products that have been damaged during storage or handling prior to being delivered to Customer or its designee, or are otherwise not in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Graphene and Graphite Product specifications); provided, that, Customer must notify G3 or the applicable G3 Designee in writing of any Graphene and Graphite Products it elects to reject, and a reasonable description regarding the basis for such rejection, within five (5) business days of the date of delivery. G3, in its sole discretion, may either refund to Customer the cost of the rightfully rejected Graphene and Graphite Products or replace rightfully rejected Graphene and Graphite Products at G3’s expense (and any such replacement also would be subject to the terms hereof). The Customer shall hold all rejected Graphene and Graphite Products in a secure and safe manner for inspection by G3 or its representatives. In the event that G3 requests that rejected Graphene and Graphite Products be returned to G3, G3 shall reimburse the Customer for the reasonable and documented costs incurred by Customer to return such Graphene and Graphite Products. Such refund or reimbursement shall be made within ten (10) days after G3s’ receipt of the returned Graphene and Graphite Products and completion of its inspection consistent with G3’s then current practices and terms for accepting rejected Graphene and Graphite Products.

 

10. Product Warranties.

 

a. G3 represents and warrants that Graphene and Graphite Products, when shipped, will be fit for their use in the Battery-Related Products, will be of reasonable quality and free of any material defects, will meet G3’s then-current specification for such Graphene and Graphite Products. This warranty does not apply if the Customer does not apply, maintain, or otherwise use the Graphene and Graphite Products in accordance with G3’s instructions. All Graphene and Graphite Products are intended solely for use in Battery-Related Products at the applicable site for which such Graphene and Graphite Products are ordered.

 

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b. G3’s or G3 Designees’ employees performing services hereunder (if any) in supplying Graphene and Graphite Products shall have the necessary training, experience, and skills required to perform such services and the responsibilities of the position to which such employees are assigned. G3 shall warrant all labor provided by G3 for ninety (90) days after it is provided.

 

c. G3 represents and warrants that the Graphene and Graphite Products and G3 Intellectual Property shall not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party.

 

Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, G3 MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH REGARD TO GRAPHENE AND GRAPHITE PRODUCTS OR G3 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INCLUDING, WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

11. Term; Termination.

 

a. Initial Term. This Agreement shall commence and be in full force and effect from the Effective Date and continued for an initial period of ten (10) years (the “Initial Term”).

 

b. Renewal Terms. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement, after the end of the Initial Term and thereafter at the end of each Renewal Term (if any), this Agreement will automatically renew for additional one (1) year terms (each a “Renewal Term” with the Initial Term and all Renewal Terms being collectively referred to as the “Term”) unless either Party provides written notice of non-renewal at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Initial Term or then current Renewal Term, as applicable, in which case the Term shall expire at the end of such Initial Term or the then current Renewal Term.

 

c. Termination Prior to End of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term.

 

(i)This Agreement shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following (each a “Customer Event of Default”):

 

a.immediately upon written notice by G3 to Customer if any amount due and payable by Customer hereunder is not paid when due;

 

b.immediately upon written notice by G3 to Customer if Customer uses G3 Intellectual Property outside of the license granted herein;

 

c.thirty (30) days following delivery by G3 to Customer of written notice of any breach of this Agreement; provided, that if such breach is cured in all material respects within such thirty (30) day period, such notice of termination shall not be effective;

 

d.the entry by a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction over Customer of a decree or order for relief in respect of Customer in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such person, or for any substantial part of any Customer’s property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of Customer’s affairs, and such decree or order remaining unstayed and in effect for sixty (60) consecutive days; or

 

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e.the commencement by Customer of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law; or the consent by Customer to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of any substantial part of Customer’s property, or the filing of a pleading in any court of record admitting in writing the inability of Customer to pay its debts as they come due; or

 

f.the making by the Customer of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

(ii)This Agreement shall upon the occurrence of any of the following (each a “G3 Event of Default”):

 

a.thirty (30) days following delivery by Customer to G3 of written notice of any breach of this Agreement; provided, that if such breach has been cured in all material respects within such thirty (30) day period, such notice of termination shall not be effective.

 

b.the entry by a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction over G3 of a decree or order for relief in respect of G3 in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such person, or for any substantial part of any G3 property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of G3’s affairs, and such decree or order remaining unstayed and in effect for sixty (60) consecutive days; or

 

c.the commencement by G3 of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law; or the consent by G3 to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of any substantial part of G3’s property, or the filing of a pleading in any court of record admitting in writing the inability of G3 to pay its debts as they come due; or

 

d.the making by G3 of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

12. Effect of Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement:

 

a. G3 may, and if Customer is not in breach of any payment or other obligation hereunder, G3 shall complete the delivery of all Graphene and Graphite Products ordered by Customer pursuant to the terms of such order, and subject to the payment therefor (which payment may, at G3’s sole discretion, be required as a condition of delivery);

 

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b. Customer shall pay all amounts then or thereafter owing to G3 pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including any repayment of unearned incentives);

 

c. Customer shall purchase, at G3’s then applicable list prices, all previously delivered but unpaid for Graphene and Graphite Products (including any inventory maintained on site by G3), as determined by G3’s records or, in G3’s sole discretion, by a mutually agreed upon physical inventory;

 

d. Customer shall promptly return to G3, at Customer’s expense, all secondary containers, backroom equipment, and other property of G3 (if any) provided by G3 during the Term;

 

e. Customer shall immediately stop using, and shall remove any signage containing, any trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, symbols or brand names of G3 or its affiliates; and

 

f. if terminated pursuant to Section 11(c)(i)(B), Customer shall immediately stop using the G3 Intellectual Property and return to G3 all materials regarding the G3 Intellectual Property.

 

13. Representations and Warranties. Each Party represents and warrants to the other that:

 

a. Such Party has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and is not party to any contract, agreement, promise, or undertaking that would prevent the full corporate execution and performance by it of this Agreement, and the persons executing this Agreement on behalf of such Party are duly authorized to do so and have the authority to bind such Party to this Agreement.

 

b. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of and compliance with the terms of this Agreement such Party does not (i) conflict with or violate the terms, conditions or provisions of such Party’s organizational documents, (ii) constitute a default under or result in a breach or acceleration of, any material contract, agreement or other instrument to which such Party is a party or (iii) violate any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order or regulation of any governmental agency having jurisdiction over such Party or its assets or the businesses undertaken by it (except for such conflicts, breaches, violations, and defaults which would not have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement).

 

14. Confidentiality.

 

a. The Parties shall and shall cause their employees, agents, and representatives to treat as confidential all information and data, of whatever nature, relating to Customer (and the Customer Designees) or G3 (and the G3 Designees), including the Graphene and Graphite Product specifications, the operations of each Party and its affiliates, policies, procedures, techniques, accounts, personnel, pricing, other contractors and customers, disclosed by a Party or its representatives used by a Party or its affiliates in carrying on a Party’s business, as well as all proprietary information of a Party (collectively, “Confidential Information”).

 

b. No Party shall, and no Party shall permit its affiliates to, disclose any Confidential Information of the other Party, except to the extent required by law or as such recipient has a need to know such information in connection with the performance of a Party’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

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15. Business Practices and Compliance.

 

a. Each Party shall comply, and direct its affiliates, and its and their respective employees, agents, and representatives to comply, all applicable laws, rules, and regulations applicable to this Agreement and its performance hereunder, including any Anti-Corruption Policy of any Customer provided in writing to G3 and with all anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, applicable to the performance of this Agreement.

 

b. Each Party shall not, and shall direct its affiliates, and its and their respective employees, agents, and representatives not to, pay, offer or promise to pay, or authorize the payment, directly or indirectly, of any monies or anything of value to (i) any person employed by or acting for or on behalf of the Customer or any Customer Designee, or (ii) any government official or employee or any political party or candidate for political office, for the purpose of inducing or rewarding any favorable action or a business advantage for G3 or Customer (or any Customer Designee).

 

c. Each Party shall comply, and direct its affiliates, and its and their respective employees, agents, and representatives to comply, with applicable business any law or regulation applicable to such Party and its employees, agents, and representatives. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Customer and Customer Designees shall (i) at its own expense maintain all certifications, credentials, licenses, and permits necessary to conduct its business and otherwise relating to the purchase or use of the Graphene and Graphite Products and (ii) not engage in any activity or transaction involving the Graphene and Graphite Products, by way of use or otherwise, that violates any applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

 

16. Indemnification.

 

a. Indemnification Obligation.

 

(i)Each Party shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other Party and its respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, and representatives from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, actions, fines, penalties, expenses, or costs (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with any third-party claim, suit, action, or proceeding relating to the indemnifying Party’s obligations, representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement.

 

(ii)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Customer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless G3 and the G3 Designees, officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, and representatives from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, actions, fines, penalties, expenses, or costs (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with any third-party claim, suit, action, or proceeding relating to: (a) use by Customer or any sublicensee of any G3 Intellectual Property; (b) manufacture, use, sale, or other disposition by or on behalf of Customer or any sublicensee of any product or practice of any method or process made or performed by use of G3 Intellectual Property; and (c) Customer’s obligations pursuant to Section 18 hereof.

 

b. Certain Limitations of Liability. EXCEPT FOR CUSTOMER’S LIABILITY FOR INDEMNIFICATION UNDER SECTION 16(a)(ii), NEITHER PARTY NOR ITS REPRESENTATIVES IS LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR ENHANCED DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF (I)WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE, (II) WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND (II) THE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY (CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) UPON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED, AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ANY AGREED OR OTHER REMEDY OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. G3’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF THE AMOUNTS PAID TO G3 PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

 

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17. Notice. All notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing duly addressed to the intended recipient at the applicable address set forth below such recipient’s signature to this Agreement (or such other address as such Party has indicated in a writing given in accordance with this Section 19) and may be delivered by hand, by email, by facsimile, by local messenger or by reputable overnight courier. Notices shall be deemed given: (a) when received if delivered by hand or local messenger; (b) when sent, if sent by email or facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours; (c) one (1) business day after being sent, if sent by email or facsimile other than during the recipient’s normal business hours; and (d) one (1) business day after being delivered to a reputable overnight courier for next day delivery. A notice delivered by email or facsimile shall only be effective on the date set forth above, however, if the notice is also given by hand, local messenger, or courier no later than two (2) business days after its delivery by email or facsimile.

 

18. Environmental and Import/Export Matters.

 

a. With respect to all Graphene and Graphite Products received by, delivered to, or in the possession of Customer or any Customer Designees, Customer shall (a) cause all such Graphene and Graphite Products to be handled and stored in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and (b) take all action to prevent any release into the environment of Graphene and Graphite Products. Customer, Customer Designees and their respective successors and assigns shall defend, indemnify, hold harmless and forever release G3 and its affiliates from and against any and all damages and liabilities whatsoever arising from, based upon, related to, or associated with any environmental condition or other environmental matter arising out of or related to the receipt, storage or handling of any Graphene and Graphite Products that have been or hereafter are received by Customer or a Customer Designee or delivered to a Customer or Customer Designee location, including the presence, disposal or removal of any pollutant, contaminant, or hazardous or toxic substance, waste or material of any kind regulated under any environmental law or regulation in, on or under the a Customer or Customer Designee location (whether neighboring or otherwise) in each case under any environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et. seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et. seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 466 et. seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act (14 U.S.C. §§ 1401-1450), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. §§ 1801 et. seq.), the Toxic Substance Control Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2629), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et. seq.), the Oil Pollution Act (33 U.S.C. § 2701 et. seq.), any and all amendments to the foregoing, and all federal, state and local laws and regulations (including the laws and regulations of any foreign government or political subdivision thereof).

 

b. Customer agrees that Customer’s and/or Customer Designee’s use of the Graphene and Graphite Products, and any associated technical data or information, or the direct product thereof, will not violate U.S. export laws or regulations or the import laws and regulations of applicable foreign states. Following receipt of any Graphene and Graphite Products, Customer will be responsible for obtaining, recording, filing and maintaining all export and import documentation including all licenses and permits, as well as for the payment of associated fees. Customer shall appropriately label containers of all Graphene and Graphite Products in Customer’s and/or a Customer Designee’s possession which are known to constitute a health, poison, fire, environmental, safety or explosion hazard.

 

19. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Jury Trial.

 

a. This Agreement shall be construed and governed according to those laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be fully performed therein, to the extent not preempted by applicable federal law, except that all disputes concerning patents, including inventorship shall be governed by U.S. patent law. The United Nations Convention for the Sale of Goods shall not apply.

 

b. The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Delaware. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action, or proceeding relating to this Agreement as aforesaid, and further irrevocably waives any claim that such venue is not a convenient forum for any such suit, action, or proceeding.

 

c. Should either Party institute an action that in any way arises out of this Agreement or any alleged breach of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall recover, in addition to any other relief, its costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in prosecuting or defending said action.

 

d. Each of the Parties hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury action arising out of or related to this Agreement.

 

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20. Miscellaneous.

 

a. Trademarks. G3 (and its affiliates as may be applicable) retains the right to and ownership of the trademarks, logos, domain names, metatags, and trade names (collectively, the “Marks”) applicable to its businesses, its operations, its facilities and Products. G3 hereby grants Customer the non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited right during the term of this Agreement to use the Marks in Customer’s business solely for the purpose of advertising and promoting the sale and use of its products. Customer acknowledges that G3 retains the right to and ownership of such Marks, which Customer agrees not to contest or impair in any way.

 

Customer shall use the Marks only as authorized by G3 and strictly in accordance with any trademark usage terms and conditions as G3 may adopt from time to time. Customer is not authorized to use the Marks as a part of Customer’s (or Customer Designee’s) corporate name. Any misuse of the Marks by Customer shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement, and Customer and each Customer Designee agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify G3 for all damages caused by a Customer’s breach of the G3 terms of use to its Marks. Further, Customer and Customer Designee shall timely provide G3, for G3’s review, any advertising, marketing, and/or promotional materials which include or make any use of G3’s Marks upon G3’s request.

 

b. Audit Rights. G3 may from time to time, upon its request, audit Customer’s records to verify inventory counts and such other information as G3 may determine is appropriate and necessary to confirm Customer’s invoices and reports. Customer shall promptly provide G3 with such access to its facilities and records as G3 may reasonably request to the above review and verification process.

 

c. Compliance with Laws. Each Party shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations (including the laws and regulations of any foreign government or political subdivision thereof) that are applicable to its performance hereunder. Customer shall comply with the patent marking provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 287(a) by marking all products made under the G3 Intellectual Property with the word “patent” or the abbreviation “pat.” and either the relevant G3 Intellectual Property patent number or a web address that is freely accessible to the public and that lists the relevant G3 Intellectual Property patent numbers.

 

d. Assignment. Neither Party may assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided that no such consent shall be required in connection with either (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the equity interests of assigning Party or its direct or indirect parents, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of assigning Party; (iii) the transfer by the assigning Party of all or substantially all of its assets to an affiliate of such assigning Party that agrees to be bound hereby or (iv) a successor to the assigning Party by reason of merger, reorganization, consolidation or operation of law. With regard to assignment of the G3 Intellectual Property either in a direct sale of all or a portion of the G3 Intellectual Property or as part of a broader transaction, G3 shall ensure that this Agreement survives any such transaction and that the assignee shall assume the obligations and maintain the rights granted under this Agreement. Any assignment of this Agreement in breach of this Agreement is void.

 

e. Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, or modified in any respect without further written Agreement of both Parties, signed by their respective authorized representatives.

 

f. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts and all counterparts constitute one and the same instrument. Any hand-written signature, however transmitted, is as effective as an original.

 

g. No Agency. G3 shall be an independent contractor hereunder, and this Agreement shall not be construed to create any other relationship between the parties, as principal and agent, joint venturers, or otherwise. Neither Party is authorized to enter into Agreements for or on behalf of the other Party, collect any obligation due or owed to the other party, accept service of process for the other Party, or bind the other party in any manner whatever.

 

h. Waivers. No failure to insist, in one or more instances, upon the performance of any term of this Agreement or to enforce any right hereunder shall be construed to be a waiver or relinquishment of such Party’s right to such performance or other future performance of such term or terms or of any right hereunder. A Party’s consent to, or approval of, any act requiring such consent or approval shall not be deemed to render unnecessary the obtaining of such consent or approval of any subsequent act.

 

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i. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is entered into solely between, and may be enforced only by, the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns, and this Agreement shall not be deemed to create any rights in third parties including, without limitation, suppliers and customers of a Party, or to create any obligations of a Party to any such third parties.

 

j. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with all documents referenced in this Agreement, represents the entire agreement between the Parties regarding the subject matter and supersedes all prior oral or written proposals, understandings, and other commitments between the Parties regarding the subject matter. This Agreement is binding upon and benefits the Parties, their heirs, legal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns.

 

k. Severability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

l. Force Majeure. If either Party’s performance (other than a payment obligation) is prevented, hindered, or delayed by reason of cause(s) beyond such Party’s reasonable control, including war, labor disputes (including strikes and lockouts), civil disorders, governmental acts, epidemics, pandemics, quarantines, supply chain delays and disruptions, embargoes, fires, earthquakes, storms, or acts of God (“Force Majeure”), then such Party shall be excused from performance (other than payment obligations hereunder, which must be paid when due, regardless of the occurrence of any Force Majeure), to the extent that it is prevented, hindered or delayed thereby during the continuance of such cause(s) and for so long as, and to the extent that, such cause(s) prevent or delay performance hereunder. Each Party hereby agrees to reasonable efforts to promptly notify the other of any such Force Majeure event, and to provide the other a good faith description of the event and the estimated time until it shall be able to resume full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

m. Denomination of Payment. “Dollars” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America. All prices and other amounts stated herein or any exhibit or schedule attached hereto are stated in Dollars and all payments made in connection with any transaction contemplated hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

 

n. Survival. Section 2(b) (License of G3 Intellectual Property), Section 12 (Effect of Termination) unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11(c)(i)(B), Section 14 (Confidentiality), Section 16 (Indemnification), Section 19 (Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Jury Trial), and this Section 20 (Miscellaneous) shall survive the termination of this Agreement, as shall any other terms and conditions set forth in these General Terms and Conditions, the MSA or the Schedules hereto which either are expressly made to survive termination or which contemplate performance by either of the Parties after the termination of this Agreement.

 

o. Interpretive Provisions. Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary herein by the context or use thereof: (i) all references to the preamble, recitals, Sections, Articles, Schedules or Exhibits are to the preamble, recitals, Sections, Articles, Schedules or Exhibits of or to this Agreement; (ii) the words, “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or paragraph hereof; (iii) masculine gender shall also include the feminine and neutral genders, and vice versa; (iv) words importing the singular shall also include the plural, and vice versa; and (v) the word “including” shall mean “including without limitation.” Any representation or warranty contained herein as to the enforceability of a contract will be subject to the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, unless specified otherwise, such number will refer to calendar days.

 

(Signature page follows)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

“CUSTOMER”   G3”
   
HONEYCOMB BATTERY COMPANY    GLOBAL GRAPHENE GROUP, INC.
   
By:                    By:                   
Name:     Name:  
Title:     Title:      
       
    “AMI”
     
    ANGSTRON MATERIALS, INC.
     
    By:            
    Name:  
    Title:  
     
Customer Address for Notices: G3 and AMI Address for Notices:
     
1235 McCook Avenue    
Dayton, Ohio 45404   City/State/Zip:       
Attention:     Attention:  
Email:     Email:  

 

 

Page 13 of 13

Exhibit 10.3

 

SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is entered into as of [●], 2023 (the “Effective Date”) between Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 1240 McCook Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45404 (“G3”), and Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation with its principal place of business at 1235 McCook Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45404 (“Honeycomb” and, together with G3, the “Parties” and each a “Party”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, the Parties have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies to enter into this Agreement to provide for the sharing of certain services on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Shared Services.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, G3, acting directly or through its Affiliates (as hereafter defined) or their respective employees, agents, contractors or independent third parties, agrees to provide or cause to be provided to Honeycomb and certain of its Affiliates (as hereafter defined) the services set forth on Exhibit A and Honeycomb, acting directly or through its Affiliates or their respective employees, agents, contractors or independent third parties, agrees to provide or cause to be provided to G3 and certain of its Affiliates the services set forth on Exhibit A (with any additional services provided pursuant to Section 1(b) being collectively referred to as the “Shared Services”). For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliate” means any individual, corporation or other legal entity which either Party directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls or which is controlled by or under common control with such Party and “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an individual, corporation or other legal entity, through the ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities.

 

(b) Subject to any limitations set forth in this Agreement and Exhibit A, G3 or Honeycomb, as the case may be, may request additional Shared Services from the other Party by providing written notice. Upon the mutual written agreement as to the nature, cost, duration and scope of such additional Shared Services, the Parties shall supplement in writing Exhibit A to include such additional Shared Services. In accordance with Section 4, the Parties may discontinue one or more Shared Services under this Agreement.

 

(c) Each Party will, in a timely manner, take all such actions as may be reasonably necessary in order to enable or assist in the provision of the Shared Services, including providing necessary information and specific authorizations and approvals.

 

(d) In providing the Shared Services, each of the Parties may, as it deems reasonably necessary or appropriate and upon the mutual agreement of the other Party, (i) use its personnel or those of its Affiliates, and/or (ii) employ the services of third parties to the extent such third party services are utilized to provide the Shared Services or to provide similar services to the other Party or its Affiliates, or are reasonably necessary for the efficient performance of any of the Shared Services.

 

 

 

 

(e) The Parties represent, warrant and agrees that the services provided under this Agreement shall be provided, in good faith, in accordance with law and, except as specifically provided in Exhibit A, in a manner generally consistent with the historical provision of such services and with the same standard of care as historically provided by the Party with respect to its own business. Each Party agrees to, where applicable, assign sufficient resources and qualified personnel as are reasonably required to perform the services in accordance with the standards set forth in the preceding sentence.

 

(f) In the event that an invention results from any Shared Services, the Parties agree that for an invention(s) developed by a shared employee, if such invention is related to the battery business, such invention, whether patentable or not, shall be assigned to Honeycomb and if such invention, whether patentable or not, relates to graphene production, such invention shall be assigned to G3.

 

2. Compensation. The applicable provider of the Shared Services, as the case may be, shall be paid fees for the Shared Services as set forth on Exhibit A (“Fees”). Each Party agrees to collect and timely remit to the appropriate taxing authority any taxes due with respect to the services provided hereunder. Each Party shall, upon the prior written request of the other Party, provide such supporting documentation as the recipient may reasonably request with respect to the Shared Services and Fees therefore. Each Party shall invoice the other Party for the Shared Services on a monthly basis in advance, as set forth on Exhibit A. Each Party shall pay invoices for undisputed amounts within thirty (30) days after the date of receipt thereof. Amounts actually paid by one Party may be netted against amounts owed to such Party by the other Party. In the event of a dispute regarding any invoice, the disputing Party shall deliver a written statement to the other Party no later than ten (10) days prior to the date the payment is due on the invoice listing in reasonable detail all disputed items and any supporting information or documentation with respect thereto. Amounts not so disputed shall be deemed accepted and shall be paid on the date the payment is due on such invoice, notwithstanding disputes on other items. The Parties shall seek to resolve all such disputes expeditiously and in good faith.

 

3. Term. The term of this Agreement will begin on the Effective Date and end on the date that is the latest date that any Shared Services continue to be provided hereunder, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 4 (the “Term”). Sections 1(f), 2, 6 through 8, and 10 through 12 of this Agreement will survive the Term and any termination of this Agreement.

 

4. Right to Terminate. Notwithstanding Section 3, this Agreement may be terminated as follows: (a) either Party may terminate this Agreement upon immediate written notice if the other Party is in material breach or default with respect to any term or provision of this Agreement and fails to cure the same within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of such breach or default; and (b) either Party may immediately terminate this Agreement upon (i) the filing of a petition by or against the other Party in any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding, or the seeking of any relief under any state or federal debtor relief laws, including the appointment of a liquidator or receiver for all or substantially all of such Party’s property, or (ii) the taking of any action for such Party’s winding up or dissolution.

 

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5. Representations. Each Party represents, warrants and covenants to the other Party as follows:

 

(a) Authority; Enforceability. Such Party has full power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(b) Consents. No authorization, approval, consent or order of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any court, governmental body or agency or other public or private body, entity or person is required in connection with the approval, execution, delivery or performance by such Party to this Agreement.

 

6. Confidentiality.

 

(a) Each Party hereby agrees to, and shall cause its Affiliates, employees, and representatives to, treat and hold, as confidential and not disclose any non-public, confidential, or proprietary information concerning the other Party, including any customer information, notes, analyses, compilations, studies, forecasts, interpretations, or other documents or data that are derived from, contain, reflect, or are based upon any such information (the “Confidential Information”), refrain from using any of the Confidential Information, and deliver promptly to the disclosing Party, at the written request and option of the disclosing Party, all tangible embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential Information which are in receiving Party’s possession or under the receiving Party’s control.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party hereby agrees to, and shall direct its Affiliates and employees to, implement policies and security measures to secure all of its Confidential Information in a manner to restrict access to such Confidential Information by the other Party. Such policies and security measures may include, without limitation, locking file cabinets and offices, requiring passwords to access computers and other technology, and prohibiting discussions involving Confidential Information in front of the other Party.

 

7. Indemnification. Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) shall indemnify, defend, and hold the other Party harmless from and against any and all direct claims, liabilities, suits, causes of action, losses, and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (and in no event from consequential, indirect, business loss, or similar non-direct damages) arising out of or resulting from the Indemnifying Party’s negligent performance of this Agreement or willful misconduct.

 

8. Relationship of the Parties. It is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement shall not cause either Party to be classified or construed as an employee, agent, partner, joint venturer or representative of the other Party for any purpose whatsoever and that all Shared Services are provided by a Party as an independent contractor. Neither Party has the right or authority to enter into any contract, warranty, guarantee or other undertaking in the name or for the account of the other Party (or such other Party’s Affiliates), or to assume or create any obligation or liability of any kind, express or implied, on behalf of the other Party (or such other Party’s Affiliates), or to bind the other Party (or such other Party’s Affiliates) in any manner whatsoever, or to hold itself out as having any right, power or authority to create any such obligation or liability on behalf of or to otherwise bind the other Party (or such other Party’s Affiliates) in any manner whatsoever (except as to any actions taken by a Party at the express written request and direction of the other Party).

 

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9. Force Majeure. A Party shall not be held responsible for any delay in performance of any obligations hereunder resulting in whole or in part from or made impossible or impracticable by any cause beyond the reasonable control of such Party, including, but not limited to, fire, explosion, strike (other than of a party’s own labor force), adverse weather conditions, embargo or any act of God or action of any governmental authority, pandemic, government mandated shut-down, any contingency or delay or failure or cause beyond such Party’s reasonable control; provided that such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to fulfill its obligations hereunder without delay, and that it promptly notifies the other Party of the delay and its estimate of commencement of performance. To the extent the Party experiencing the force majeure event cannot perform under this Agreement, the other Party will be released of its obligations hereunder during such period of non-performance.

 

10. Notices. All notices and communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the address of the receiving Party as provided at the beginning of this Agreement. Any notice or other communication that either Party is required by this Agreement to serve on the other Party shall be sufficiently served if sent to the other Party at its address as specified in this Agreement either (a) by hand; (b) by registered or first class mail, or (c) by electronic mail transmission with confirmed receipt, first class mail or recorded delivery within twenty-four (24) hours after transmission.

 

11. Entire Agreement; Binding Effect. This Agreement contains the entire agreement among the Parties regarding the Shared Services and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.

 

12. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Assignment. Neither Party shall assign, mortgage, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber its interest in this Agreement, in whole or in part, without the other Party’s prior written consent.

 

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio, excluding conflicts of law principles, except that all disputes concerning patents, including inventorship shall be governed by U.S. patent law.

 

(c) Severability. In the event that any section or part of this Agreement shall be found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(d) Amendment. No amendment, addition to, alteration, modification or waiver of any part of this Agreement shall be of any effect, whether by course of dealing or otherwise, unless explicitly set forth in writing referencing this Agreement and the provision(s) to be amended, altered, modified or waived and executed by the Parties.

 

(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be construed as an original, and all of which together shall be deemed one instrument. In order to facilitate the agreements contemplated by this Agreement, signatures transmitted by facsimile machine or signatures transmitted via e-mail in a “PDF” format may be used in place of original signatures on this Agreement. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed electronically and/or delivered by means of electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.

 

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

 

G3:  
   
Global Graphene Group, Inc.  
   
By:                  
Its:    
Name:    
   
HONEYCOMB:  
   
Honeycomb Battery Company  
   
By:             
Its:    
Name:    

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

COMPANY SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This COMPANY SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 16, 2023 (this “Company Support Agreement”), is entered into by and among Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“G3” or the “Company Stockholder”), and each of the Persons named on the signature pages hereto (together with G3, the “Stockholders”, and each, a “Stockholder”), Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and Nubia Brand International Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Company Support Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, Parent, Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Company are parties to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), which provides, among other things, that, in accordance with the Merger Agreement and Section 1701.78 of the Ohio Revised Code, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

 

WHEREAS, and as a result of the Merger, among other matters, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and, if applicable, the Earnout Shares as set forth in the Merger Agreement, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, G3 owns one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) and each G3 Stockholder owns the number of shares of common stock of G3, par value $0.001 per share (the “G3 Common Stock”) and/or the number of shares of preferred stock of G3, par value $0.001 per share (the “G3 Preferred Stock” and together with the G3 Common Stock, the “G3 Stock”), as set forth underneath such G3 Stockholder’s name on the signature pages hereto (all such shares, or any successor or additional shares of the Company or G3 of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by any Stockholder prior to the termination of this Company Support Agreement being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of the Company and G3, as applicable, (a) has approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby, and the Additional Agreements to which the Company or G3, as applicable, is or will be a party, including the Restructuring and the Merger (collectively, the “Transactions”) and the performance of their respective obligations thereunder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (b) has determined that the Merger Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of the Company, G3 as the Company Stockholder, and the holders of G3 Stock, as applicable (the “G3 Stockholders”), and (c) resolved to recommend that G3 and the G3 Stockholders approve the Restructuring, the Merger and the Transactions and adopt the Merger Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which the Company or G3, as applicable, is or will be a party and the performance of their respective obligations thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder is executing and delivering this Company Support Agreement to Parent.

 

 

 

 

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

 

1. Voting Agreements. Each Stockholder, solely in his, her or its capacity as the Company Stockholder or a G3 Stockholder, as applicable, agrees that, during the term of this Company Support Agreement, at any meeting of the Company Stockholder or the G3 Stockholders, as applicable, related to the Transactions (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof), including any separate class or series vote thereof, and/or in connection with any written consent of the Company Stockholder or the G3 Stockholders related to the Transactions (the applicable meeting or consent related to the Merger Agreement and/or the Transactions is referred to herein as the “Meeting”), such Stockholder shall:

 

(a) when the Meeting is held, appear at the Meeting or otherwise cause his, her or its Stockholder Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum;

 

(b) vote or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return an action by written consent or an action to cause such consent to be granted with respect to) all of his, her or its Stockholder Shares in favor of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions; and

 

(c) vote or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return an action by written consent or an action to cause such consent to be granted with respect to) all of his, her or its Stockholder Shares against any other action that would reasonably be expected to (i) materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Restructuring, the Merger or any of the other Transactions, or (ii) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of such Stockholder contained in this Company Support Agreement.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer. Each Stockholder agrees that, during the term of this Company Support Agreement, he, she or it shall not:

 

(a) (i) sell, assign, pledge, exchange or otherwise transfer or dispose of, encumber, hedge, swap, convert or utilize a derivative to transfer an interest in (collectively, “Transfer”) any of his, her or its Stockholder Shares unless the buyer, assignee or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to this Company Support Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, or (ii) enter into any Contract, option, or other binding arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of any of such Stockholder Shares;

 

(b) grant any proxies or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, voting deed or otherwise (including pursuant to any loan of Stockholder Shares) with respect to his, her or its Stockholder Shares, or enter into any other Contract with respect to such Stockholder Shares that would prohibit or prevent the satisfaction of his, her or its obligations pursuant to this Company Support Agreement;

 

(c) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder herein untrue or incorrect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling such Stockholder from performing its obligations hereunder;

 

(d) commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions or take any other action or enter into any Contract that would reasonably be expected to make any of his, her or its representations or warranties contained herein untrue or incorrect or would have the effect of preventing or delaying such Stockholder from performing any of his, her or its obligations hereunder; or

 

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(e) publicly announce any intention to effect any such transaction specified in this Section 2.

 

The Company and G3 each agree that it shall not register any sale, assignment or Transfer of Stockholder Shares on the Company’s or G3’s stock ledger (book entry or otherwise), as applicable, that is not in compliance with this Section 2.

 

3. New Securities.

 

(a) During the term of this Company Support Agreement, in the event that, (i) any shares of Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company are issued to G3 after the date of this Company Support Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of the Company securities owned by G3, (ii) G3 purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any shares of Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company after the date of this Company Support Agreement, or (iii) G3 acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company after the date of this Company Support Agreement (such Company Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company, collectively the “New Company Securities”), then such New Company Securities acquired or purchased by G3 shall be subject to the terms of this Company Support Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted Stockholder Shares as of the date hereof.

 

(b) During the term of this Company Support Agreement, in the event that (i) any G3 Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any shares of G3 Stock or other equity securities of G3 after the date of this Company Support Agreement, or (ii) such Stockholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any G3 Stock or other equity securities of G3 after the date of this Company Support Agreement (such G3 Stock and other equity securities of G3, collectively the “New G3 Securities”), then such New G3 Securities acquired or purchased by such Stockholder shall be subject to the terms of this Company Support Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted Stockholder Shares as of the date hereof.

 

4. G3 Conduct of Business. G3 covenants and agrees that during the term of this Company Support Agreement and except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Additional Agreements or as required in connection with the Restructuring or by applicable law, without Parent’s prior written consent, G3 shall not: (a) amend, modify, or supplement its articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or governing documents except as contemplated hereby, or engage in any reorganization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, or similar transaction; (b) issue, redeem or repurchase any capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any shares of its capital stock or other securities; or (c) authorize, recommend, propose, or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization, or similar transaction involving it or any Subsidiary.

 

5. Permitted Actions. Nothing in Section 2 or Section 4 shall prohibit G3 from entering into any debt or financing arrangement in its sole discretion, so long as such arrangement does not encumber the Company Common Stock or the Company’s assets and does not materially and adversely affect G3’s ability to comply with its obligations hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, and for the avoidance of doubt, this Company Support Agreement does not relate to or create any restriction on the Graphene Business.

 

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6. No Challenge. Each Stockholder 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 Parent, Merger Sub, G3, 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 Company Support Agreement or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement.

 

7. Waiver. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to exercise, any rights of appraisal, dissenter’s rights and any similar rights under applicable law (including Section 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code) relating to the Merger and the consummation of the Transactions, including any notice requirements.

 

8. Consent to Disclosure. Each Stockholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by Parent or the Company for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the SEC). No Stockholder shall issue any press release or otherwise make any public statements with respect to the Transactions or the transactions contemplated herein without the prior written approval of the Company and Parent.

 

9. Stockholder Representations: Each Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent and the Company, as of the date hereof, that:

 

(a) Such Stockholder has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked;

 

(b) Such Stockholder has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which he, she or it is bound (including any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Company Support Agreement;

 

(c) (i) If such Stockholder is not an individual, such Stockholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Company Support Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within such Stockholder’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions on the part of such Stockholder and (ii) if such Stockholder is an individual, the signature on this Company Support Agreement is genuine, and such Stockholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same;

 

(d) This Company Support Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Company Support Agreement, this Company Support Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies);

 

(e) The execution and delivery of this Company Support Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the performance by such Stockholder of his, her or its obligations hereunder will not, (i) if such Stockholder is not an individual, conflict with or result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Stockholder, or (ii) require any consent or approval from any third party that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of his, her or its obligations under this Company Support Agreement;

 

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(f) There are no Actions pending against such Stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder, before (or, in the case of threatened Actions, that would be before) any Authority, that in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Company Support Agreement;

 

(g) No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with this Company Support Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder;

 

(h) Such Stockholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent such Stockholder from performing any of his, her or its obligations hereunder;

 

(i) Such Stockholder has good title to his, her or its Stockholder Shares underneath such Stockholder’s name on the signature pages hereto, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens, Liens under the Articles of Incorporation and/or Bylaws (each as amended) and investment documents with the Company or G3, as applicable, and applicable securities Laws, and such Stockholder has the sole power to vote or cause to be voted his, her or its Stockholder Shares; and

 

(j) The Stockholder Shares set forth underneath such Stockholder’s name on the signature pages to this Company Support Agreement are the only shares of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or G3, as applicable, owned of record or beneficially owned by such Stockholder as of the date hereof, and none of such Stockholder Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Stockholder Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Company Support Agreement (other than the Amended and Restated Voting Agreement by and among G3 and the other parties thereto).

 

10. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver. This Company Support Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Merger Agreement or any Additional Agreement. This Company Support Agreement may not 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 all parties hereto. 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 Company Support 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.

 

11. Binding Effect; Assignment; Third Parties. This Company Support 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 Company Support Agreement and all obligations of each Stockholder are personal to such Stockholder and may not be assigned, transferred or delegated by such Stockholder at any time without the prior written consent of Parent and the Company, and any purported assignment, transfer or delegation without such consent shall be null and void ab initio. Nothing contained in this Company Support 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.

 

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12. Counterparts. This Company Support Agreement may be executed in any number of original, electronic or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

13. Severability. This Company Support Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Company Support Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Company Support Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

14. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver; Remedies. Sections 11.7 (Governing Law), 11.15 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 11.16 (Submission to Jurisdiction) and 11.17 (Remedies) of the Merger Agreement are incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Company Support Agreement.

 

15. Notice. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Company Support Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the respective addresses set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to any Stockholder, at the address set forth underneath such Stockholder’s name on the signature pages hereto, in each case in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 (Notices) of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party.

 

16. Termination. This Company Support Agreement shall become effective upon the date hereof and shall automatically terminate, and none of Parent, the Company or any Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, on the earliest of (a) the mutual written consent of Parent, the Company and such Stockholder, (b) the Closing, or (c) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. No such termination shall relieve such Stockholder, Parent or the Company from any liability resulting from a breach of this Company Support Agreement occurring prior to such termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of this Section 16 shall survive the termination of this Company Support Agreement.

 

17. Further Actions. Each of the parties hereto agrees to execute and deliver hereafter any further document, agreement or instrument of assignment, transfer or conveyance as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes hereof and as may be reasonably requested in writing by another party hereto.

 

18. Expenses. Each Stockholder shall be responsible for his, her or its own fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses of investment bankers, accountants and counsel) in connection with the entering into of this Company Support Agreement, the performance of his, her or its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the payment and/or reimbursement of the fees and expenses of the Company and Parent in connection herewith shall be governed by the provisions of Section 11.5 (Expenses) of the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference; provided, that in the event of any Action arising out of or relating to this Company Support Agreement, the non-prevailing party in any such Action will pay its own expenses and the reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, reasonably incurred by the prevailing party.

 

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19. Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Company Support Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Company Support Agreement. In this Company Support Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used 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) the term “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (iii) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Company Support Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Company Support Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Company Support Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Company Support 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 Company Support Agreement.

 

20. No Partnership, Agency or Joint Venture. This Company Support Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship among any Stockholder, the Company and Parent, and is not intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship among the parties hereto. Each Stockholder has acted independently regarding its decision to enter into this Company Support Agreement. Nothing contained in this Company Support Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company or Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Stockholder Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Stockholder Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the applicable Stockholder, and neither Company nor Parent shall have any authority to direct any Stockholder in the voting or disposition of his, her or its Stockholder Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

21. Capacity as Stockholder. Each Stockholder signs this Company Support Agreement solely in such Stockholder’s capacity as a Company Stockholder or a G3 Stockholder, as applicable, and not in any other capacity. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or affect any actions or inactions by such Stockholder or any representative of such Stockholder, as applicable, serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, acting in such Person’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

{remainder of page intentionally left blank}

 

7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Company Support Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  The Company:
     
  HONEYCOMB BATTERY COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Bor Z. Jang
  Name:  Bor Z. Jang
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

{Signature Page to Company Stockholder Support Agreement}

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Company Support Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Parent:
   
  NUBIA BRAND INTERNATIONAL CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Jaymes Winters
  Name: Jaymes Winters
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

{Signature Page to Company Stockholder Support Agreement}

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Company Support Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  G3 as the Company Stockholder:
   
  GLOBAL GRAPHENE GROUP, INC.
   
  By:           
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Number and Type of Shares:

 

Shares of Company Common Stock: 1,000

 

Address for Notice:

 

1240 McCook Ave.

Dayton, OH 45404

Attn: Dr. Bor Z. Jang

E-mail: [***]

 

{Signature Page to Company Stockholder Support Agreement}

 

 

 

 

G3 Stockholder:  
   

[ ________________________] 

 
   
By:                                                            
Name:     
Title:    

 

Number and Type of Shares:

 

Shares of G3 Common Stock: ________________________________

 

Address for Notice:

 

Address:_________________________________

________________________________________

_______________________________________ 

Facsimile No.:_____________________________
Telephone No.:____________________________
Email:___________________________________: 

 

{Signature Page to Company Stockholder Support Agreement}

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

PARENT SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This PARENT SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 16, 2023 (this “Parent Support Agreement”), is entered into by and among the stockholder named on the signature page hereto (“Stockholder”), Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and Nubia Brand International Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Parent Support Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, Parent, Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and the Company are parties to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), which provides, among other things, that, in accordance with the Merger Agreement and Section 1701.78 of the Ohio Revised Code, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

 

WHEREAS, and as a result of the Merger, among other matters, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and, if applicable, the Earnout Shares as set forth in the Merger Agreement, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder owns the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent (“Parent Common Stock”), as set forth underneath Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto (all such shares, or any successor or additional shares of Parent of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by the Stockholder prior to the termination of this Parent Support Agreement being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has (a) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by any such documents (collectively, the “Transactions”), (b) determined that the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders (the “Parent Stockholders”) and (c) recommended the approval and the adoption by the Parent Stockholders of the Merger Agreement, the Additional Agreements, the Merger and the other Transactions; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement, Stockholder is executing and delivering this Parent Support Agreement to the Company.

 

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

 

1. Voting Agreements. Stockholder, solely in its capacity as a stockholder of Parent, agrees that, during the term of this Parent Support Agreement, at the Parent Stockholder Meeting, at any other meeting of the Parent Stockholders related to the Transactions (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and/or in connection with any written consent of the Parent Stockholders related to the Transactions (the Parent Stockholder Meeting and each other meeting or consent related to the Merger Agreement and/or the Transactions referred to herein as the “Meeting”), Stockholder shall:

 

(a) when the Meeting is held, appear at the Meeting or otherwise cause the Stockholder Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum;

 

 

 

 

(b) vote or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return an action by written consent or an action to cause such consent to be granted with respect to) all of the Stockholder Shares in favor of all Parent Proposals, including approval of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions; and

 

(c) vote or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return an action by written consent or an action to cause such consent to be granted with respect to) all of the Stockholder Shares against any other action that would reasonably be expected to (i) materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the Transactions, (ii) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of Parent under the Merger Agreement or (iii) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Stockholder contained in this Parent Support Agreement.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer. The Stockholder agrees that, during the term of this Parent Support Agreement, it shall not:

 

(a) (i) sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of, encumber, hedge, swap, convert or utilize a derivative to transfer an interest in (collectively, “Transfer”) any of the Stockholder Shares unless the buyer, assignee or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to this Parent Support Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and Parent, or (ii) enter into any Contract, option, or other binding arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of any Stockholder Shares.

 

(b) grant any proxies or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, voting deed or otherwise (including pursuant to any loan of the Stockholder Shares) with respect to any Stockholder Shares, or enter into any other Contract with respect to any Stockholder Shares that would prohibit or prevent the satisfaction of its obligations pursuant to this Parent Support Agreement;

 

(c) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder herein untrue or incorrect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling the Stockholder from performing its obligations hereunder;

 

(d) commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions or take any other action or enter into any Contract that would reasonably be expected to make any of its representations or warranties contained herein untrue or incorrect or would have the effect of preventing or delaying the Stockholder from performing any of its obligations hereunder; or

 

(e) publicly announce any intention to effect any such transaction specified in this Section 2.

 

Parent shall not, and shall not permit Parent’s transfer agent to, register any Transfer of the Stockholder Shares on Parent’s stock ledger (book entry or otherwise) that is not in compliance with this Section 2.

 

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3. No Redemption. Stockholder hereby agrees that, during the term of this Agreement, it shall not redeem, or submit a request to Parent’s transfer agent or otherwise exercise any right to redeem, any Stockholder Shares.

 

4. New Securities. During the term of this Parent Support Agreement, in the event that, (a) any shares of Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent are issued to Stockholder after the date of this Parent Support Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Parent securities owned by Stockholder, (b) Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any shares of Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent after the date of this Parent Support Agreement, or (c) Stockholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent after the date of this Parent Support Agreement (such Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent, collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by Stockholder shall be subject to the terms of this Parent Support Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Stockholder Shares as of the date hereof.

 

5. Lock-Up. Subject to the consummation of the Merger, each Stockholder shall be restricted from selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of, directly or indirectly, any Parent Common Stock converted into or received by such Stockholder as a result of the Merger (the “Lock-up Shares”) in accordance with Section 7 of that certain Letter Agreement, dated March 10, 2022, by and among Parent, Mach FM Acquisitions LLC and the other parties named therein, which is incorporated by reference herein. Each Stockholder hereby authorizes and requests Parent to notify Parent’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Lock-up Shares. Such stop-transfer order shall be removed upon expiration of the applicable lock-up period.

 

6. Waiver of Anti-Dilution Protection. Each Stockholder hereby waives, forfeits, surrenders and agrees not to exercise, assert or claim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any anti-dilution protection (if any) pursuant to the organizational or constitutive documents of Parent in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any financing in connection therewith). Each Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Section 6 shall constitute written consent waiving, forfeiting and surrendering any anti-dilution protection pursuant to the organizational or constitutive documents of Parent in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and (ii) such waiver, forfeiture and surrender granted hereunder shall only terminate upon the termination of this Agreement.

 

7. No Challenge. Stockholder 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 Parent, Merger Sub, 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 Parent Support Agreement or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement.

 

8. Waiver. Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to exercise, any rights of appraisal, dissenter’s rights and any similar rights under applicable law (including Section 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code) relating to the Merger and the consummation of the Transactions, including any notice requirements.

 

9. Consent to Disclosure. Stockholder 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 Parent or the Company to any Authority or to securityholders of Parent or the Company) of Stockholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of Stockholder Shares and the nature of Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Parent Support Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Parent or the Company, a copy of this Parent Support Agreement. Stockholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by Parent or the Company for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the SEC). Stockholder shall not issue any press release or otherwise make any public statements with respect to the Transactions or the transactions contemplated herein without the prior written approval of the Company and Parent.

 

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10. Stockholder Representations: Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent and the Company, as of the date hereof, that:

 

(a) Stockholder has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked;

 

(b) Stockholder has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Parent Support Agreement;

 

(c) (i) If Stockholder is not an individual, Stockholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Parent Support Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the Stockholder’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions on the part of the Stockholder and (ii) if Stockholder is an individual, the signature on this Parent Support Agreement is genuine, and Stockholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same;

 

(d) This Parent Support Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Parent Support Agreement, this Parent Support Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies);

 

(e) The execution and delivery of this Parent Support Agreement by Stockholder does not, and the performance by Stockholder of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) if Stockholder is not an individual, conflict with or result in a violation of the organizational documents of Stockholder, or (ii) require any consent or approval from any third party that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by Stockholder of its obligations under this Parent Support Agreement;

 

(f) There are no Actions pending against Stockholder or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, threatened against Stockholder, before (or, in the case of threatened Actions, that would be before) any Authority, which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by Stockholder of Stockholder’s obligations under this Parent Support Agreement;

 

(g) no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with this Parent Support Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Stockholder;

 

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(h) Stockholder has had the opportunity to read the Merger Agreement and this Parent Support Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with Stockholder’s tax and legal advisors;

 

(i) Stockholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent Stockholder from performing any of Stockholder’s obligations hereunder;

 

(j) Stockholder has good title to the Stockholder Shares underneath Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens and Liens under Parent’s Certificate of Incorporation and/or Bylaws (each as amended), and Stockholder has the sole power to vote or cause to be voted the Stockholder Shares; and

 

(k) The Stockholder Shares set forth underneath Stockholder’s name on the signature page to this Parent Support Agreement are the only shares of Parent’s outstanding capital stock owned of record or beneficially owned by the Stockholder as of the date hereof, and none of the Stockholder Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of the Stockholder Shares that is inconsistent with Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Parent Support Agreement.

 

11. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver. This Parent Support Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Merger Agreement or any Additional Agreement. This Parent Support Agreement may not 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 all parties hereto. 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 Parent Support 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.

 

12. Binding Effect; Assignment; Third Parties. This Parent Support 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 Parent Support Agreement and all obligations of the Stockholder are personal to Stockholder and may not be assigned, transferred or delegated by Stockholder at any time without the prior written consent of Parent and the Company, and any purported assignment, transfer or delegation without such consent shall be null and void ab initio. Nothing contained in this Parent Support 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.

 

13. Counterparts. This Parent Support Agreement may be executed in any number of original, electronic or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

14. Severability. This Parent Support Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Parent Support Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Parent Support Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

5

 

 

15. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver; Remedies. Sections 11.7 (Governing Law), 11.15 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 11.16 (Submission to Jurisdiction) and 11.17 (Remedies) of the Merger Agreement are incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Parent Support Agreement.

 

16. Notice. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Parent Support Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the respective addresses set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to the Stockholder, at the address set forth underneath Stockholder’s name on the signature page hereto, in each case in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 (Notices) of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party.

 

17. Termination. This Parent Support Agreement shall become effective upon the date hereof and shall automatically terminate, and none of Parent, the Company or Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder, on the earliest of (a) the mutual written consent of Parent, the Company and the Stockholder, (b) the Closing, or (c) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. No such termination shall relieve the Stockholder, Parent or the Company from any liability resulting from a breach of this Parent Support Agreement occurring prior to such termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of this Section 15 shall survive the termination of this Parent Support Agreement.

 

18. Further Actions. Each of the parties hereto agrees to execute and deliver hereafter any further document, agreement or instrument of assignment, transfer or conveyance as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes hereof and as may be reasonably requested in writing by another party hereto.

 

19. Expenses. Each party 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 Parent Support Agreement, the performance of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the payment and/or reimbursement of the fees and expenses of the Company and Parent in connection herewith shall be governed by the provisions of Section 11.5 (Expenses) of the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference; provided, that in the event of any Action arising out of or relating to this Parent Support Agreement, the non-prevailing party in any such Action will pay its own expenses and the reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, reasonably incurred by the prevailing party.

 

20. Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Parent Support Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Parent Support Agreement. In this Parent Support Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) any pronoun used 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; (b) the term “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Parent Support Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Parent Support Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Parent Support Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Parent Support 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 Parent Support Agreement.

 

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21. No Partnership, Agency or Joint Venture. This Parent Support Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship among Stockholder, the Company and Parent, and is not intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship among the parties hereto or among any other Parent Stockholders entering into support agreements with the Company or Parent. Stockholder has acted independently regarding its decision to enter into this Parent Support Agreement. Nothing contained in this Parent Support Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company or Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Stockholder Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Stockholder Shares shall remain vested in and belong to Stockholder, and neither Company nor Parent shall have any authority to direct Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any Stockholder Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

22. Capacity as Stockholder. Stockholder signs this Parent Support Agreement solely in Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of Parent, and not in any other capacity, including, if applicable, as a director (including “director by deputization”), officer or employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or affect any actions or inactions by Stockholder or any representative of Stockholder, as applicable, serving as a director of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, acting in such Person’s capacity as a director of Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent.

 

{remainder of page intentionally left blank}

 

7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Parent Support Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  The Company:
   
  HONEYCOMB BATTERY COMPANY
   
  By: /s/ Bor Z. Jang
  Name:  Bor Z. Jang
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

{Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement}

 

8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Parent Support Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Parent:
   
  NUBIA BRAND INTERNATIONAL CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Jaymes Winters      
  Name: Jaymes Winters
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

{Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement}

 

9

 

 

Stockholder:  
   
MACH FM ACQUISITIONS LLC  
   
By: /s/ Jaymes Winters  
Name:  Jaymes Winters  
Title: Manager  
     
Number of Shares:  
     
Shares of Parent Common Stock:  
     
Address for Notice:  
     
  13355 Noel Rd, Suite 1100  
  Dallas, TX  

 

{Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement}

 

10

 

 

Stockholder:  
   
By: /s/ Jaymes Winters  
  Jaymes Winters  

 

By: /s/ Alexander Monje  
  Alexander Monje  

 

By: /s/ Vlad Prantsevich  
  Vlad Prantsevich  

 

By: /s/ David Campbell  
  David Campbell  

 

By: /s/ Michael Patterson  
  Michael Patterson  

 

By: /s/ Karin-Joyce (KJ) Tjon  
  Karin-Joyce (KJ) Tjon  

 

By: /s/ Yvonne Brown  
  Yvonne Brown  

 

{Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement}

 

 

11

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of February [_], 2023, by and among Global Graphene Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Holder”), Nubia Brand International Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A. Parent, the Company and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), entered into a Merger Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

B. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”) with the Company becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent and that each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive that number of shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent (the “Parent Common Stock”) equal to the Closing Per Share Merger Consideration, subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement.

 

C. The Holder is the record and/or beneficial owner of all of the shares of Company Common Stock that will be exchanged for shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger.

 

D. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for Parent and the Company to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Holder has agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Lock-Up.

 

(a) During the Lock-up Period (as defined below), the Holder irrevocably agrees that it will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Lock-up Shares (as defined below), enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such Lock-up Shares, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of any such Lock-up Shares, in cash or otherwise, publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or engage in any Short Sales (as defined below) with respect to any security of Parent (these actions, collectively, “Transfer”).

 

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, Parent will (i) place a stop order on all Lock-up Shares, including those that may be covered by a registration statement, and (ii) notify Parent’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on such Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct Parent’s transfer agent not to process any attempts by the Holder to resell or transfer any Lock-up Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement. Immediately upon expiration of the Lock-Up Period, Parent shall remove and reverse all such stop orders and transfer agent instructions promptly.

 

(c) For purposes hereof, “Short Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.

 

 

 

 

(d) For purpose of this Agreement, the “Lock-up Period” means the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the date that is six months after the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

 

The restrictions set forth herein shall not apply to:

 

(1) Transfers or distributions to the Holder’s current or former general or limited partners, managers or members, stockholders, other equity holders or direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended);

 

(2) Transfers by bona fide gift to a member of the Holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Holder or a member of the Holder’s immediate family or to a charitable organization;

 

(3) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Holder;

 

(4) by operation of law or pursuant to a court order, such as a qualified domestic relations order, divorce decree or separation agreement;

 

(5) Transfers to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the Holder and/or the Holder’s immediate family are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests;

 

(6) in the case of an entity that is a trust, Transfers to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust;

 

(7) the entry, by the Holder, at any time after the effective time of the Merger, of any trading plan providing for the sale of Parent Common Stock by the Holder, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act, provided, however, that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Parent Common Stock during the Lock-up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required to be made regarding such plan during the Lock-up Period; and

 

(8) Transfers of no more than five percent (5%) of the total Lock-Up Shares in the aggregate taking into account all Transfers during the Lock-Up Period (provided that total Transfers during any period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the daily average trading volume of Parent Shares over the immediately preceding five Trading Days; and

 

in the case of clauses (1) through (6) where such transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Agreement.

 

In addition, after the Closing Date, if there is a Change of Control, then upon the consummation of such Change of Control , all Lock-up Shares shall be released from the restrictions contained herein. A “Change of Control” means: (a) the sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Parent and Parent’s Subsidiaries to a third-party purchaser; (b) a sale resulting in a majority or more of the voting power of Parent being held by Persons or a Group that did not own a majority of the voting power of Parent prior to such sale; or (c) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of Parent with or into a third-party purchaser that results in the inability of the pre-transaction equity holders to designate or elect a majority of the board of directors (or its equivalent) of the resulting entity or its parent company.

 

2. Representations and Warranties. Each of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to the others and to all third party beneficiaries of this Agreement that (a) such party has the full right, capacity and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and is a binding and enforceable obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of such party’s obligations under this Agreement will not conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement, contract, commitment or understanding to which such party is a party or to which the assets or securities of such party are bound.

 

3. Beneficial Ownership. The Holder hereby represents and warrants that it does not beneficially own, directly or through its nominees (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), (i) any Company Common Stock or any Company Securities exercisable for, exchangeable for, or convertible into Company Common Stock, or any economic interest in or derivative of such securities, or (ii) any Parent Common Stock or any securities of Parent exercisable for, exchangeable for, or convertible into Parent Common Stock, or any economic interest in or derivative of such securities, other than those securities specified on the signature page hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the shares of Parent Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder as of the Effective Time are collectively referred to as the “Lock-up Shares.”

 

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4. No Additional Fees/Payment. Other than the consideration specifically referenced herein, the parties hereto agree that no fee, payment or additional consideration in any form has been or will be paid to the Holder in connection with this Agreement.

 

5. Termination of the Merger Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties in accordance with Section 8 hereof, but this Agreement shall only become effective upon the Closing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Merger 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 obligation hereunder.

 

6. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be sent hereunder shall be given in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, (i) if delivered by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on a Business Day, on the date of delivery, and (ii) otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by electronic mail or facsimile, on the date of transmission with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (c) three Business Days after mailing by prepaid certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:

 

  (a) If to Parent, to:

 

Nubia Brand International Corp.

One Galleria Tower

13355 Noel Road Suite 1100

Dallas, TX 75240

Attn: Jaymes Winters

E-mail: jaymes@nubiabrand.us

 

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

 

Loeb & Loeb

345 Park Avenue, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10154

Attention: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.

E-mail: mnussbaum@loeb.com

 

  (b)

If to the Holder, to the address set forth on the Holder’s signature page hereto, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 

Global Graphene Group, Inc.

1240 McCook Ave.

Dayton, OH 45404

Attn: Dr. Bor Z. Jang

E-mail: [***]

 

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

 

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP

71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1600

Chicago, IL60606 4637

Attn: William E. Doran; Leslie A. Drockton

E-mail: [***]

 

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.

 

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7. Captions and Headings. The captions and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8. Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.

 

9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the terms, covenants, provisions and conditions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. The Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is entered into for the benefit of and is enforceable by Parent and its successors and assigns.

 

10. Severability. A determination by a court or other legal authority that any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof. The parties shall cooperate in good faith to modify (or cause such court or other legal authority to modify) this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

11. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified by written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

12. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

13. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

14. Governing Law. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

15. Controlling Agreement. To the extent the terms of this Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time) directly conflicts with a provision in the Merger Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

  NUBIA BRAND INTERNATIONAL CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name: Jaymes Winters
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Honeycomb Battery Company
     
  By:  
    Name: Bor Z. Jang
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Lock-up Agreement

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

  GLOBAL GRAPHENE GROUP, INC.
     
  By:  
   

Name:

 
    Title:  
    Address:  
    Attention:   
    Email:  
     
 

NUMBER OF LOCK-UP SHARES: 70,000,000

 

[Signature Page to Lock-up Agreement

 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

Global Graphene Group’s Honeycomb Battery Company Announces Business Combination Agreement with Nasdaq-Listed Nubia Brand International Corp.

 

Combination of Honeycomb and Nubia will create USA-based advanced battery technology company focused on the development and commercialization of battery materials, components, cells, and selected module/pack technologies.

 

Honeycomb is recognized as a global leader in both the high-capacity anode and high-energy solid-state battery technologies.

 

Honeycomb’s all-solid-state battery platform technology is well-positioned to transform the worldwide electric vehicle battery space into a solid-state battery industry.

 

The parties expect that the common stock of the combined company will become listed on Nasdaq post-deal close.

 

Nubia Brand International Corp. will issue 70.0 million of its shares of common stock (current valuation of $700.0 million) to the stockholders of Honeycomb, plus contingent earnout payments of up to 22.5 million shares of common stock (current valuation of $225.0 million) if certain stock price targets are met as set forth in the definitive business combination agreetment.

 

DALLAS, TEXAS & DAYTON, OHIO, Feb. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Honeycomb Battery Company (“Honeycomb”), an advanced battery technology subsidiary of Global Graphene Group, Inc., focused on the development and commercialization of battery materials, components, cells, and selected module/pack technologies, and Nubia Brand International Corp. (NASDAQ: NUBI) (“Nubia”), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) for a proposed merger of the two companies. The companies intend for the combined entity’s common stock to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

Assuming no redemptions by Nubia public stockholders, upon closing, the combined entity could have access to as much as $118 million in net cash (after paying transaction expenses) from the Nubia trust account. Final proceeds will depend upon redemption rates of current Nubia stockholders at the consummation of the proposed transaction.

 

Dr. Bor Jang, CEO of Honeycomb, said: “HBC is excited to have this opportunity to move forward and expand the production of silicon-rich anode materials that will greatly improve the driving range of EVs. HBC is ranked among the best in silicon-anode IP and among the global leaders in solid-state battery IP; we plan to quickly move forward with its full-scale commercialization. Our goal is to enable EVs to drive farther, charge faster, operate safer, and cost less.”

 

Jaymes Winters, CEO of Nubia, added: “Honeycomb’s portfolio of intellectual property related to battery storage technology, advanced research and development capabilities and potential product pipeline makes it the ideal partner to lead the electric mobility revolution. We are pleased to partner with Honeycomb, and have been extremely impressed by its talented team and its superior technical, academic and manufacturing expertise. The overall economics of the proposed deal and Honeycomb’s commercialization plan provide an incredibly attractive opportunity for our stakeholders to play a key role in the fast-growing EV industry.”

 

The Business Combination Agreement has been approved by the board of directors of each of Honeycomb and Nubia. Certain stockholders of both Honeycomb and Nubia have entered into agreements pursuant to which they have committed to vote their respective shares in favor of the business combination.

 

The Honeycomb - Nubia Business Combination Agreement

 

Under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement with Nubia, Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Merger Sub”), and wholly owned subsidiary of Nubia, will merge with and into Honeycomb, after which Honeycomb will be the surviving company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nubia.

 

 

 

 

Nubia will issue 70 million shares of its common stock (current valuation of $700 million) to the security holders of Honeycomb, plus contingent earnout payments of up to 22.5 million shares of common stock (current valuation of $225.0 million) if certain stock price targets are met as set forth in the definitive business combination agreement. The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary agreements thereto are referred to, collectively, as the “Transaction.”

 

The Business Combination Agreement contains covenants in respect of non-solicitation of alternative acquisition proposals.

 

The proposed business combination is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including clearance by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of a proxy statement that Nubia is required to file with the SEC, required Nasdaq approval, and the approval of the proposed Transaction and the Business Combination Agreement by a majority of the stockholders of Honeycomb and a majority of Nubia stockholders voting to approve thereon. Post-closing, the combined company’s board of directors will include seven directors, five of whom will be nominated by Honeycomb and two of whom will be nominated by Nubia. Additional information may be found in the Current Reports on Form 8-K being filed by Nubia with the SEC in connection with the announcement of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement.

 

Honeycomb intends to use the proceeds from the proposed Transaction to expand its manufacturing and research capability.

 

Advisors

 

Arbor Lake Capital Inc. is serving as consultant to Honeycomb. Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP is serving as legal counsel to Honeycomb.

 

EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, is serving as capital markets advisor to Nubia. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as legal counsel to Nubia.

 

About Honeycomb

 

Honeycomb Battery Co. (“Honeycomb” or “HBC”), formerly the energy solutions division of Global Graphene Group, Inc. (G3), is a Dayton, Ohio, USA-based advanced battery technology company focused on the development and commercialization of battery materials, components, cells, and selected module/pack technologies.

 

About Nubia Brand International Corp.

 

Nubia is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

 

Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

 

This press release relates to a proposed transaction between Honeycomb and Nubia. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the transaction described herein, Nubia intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement (that includes a preliminary proxy statement, and when available, a definitive proxy statement). Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Nubia will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Special Meeting relating to the transaction. Nubia urges its investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the proxy statement as well as other documents filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about Nubia, Honeycomb and the business combination. Once available, stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: Nubia Brand International Corp., Attn: Jaymes Winters, 13355 Noel Rd, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

 

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Participants in the Solicitation

 

Nubia and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Nubia stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information about Nubia’s directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Nubia will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction and be available at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction when available.

 

Honeycomb and its directors and executive officers also may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Nubia in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction 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 state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, exchange, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed Transaction between Nubia and Honeycomb. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “think,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “seeks,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.

 

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on 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 factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Transaction, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Transaction or that the approval of the shareholders of Nubia or Honeycomb is not obtained; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Honeycomb or Nubia following announcement of the proposed Transaction; (iv) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction; (v) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Honeycomb; (vi) risks related to the performance of Honeycomb’s batteries; (vii) the extent to which original equipment manufacturers may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies; (viii) risks related to the safety of Honeycomb’s high-capacity anode and high-energy solid-state battery technology, for which only preliminary safety testing has occurred and for which additional and extensive safety testing will need to occur prior to being installed in electric vehicles; (ix) risks related to any substantial increases in the prices for Honeycomb’s raw materials and components, some of which are obtained from a limited number of sources where demand may exceed supply; (x) consumers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles; (xi) risks related to Honeycomb being an early-stage company with a history of financial losses that expects to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; (xii) the possibility that Honeycomb may require additional capital to support business growth, and that this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all; (xiii) Honeycomb’s heavy reliance on owned intellectual property, which includes patent rights, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, and know-how, and its ability to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights; (xiv) risks related to the intentional disruption, security breaches and other security incidents, or alleged violations of laws, regulations, or other obligations relating to data handling of Honeycomb’s technology and its website, systems, and data it maintains; (xv) the amount of redemption requests made by Nubia’s public stockholders; (xvi) the ability of Nubia or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transactions or in the future; (xvii) the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xviii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Honeycomb, Nubia, the combined company’s projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics, or on any of the foregoing risks; and (xix) those factors discussed in Nubia’s filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Transaction.

 

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The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the “Risk Factors” section of the preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement, and other documents to be filed by Nubia from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Nubia and Honeycomb may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither of Nubia or Honeycomb gives any assurance that Nubia or Honeycomb, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Nubia’s or Honeycomb’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

 

Investor Relations Contact

 

Honeycomb Contact

 

Dr. Bor Jang
Chief Executive Officer
Honeycomb Battery Company
bor.jang@angstronmaterials.com

 

Nubia Contact

 

Jaymes Winters
Chief Executive Officer
Nubia Brand International Corp.
jaymes@nubiabrand.us

 

 

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