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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

 

March 3, 2023

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   001-41497   86-2559175
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission   (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)   File Number)   Identification No.)

 

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, MA

  02043
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (929) 528-0767

 

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(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock   EFHT   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants   EFHTW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Units   EFHTU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Rights   EFHTR   The Nasdaq Stock 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 March 3, 2023, EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I (the “Registrant” or the “Parent”) entered into a Merger Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Humble Imports Inc., d/b/a E.C.D. Automotive Design, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation (the “ECD UK Subsidiary”), and EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company with the Company as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, the Parent will change its name to “E.C.D. Automotive Design Inc.” or such other name designated by the Company by notice to Parent. The Board of Directors of the Registrant (the “Board”) has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) resolved to recommend approval of the Agreement and related matters by the stockholders of the Registrant. A copy of the Agreement is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used in this Current Report on Form 8-K but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Agreement.

 

Company Securities

 

Merger Consideration. At the closing of the Merger, the Parent will issue 21 million shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Parent Common Stock”) to the former security holders of the Company, as further described in the Agreement. Parent will also pay the former security holders of the Company a cash payment of $15,000,000 as consideration for the Merger.

 

PIPE

 

Parent and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to raise capital in an aggregate amount of approximately $65 million through a private placement of Parent Common Stock.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The 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 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

 

The Agreement includes customary covenants of the parties with respect to operation of their respective businesses prior to consummation of the Merger and efforts to satisfy conditions to consummation of the Merger. The Agreement also contains additional covenants of the parties, including, among others, covenants providing for the Registrant and the Company to use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement (as each such term is defined in the Agreement) required to be filed in connection with the Merger and to obtain all requisite approvals of their respective stockholders including, in the case of the Registrant, approvals of the restated certificate of incorporation, the post-closing board of directors and the share issuance under Nasdaq rules. The Registrant has also agreed to include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its board that stockholders approve all of the proposals to be presented at the special meeting.

 

Exclusivity

 

Each of the Registrant and the Company has agreed that from the date of the Agreement to the earlier of the closing of the Merger and the termination of the Agreement, neither the Company nor the Parent will: (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, engage or participate in negotiations with any party 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.

 

Conditions to Closing

 

The consummation of the Merger is conditioned upon customary closing conditions including: (i) no authority having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect that makes the transactions contemplated by the Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibits consummation of such transactions; (ii) no legal action having been commenced or asserted in writing (and not orally) by any authority to enjoin or otherwise materially restrict the consummation of the Closing; (iii) the approval of the Agreement by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company; (iv) each of the Required Parent Proposals (as defined in the Agreement) having been approved at Parent’s stockholder meeting; (v) the combined company’s initial listing application filed with Nasdaq in connection with the Merger having been approved; (vi) the Form S-4 filed by the Registrant relating to the Merger Agreement and the Merger will have been declared effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 will have been issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that remains in effect and no proceeding seeking such a stop order will have been initiated by the SEC and not withdrawn; (vii) the Parent Closing Cash shall equal or exceed $65,000,000, (viii) each party having performed or complied with the provisions of the Agreement applicable to it, subject to agreed upon standards; (ix) the truth and accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties included in the Agreement, subject to agreed-upon standards; (x) the absence of any material adverse effect with respect to a party to the Agreement; (xi) the receipt of a certificate, dated as of the Closing, signed by the respective Chief Executive Officer certifying the compliance with various closing conditions; (xii) the execution by the relevant party or parties of all ancillary documents; (xiii) the Company will have delivered to Parent a duly executed certificate conforming to the requirements of Sections 1.897-2(h)(1)(i) and 1.1445-2(c)(3)(i) of the United States Treasury regulations, and a notice to be delivered to the United States Internal Revenue Service as required under Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the United States Treasury regulations, each dated no more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonable acceptable to Parent; (xiv) no more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock having exercised dissenters’ rights of appraisal; (xv) the Company having provided each Company Consent set forth on Schedule 4.8 of the Agreement; (xvi) the Company having delivered to Parent the financial statements required to be included in the Parent’s SEC Documents and the 2022 Audited Financial Statements prior to March 31, 2023; (xvii) each Company Securityholder listed on Schedule 7.4(a) of the Agreement will have entered into a Company Lock-Up Agreement with respect to such Company Securityholder’s Merger Consideration Shares (as defined in the Agreement); (xviii) the UK Contribution has been completed in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement; (xviii) the Amended Parent Charter will have been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and become effective; (xix) the Company will have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, from the Secretary of each of Parent and Merger Sub certifying certain matters; (xx) Parent will have received a certificate from the Company’s Secretary, dated as of the Closing Date certifying to certain matters; (xxi) each of Parent, Sponsor or other stockholder of Parent, as applicable, will 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; (xxii) the receipt by the Company of the resignations of the Registrant’s directors; and (xxiii) the post-Effective Time Parent Board of Directors and Company Board of Directors being in compliance with the size and composition requirements of the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Termination

 

The Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing as follows: (i) by the Parent or the Company, in the event that (a) the Closing of the transactions has not occurred by September 13, 2023 (such date, the “Outside Closing Date”); (ii) if any authority has issued an order or enacted a law, having the effect of making the transactions contemplated by the Agreement illegal or otherwise permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, which order or law is final and non-appealable; provided that, the actions of the party seeking to terminate was not a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such authority; (iii) by mutual written consent of the parties; (iv) by either the Parent or the Company if the other has breached any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant contained in the Agreement such that the conditions to Closing cannot be satisfied and such breach cannot be cured by the earlier of 30 days following receipt of written notice of such breach and the Outside Closing Date; and (v) by the Registrant, if: (a) at any time after the Company Stockholder Written Consent Deadline (as defined in the Agreement) the Company has not received the Company Stockholder Approval.

 

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Certain Related Agreements

 

Company Support Agreement

 

Concurrent with the execution of the Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company entered into a Company Stockholder Support Agreement with the Registrant and the Company in which each such stockholder agreed to vote their shares of Company Capital Stock in favor of the Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. Stockholders also agreed to waive any rights of appraisal, dissenter’s rights, and any similar rights under applicable law and not to sell or otherwise transfer any of their shares of Company Capital Stock unless the buyer, assignee, or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to the Company Stockholder Support Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the Company Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, which is included as Exhibit A to the Merger Agreement and as 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Parent Support Agreement

 

Concurrent with the execution of the Agreement, EF Hutton Partners, LLC (the “Sponsor”) and the pre-IPO investors in the Parent, entered into a Parent Stockholder Support Agreement with the Company and the Registrant in which the Sponsor and the pre-IPO investors in the Parent agreed to (i) not transfer any shares or redeem any shares of Parent Common Stock held by it unless the buyer, assignee, or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to the Parent Stockholder Support Agreement and (ii) to vote in favor of the adoption of the Agreement and the other proposals to be presented at the special meeting of stockholders at which the Agreement and related proposals are considered.

 

The foregoing description of the Parent Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, which is included as Exhibit B to the Merger Agreement and as 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Additional Agreements to be Executed prior to Closing

 

Company Lock-up Agreement

 

The Agreement provides that the Registrant, the Company and certain Company stockholders will enter into a lock-up agreement (the “Company Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which such Company stockholders will agree, subject to certain customary exceptions, not to (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Parent Common Stock they receive in the Merger (the “Company Lock-Up Shares”), (ii) enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Company Lock-Up Shares, (iv) publicly disclose the intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (iii), or (v) engage in any short sales with respect to any security of Parent, until the date that is six months after the date on which the Effective Time occurs. A copy of the Company Lock-Up Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the Company Lock-Up Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreements, a form of which is included as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement and as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Sponsor Lock-up Agreement

 

The Agreement provides that the Registrant, the Company and the Sponsor will enter into a sponsor lock-up agreement (the “Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor will not (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Parent Common Stock held by them at the Effective Time (such shares, together with any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the rights to receive shares of Parent Common Stock as of the Effective Time, the “Sponsor Lock-Up Shares”), (ii) enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Sponsor Lock-up Shares, (iv) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or (v) engage in any short sales with respect to any security of the Parent, until the date that is six months after the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

 

The foregoing description of the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreements, a form of which is included as Exhibit D to the Merger Agreement and as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Restrictive Covenant Agreement

 

Prior to Closing, Parent, the Company, and each of the Company Stockholders will enter into a restrictive covenant agreement (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company Stockholder acknowledges and agrees to certain non-compete and non-solicitation covenants for the benefit of the Company and the surviving company after the Merger. A copy of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the Restrictive Covenant Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit E to the Merger Agreement and Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

Prior to Closing, Parent, the Company, certain holders of Company Common Stock, certain shareholders of Parent Common Stock, and the holders of the private units of Parent will enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, Parent will provide the above holders with certain rights relating to the registration for resale of the Parent Common Stock that they will receive at Closing.

 

 

 

 

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit F to the Merger Agreement and Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The summary of the 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 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 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 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 Agreement.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On March 6, 2023, the Registrant and the Company issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the 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 of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICES

 

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act both as amended. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the pending transactions described above, and the parties’ perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction, including the anticipated initial enterprise value and post-closing equity value, the benefits of the proposed transaction, integration plans, expected synergies and revenue opportunities, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, the expected management and governance of the combined company, and the expected timing of the transactions. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, assumptions (including assumptions about general economic, market, industry and operational factors), known or unknown, which could cause the actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated.

 

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the Registrant and the Company, as applicable, and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including: risks related to the Company’s businesses and strategies; the ability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval from the Registrant’s stockholders or satisfy other closing conditions in the definitive merger agreement; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of the Registrant’s common stock; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; other risks and uncertainties included under the header “Risk Factors” in the Registration Statement to be filed by the Registrant, in the final prospectus of EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I for its initial public offering dated September 9, 2022; and in EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I’s other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Registrant, the Company and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation.

 

 

 

 

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 a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of the Registrant, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. A proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all of the Registrant’s stockholders. 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 registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus 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.

 

Once available, stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the Form S-4, including the proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, at 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by the Registrant through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS THAT EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSACTIONS.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

The Parent and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Parent’s stockholders with respect to the business combination. Information about Parent’s directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Parent will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus 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/prospectus 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 Parent 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/prospectus for the proposed transaction.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the transactions described above and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I or the Company, nor shall there be any sale of any such 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 state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Merger Agreement, dated March 3, 2023 by and among Parent, the Company, ECD UK Subsidiary, and Merger Sub.
     
10.1   Company Support Agreement
     
10.2   Parent Support Agreement
     
10.3   Form of Company Lock-Up Agreement
     
10.4   Form of Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement
     
10.5   Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement
     
10.6   Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
     
99.1   Press Release dated March 6, 2023
     
104   Cover page interactive data file (imbedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

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: March 6, 2023    
     
  EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I
     
  By: /s/ Benjamin Piggott
  Name: Benjamin Piggott
  Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

MERGER AGREEMENT

 

dated March 3, 2023

 

by and among

 

Humble Imports Inc, as the Company,

 

ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., as the ECD UK Subsidiary,

 

EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I., as Parent,

 

EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., as Merger Sub, and

 

Scott Wallace, as the Securityholder Representative.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 3
1.1 Definitions 3
1.2 Construction 19
     
ARTICLE II MERGER 20
2.1 Merger 20
2.2 Merger Effective Time 20
2.3 Effect of the Merger 20
2.4 U.S. Tax Treatment 21
2.5 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws 21
2.6 Closing 21
2.7 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation 21
2.8 Directors and Officers of Parent 22
2.9 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action 22
2.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock 22
     
ARTICLE III EFFECT OF THE MERGER 22
3.1 Effect of the Merger on Company Capital Stock 22
3.2 Dissenting Shares 23
3.3 Surrender and Payment 23
3.4 Consideration Spreadsheet 24
3.5 Adjustment 25
3.6 No Fractional Shares 25
3.7 Withholding 26
3.8 Lost or Destroyed Certificates 26
     
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY 26
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power 26
4.2 Authorization 27
4.3 Governmental Authorization 28
4.4 Non-Contravention 28
4.5 Capitalization 29
4.6 Corporate Records 30
4.7 Subsidiaries 30
4.8 Consents 30
4.9 Financial Statements 31
4.10 Internal Accounting Controls 31
4.11 Absence of Certain Changes 32
4.12 Properties; Title to the Company’s Assets 32
4.13 Litigation 32
4.14 Contracts 32
4.15 Licenses and Permits 35

 

i

 

 

4.16 Compliance with Laws 35
4.17 Intellectual Property 36
4.18 Accounts Payable; Affiliate Loans 39
4.19 Employees; Employment Matters 39
4.20 Withholding 43
4.21 Employee Benefits 43
4.22 Real Property 45
4.23 Tax Matters 46
4.24 Sufficiency of Assets 47
4.25 Environmental Laws 48
4.26 No Finders’ Fees 48
4.27 Directors and Officers 48
4.28 Anti-Money Laundering Laws 48
4.29 Insurance 49
4.30 Related Party Transactions 50
     
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB 50
5.1 Corporate Existence and Power 50
5.2 Corporate Authorization 51
5.3 Governmental Authorization 51
5.4 Non-Contravention 51
5.5 Finders’ Fees 52
5.6 Issuance of Shares 52
5.7 Capitalization 52
5.8 Information Supplied 53
5.9 Trust Fund 53
5.10 Listing 53
5.11 Board Approval 53
5.12 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements 54
5.13 Certain Business Practices 55
5.14 Anti-Money Laundering Laws 55
5.15 Affiliate Transactions 55
5.16 Litigation 55
5.17 Expenses, Indebtedness and Other Liabilities 55
5.18 Tax Matters 56
     
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 Form S-4/Proxy Statement; Other Filings 63
6.6 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Governmental Consents 66
6.7 Nasdaq Listing Requirements 68
6.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Liability Insurance 68

 

ii

 

 

6.9 Confidentiality 69
6.10 Publicity 69
6.11 PIPE Financing 69
6.12 Employment Agreements 70
     
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 70
7.1 No Trading in Parent Securities During the Interim Period 70
7.2 Company’s Stockholders Approval 70
7.3 Additional Financial Information 70
7.4 Lock-Up Agreements 71
     
ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB 71
8.1 Trust Account 71
8.2 Obligations of Merger Sub 71
8.3 Compliance with SPAC Agreements 71
8.4 Parent Public Filings; Nasdaq 72
8.5 Amended Parent Charter 72
8.6 Certain Tax Matters 72
8.7 Extensions of Time to Consummate a Business Combination 73
8.8 Section 16 Matters 74
8.9 Post-Closing Directors 74
     
ARTICLE IX CONDITIONS TO CLOSING 74
9.1 Condition to the Obligations of the Parties 74
9.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub 75
9.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company 76
     
ARTICLE X TERMINATION 78
10.1 Termination Without Default 78
10.2 Termination Upon Default 78
10.3 Effect of Termination 79
     
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS 79
11.1 Notices 79
11.2 Amendments; Waivers; Extensions; Remedies 80
11.3 Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter 81
11.4 Expenses 81
11.5 No Assignment or Delegation 81
11.6 Governing Law 81
11.7 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures 82
11.8 Entire Agreement 82
11.9 Severability 82
11.10 Further Assurances 82
11.11 Third Party Beneficiaries 82
11.12 Trust Account Waiver 82
11.13 No Other Representations; No Reliance 83
11.14 Waiver of Jury Trial 85
11.15 Submission to Jurisdiction 85
11.16 Remedies 85
11.17 Non-Recourse 86
11.18 Securityholder Representative 86
11.19 Privileged Communications 87

 

Exhibit A Form of Company Support Agreement
Exhibit B Form of Parent Support Agreement
Exhibit C Form of Company Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit D Form of Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement
Exhibit F Form of Registration Rights Agreement

 

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MERGER AGREEMENT

 

This MERGER AGREEMENT dated as of March 3, 2023 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Humble Imports Inc, d/b/a E.C.D. Automotive Design, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation. (the “ECD UK Subsidiary”), EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Company Stockholders (the “Securityholder Representative”).

 

RECITALS:

 

I.The Company, its Subsidiaries, and the ECD UK Subsidiary (the “Company Group”) are in the business of restoring and customizing luxury vehicle automobiles (as conducted by the Company Group, the “Business”);

 

II.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;

 

III.Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”) in accordance with this Agreement and Section 607.1101 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, after which the Company will be the surviving company (the “Surviving Corporation”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;

 

IV.The Company’s valuation immediately prior to the Merger is contemplated to be $225,000,000;

 

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

 

VI.Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to the Company entering into this Agreement, the Sponsor is entering into and delivering a Support Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (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;

 

VII.Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to the Parties entering into this Agreement, each of the Company Stockholders is entering into and delivering a restrictive covenant agreement with non-compete and non-solicitation covenants for the benefit of the Surviving Corporation in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit E (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreements”), which Restrictive Covenant Agreements shall become effective as of the Closing;

 

VIII.For U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes, the parties hereto intend that the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, 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(a); and

 

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IX.The Boards of Directors of each of the Company, the ECD UK Subsidiary, 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.

 

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:

 

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 Agreements, the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement, the Employment Agreements, and the Restrictive Covenant Agreements.

 

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

 

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

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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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 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.

 

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).

 

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

 

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.

 

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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 Parent or (ii) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, in each case other than 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).

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.

 

Closing Cash Consideration” means $15,000,000, which shall be funded from the Parent Closing Cash.

 

Closing Consideration Spreadsheet” means the last Consideration Spreadsheet prepared and delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the Closing in accordance with Section 3.4.

 

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 21,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock.

 

Closing Per Share Cash Consideration” means the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Closing Cash Consideration by (B) the Fully Diluted Company Shares.

 

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

 

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.

 

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Company Articles of Incorporation” means the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Florida on March 5, 2013, as amended.

 

Company Common Stock” means the common stock, no par value per share, of the Company.

 

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

 

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 set forth in Sections 4.1 (Corporate Existence and Power), 4.2 (Authorization), 4.3 (Governmental Authorization), 4.4 (Non-Contravention), 4.5 (Capitalization), 4.7 (Subsidiaries), and 4.26 (No Finders’ Fees).

 

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(k).

 

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

 

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 C, restricting the sale, transfer or other disposition of the shares of Parent Common Stock received by certain of the Company Stockholders 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.

 

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Company Stockholders” means, at any given time, the holders of Company Common Stock.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 October 18, 2022, by and between the Company and Parent.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

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, 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, now known or hereinafter developed, 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.

 

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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.

 

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.

 

Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

 

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

 

ECD UK Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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

 

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

 

Employment Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.

 

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.

 

8

 

 

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.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

 

Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

 

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.

 

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

 

Extension Periods” means the Initial Extension Periods and the Subsequent Extension Periods.

 

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

 

Form S-4” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

 

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

 

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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 Capital Stock.

 

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”.

 

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.

 

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 (other than accounts payable for goods and services incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), (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 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.

 

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

 

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Intellectual Property” means all of the worldwide intellectual property rights and proprietary rights associated with and including any Trade Secrets, Trademark, Patent, Copyright, Domain Name(s) 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.

 

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 September 8, 2022.

 

Knowledge of the Company” or “to the Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of each of Scott Wallace, Thomas Humble, Elliott Humble, and Emily Humble.

 

Knowledge of Parent” means the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of Benjamin Piggott and Kevin M. Bush.

 

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 1.1(B) attached hereto.

 

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).

 

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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, together with its Subsidiaries, 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.

 

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 Sub” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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

 

Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC.

 

Offer Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).

 

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 and the other Offer Documents.

 

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 Capital Stock” means the Parent Common Stock and Parent Preferred Stock.

 

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

 

Parent Closing Cash” means (a) the amount of cash available in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Effective Time after deducting the amount required to satisfy the Parent Redemption Amount plus (b) the PIPE Financing actually received by Parent prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing. Parent Closing Cash shall be calculated without deduction of any fees or expenses of the Parent Parties, or any fees or expenses incurred by any party in connection with the proposed Merger, the PIPE Financing, or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, which may subsequently be paid out of the Parent Closing Cash.

 

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

 

Parent Fundamental Representations” means those representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.1 (Corporate Existence and Power), 5.2 (Corporate Authorization), 5.3, (Governmental Authorization), 5.4 (Non-Contravention) and 5.5 (Finders’ Fees).

 

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

 

Parent Private Rights” means each right issued to the Sponsor and certain other parties in a private placement at the time of the consummation of the IPO, entitling the holder thereof to receive one eighth of one share of Parent Common Stock upon consummation of a business combination.

 

Parent Private Warrants” means each warrant issued to the Sponsor and certain other parties in a private placement at the time of the consummation of the IPO, entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Parent Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per 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 Rights” means each right issued to the public stockholders in the IPO, entitling the holder thereof to receive one eighth of one share of Parent Common Stock upon consummation of a business combination.

 

Parent Public Warrant” means each warrant issued to the public stockholders in the IPO, entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Parent Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.

 

Parent Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent.

 

Parent Redemption Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

 

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

 

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

 

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 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 patents of addition, improvement patents, 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, (b) inventions, discoveries, improvements, idea submissions and invention disclosures, and (c) 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.

 

Permit” means each license, franchise, permit, order, approval, consent, or other similar authorization required to be obtained and maintained by 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.

 

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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.

 

PIPE Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.

 

PIPE Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.11.

 

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.

 

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

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable period ending on and including the Closing Date.

 

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 filed with the SEC (File No. 333-264314) on September 8, 2022.

 

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

 

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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 substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

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

 

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

 

Restructuring” means the following transactions, to be completed after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing: (i) the UK Contribution and (ii) the Share Reallocation.

 

S-4 Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(c).

 

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

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SEC Statement” means the Form S-4, including the Proxy Statement, whether in preliminary or definitive form, and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

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

 

Securityholder Representative” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Share Reallocation” shall mean a series of transactions to be consummated prior to the Closing, pursuant to which the existing Company Stockholders (i) transfer certain Common Stock among themselves and (ii) transfer certain Common Stock to their respective revocable trusts for estate planning purposes, and as a result of any such transactions all Company Stockholders as of the date of this Agreement shall remain, directly or indirectly, the sole holders of Company Common Stock as of the Closing.

 

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 EF Hutton Partners, LLC.

 

Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement” means the agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, restricting the sale, transfer or other disposition of the shares of Parent Common Stock held or received by the Sponsor.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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 and all 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.

 

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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.

 

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” discoveries, inventions (whether or not reduced to practice), ideas, technology, know-how, trade secrets, Databases and Software, in each case whether or not patentable or copyrightable (including proprietary or confidential information, systems, methods, processes, procedures, practices, algorithms, formulae, techniques, 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).

 

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).

 

UK Contribution” means the contribution of the ECD UK Subsidiary to the Company prior to and as a condition to the Closing in accordance with mutually agreed upon steps, as a result of which the ECD UK Subsidiary shall become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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

 

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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.

 

(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.

 

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(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 Florida Business Corporation Act, 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 “Humble Imports, Inc.” 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 Florida a certificate of merger as required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act (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”).

 

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 Florida Business Corporation Act. 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.

 

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2.4 U.S. Tax Treatment. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Merger is intended to constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. 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 United States Treasury regulations, (b) agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Section 1.368-3 of the United States Treasury regulations, and (c) agree to file all Tax and other informational returns on a basis consistent with such characterization. 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(e) and 5.18(e), no party is making any representation or warranty as to the qualification of the Merger as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code 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. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that each 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 the Merger is determined not to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

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 Florida Business Corporation Act, be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the Florida Business Corporation Act.

 

(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.

 

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 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.

 

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2.8 Directors and Officers of Parent. At the Effective Time, Parent’s Board of Directors will consist of seven (7) directors, including Benjamin Piggott, Thomas Wood, Scott Wallace, Thomas Humble, and Emily Humble, who shall each serve on the Parent’s Board of Directors for at least two (2) years unless removed for cause. For a period of two (2) years following the Closing, the Company Stockholders shall have the right to designate a majority of the directors on Parent’s Board of Directors, two (2) of whom shall qualify as “Independent Directors” under Nasdaq Rule 5605(a)(2).

 

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.

 

2.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock. All Closing Merger Consideration Shares paid or payable in respect of shares of Company Capital Stock hereunder, or upon the exercise of the appraisal rights described in Section 3.2, shall be deemed to have been paid or payable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Capital Stock and from and after the Effective Time there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Capital Stock on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation. If, after the Effective Time, certificates formerly representing shares of Company Capital 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 Closing 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 Company Capital 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 Capital Stock. Each share of Company Capital Stock, if any, that is owned by Parent or Merger Sub (or any other Subsidiary of Parent) or the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) (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 3.1(a) and any Dissenting Shares) shall, in accordance with and subject to this Agreement, be converted into the right to receive the Closing Per Share Merger Consideration.

 

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(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.

 

3.2 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 4.1, shares of Company Capital Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of Company Capital Stock cancelled in accordance with Section 3.1(a)) and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights of such shares of Company Capital Stock in accordance with Section 607.1302 of the Florida Business Corporation Act (such shares of Company Capital Stock being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Florida Business Corporation Act with respect to such shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 607.1302 of the Florida Business Corporation Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 607.1302 of the Florida Business Corporation Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 607.1302 of the Florida Business Corporation Act de, such Dissenting Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to the applicable subsections of Section 4.1, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the Company Stock Certificate or Company Stock Certificates representing such Dissenting Shares in accordance with Section 4.4. The Company shall promptly provide Parent prompt written notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Capital Stock, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act that relates to such demand, and Parent shall have the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands.

 

3.3 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) Exchange Fund. On the Closing Date, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with an exchange agent to be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto (the “Exchange Agent”) for the benefit of the Company Stockholders, for exchange in accordance with this Article III, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and the Closing Cash Consideration (such shares of Parent Common Stock and the Closing Cash Consideration, the “Exchange Fund”). Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, to pay the applicable portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and the Closing Cash Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with the Closing Consideration Spreadsheet and the other applicable provisions contained in this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose other than as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(b) Exchange Procedures. 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 cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to each Company Stockholder, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a letter of transmittal and instructions for use in exchanging such Company Stockholder’s shares of Company Capital Stock for such Company Stockholder’s applicable portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and Closing Cash Consideration from the Exchange Fund, and that shall be in form and contain provisions which Parent may specify and which are reasonably acceptable to the Company (a “Letter of Transmittal”), and promptly following receipt of a Company Stockholder’s properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal, deliver such Company Stockholder’s applicable portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and Closing Cash Consideration to such Company Stockholder. For the purpose of clarification, the portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and Closing Cash Consideration payable to each Company Stockholder following such Person’s delivery of a properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal shall consist of such Company Stockholder’s applicable portion of the Exchange Fund.

 

(c) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the Company Stockholders for one year after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent by the Exchange Agent, upon demand, and any Company Stockholders who have not theretofore complied with this Section 3.3 shall thereafter look only to Parent for their portion of such Closing Merger Consideration Shares. Any portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by Company Stockholders as of a date that is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

 

3.4 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), prepared by the Company in good faith and setting forth the following, in each case as of immediately prior to the Effective Time based, when relevant, on assumptions reasonably acceptable to Parent and that are described in detail in the Consideration Spreadsheet:

 

(i) the name and address of record of each Company Stockholder and the number and class, type, or series of shares of Company Common Stock held by each;

 

(ii) the number of Fully Diluted Company Shares;

 

(iii) detailed calculations of each of the following (in each case, determined without regard to withholding):

 

(A) the Closing Per Share Merger Consideration payable to each named Company Stockholder;

 

(B) the Closing Exchange Ratio; and

 

(C) for each Company Stockholder, its pro rata portion of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and Closing Cash Consideration for its Company Common Stock;

 

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(iv) any explanatory or supporting information, including calculations, as Parent may reasonably request.

 

(b) The Consideration Spreadsheet delivered hereunder shall be true complete and correct and shall contain the same information described in this Section 3.4, subject to Parent’s rights pursuant to Section 3.4(a)(iv).

 

(c) The contents of the Consideration Spreadsheet delivered by the Company hereunder shall be subject to reasonable review and comment by Parent, and shall comport with the provisions of this Agreement, but the Company shall, in all events, remain solely responsible for the contents of the Consideration Spreadsheet. Under no circumstances shall Parent or Merger Sub be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in the Consideration Spreadsheet and the parties agree that Parent and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article IV.

 

(d) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall update the Consideration Spreadsheet, and deliver such updated Consideration Spreadsheet to Parent, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of any event that would change the information set forth in the latest version of the Consideration Spreadsheet that it previously delivered to Parent.

 

(e) Nothing contained in this Section 3.4 or in the Consideration Spreadsheet shall be construed or deemed to: (i) modify the Company’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(xvii) to obtain Parent’s prior consent to the issuance of any securities; or (ii) alter or amend the definition of the Closing Merger Consideration Shares or Closing Cash Consideration. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the aggregate merger consideration payable to the Company Stockholders exceed the Closing Merger Consideration Shares and the Closing Cash Consideration.

 

3.5 Adjustment. The number of shares of Parent Common Stock constituting the Merger Consideration Shares and the Closing Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock occurring prior to the date that the applicable Merger Consideration Shares are issued.

 

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 Capital 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 Capital 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.

 

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3.7 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.

 

3.8 Lost or Destroyed Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Company Stock Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, then upon the making of a customary affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Company Stock Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Stock Certificate, the portion of the Merger Consideration Shares to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Capital Stock formerly represented by such Company Stock Certificate as contemplated under this Article III.

 

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the Schedules to this Agreement delivered by the Company and the ECD UK Subsidiary to Parent concurrent with execution of this Agreement (with specific reference to the particular section or subsection of this Agreement to which the information set forth in such Schedule relates (which qualify the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant specified therein), the Company and the ECD UK Subsidiary hereby represent and warrant 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 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 other member of the Company Group, 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 other members of the Company Group 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 other members of the Company Group are in violation of such members’ respective comparable organizational or constitutive documents.

 

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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 Company 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 Company 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”).

 

(b) By resolutions duly adopted (and not thereafter modified or rescinded) by the requisite vote of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company has: (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by the Company 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 it is a party, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, are in the best interests of the Company and the Company Stockholders; (iii) adopted this Agreement; and (iv) directed that the approval of this Agreement be submitted to the Company Stockholders and recommended the Agreement to the Stockholders and that the Company Stockholders approve this Agreement. The affirmative vote or written consent of Persons holding a majority of the voting power of the shares of Company Capital Stock entitled to vote thereon to approve this Agreement (the “Company Stockholder Approval”) is the only vote or consent of any of the holders of Company Capital Stock or any other class or series of capital stock of the Company that is necessary in order for the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(c) The ECD UK Subsidiary has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any Additional Agreements to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by the ECD UK Subsidiary of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by the ECD UK Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the ECD UK Subsidiary. No other corporate proceedings on the part of the ECD UK Subsidiary 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 or the Additional Agreements. This Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which the ECD UK Subsidiary is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the ECD UK Subsidiary 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 ECD UK Subsidiary is a party constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the ECD UK Subsidiary, enforceable against the ECD UK Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

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 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 Florida pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act, (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 be material to the Company or, after the Closing, to Parent or the Surviving Corporation. Except as may be reasonably required in connection with the UK Contribution, the execution, delivery and performance by the ECD UK Subsidiary of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby does not require any consent, approval, license, Order or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Authority.

 

4.4 Non-Contravention. None of the execution, delivery or performance by any applicable member of the Company Group of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement to which such member of the Company Group is or will be a party or the consummation by such member of the Company Group 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 (or comparable organizational or constitutive documents), (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 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 be material to 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 100 shares of Company Common Stock, no par value per share, of which 100 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. 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 Capital 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. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(a), no shares of Company Capital 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 Florida Business Corporation Act, 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 Capital Stock are owned of record by the Persons set forth on Schedule 4.5(a) in the amounts set forth opposite their respective names.

 

(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). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(b),there are no issued, outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the Company.

 

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4.6 Corporate Records. All proceedings occurring since January 1, 2020 of the Board of Directors of the Company, including all committees thereof, and of the Company Stockholders, 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.

 

4.7 Subsidiaries.

 

(a) Schedule 4.7(a) 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.

 

(b) The authorized capital stock of the ECD UK Subsidiary and the owners of record of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the ECD UK Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement are set forth on Schedule 4.7(b), in the amounts set forth opposite their respective names free and clear of all Liens. No other shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the ECD UK Subsidiary are authorized or reserved for issuance or issued or outstanding. All Equity Interests of the ECD UK Subsidiary 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 organizational and constitutive documents the ECD UK Subsidiary.

 

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 any member of the Company Group 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.

 

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4.9 Financial Statements.

 

(a) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent (i) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company, 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”). Except as described on Schedule 4.9(a), the Company Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis. 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.

 

(d) Except as may be specifically disclosed 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 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.

 

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4.11 Absence of Certain Changes. From the Balance Sheet Date until the date of this Agreement, 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), all items of Tangible Personal Property are, to the Knowledge of the Company, 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 member of the Company Group has good, valid and marketable 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. The Company Group’s assets constitute all of the rights, properties, and assets of any kind or description whatsoever, including goodwill, necessary for the Surviving Corporation to operate the Business immediately after the Closing 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.

 

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 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 paid to the Company in the 12-month period immediately preceding the Balance Sheet Date;

 

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(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 $50,000 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 Contracts 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 $50,000, 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;

 

(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;

 

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(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 $25,000;

 

(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 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

 

(xv) 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 Group 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), other than delegation or subcontracting of work under customer Contracts in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.

 

(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 as set forth on Schedule 4.8 or 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. Since January 1, 2020, 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 since January 1, 2020, 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) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(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. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(a), 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, except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(a), each member of the Company Group is, and since January 1, 2020 has been, in compliance in all material respects with: (i) every Law 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) every Law regulating or covering conduct in the workplace, including regarding sexual harassment or, on any legally impermissible basis, a hostile work environment. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(a), 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. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(a), since January 1, 2020, 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) The Company Group makes reasonable efforts to confirm that all labeling, marketing, and advertising claims regarding any Company Product or technology (including express and implied claims) made by or on behalf of the Company Group are adequately substantiated and comply with all applicable Law.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16(c), 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.

 

(d) 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) 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: (A) the jurisdiction/registrar, registration/application number filing date, date of issuance, expiration date, and status and; (B) the owner and nature of the ownership; and (C) any actions that must be taken in the six (6) months after the Closing with respect to each of the foregoing, including the payment of any registration, maintenance or renewal fees or the filing of any documents, applications or certificates.

 

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(c) All Registered Owned IP is subsisting and valid and enforceable. All Registered Exclusively Licensed IP is subsisting and to the Knowledge of the Company valid and enforceable. All Persons (including members of the Company Group) have, in connection with the prosecution of all Patents 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 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 or Registered Exclusively Licensed IP. All registration, maintenance and renewal fees currently due in the next ninety (90) days in the next 90 days in connection with any Registered Owned IP have been paid and all documents, recordations and certificates in connection therewith have been filed with the authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of prosecuting, maintaining and perfecting such rights and recording the Company Group’s ownership or interests therein.

 

(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 (including any unsolicited written offers to license any such Intellectual Property). There are no Actions pending that involving 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 that involving a claim against a third Person by a member of the Company Group by a third Person 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 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 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 Intellectual Property 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 was related to the Business. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.17(f), 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.

 

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(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, 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) There is no open source, public source or freeware Software that is used or licensed by the Company Group under terms that require source code for such Software or for Software derived from such Software to be provided or made available to subsequent licensees or sublicensees or any modification or derivative thereof, including, without limitation, any version of any Software licensed pursuant to the GNU general public license or the GNU lesser general public license, is used in, incorporated into, integrated or bundled with the Company-used Software.

 

(i) 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.

 

(j) Except with respect to the agreements listed on Schedule 4.17(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.

 

(k) 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.

 

(l) The Company Group has implemented and maintained (or, where applicable, has required its vendors to maintain), consistent with commercially reasonable and 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”). Since January 1, 2020, 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. Since January 1, 2020, 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.

 

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(m) The Company Group has exercised reasonable efforts necessary to maintain, protect and enforce the confidentiality of all Personal Information gathered or controlled in connection with operation of the Business. To the Knowledge of the Company, it has not violated any applicable Data Protection Laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized disclosure of Personal Information which would require any member of the Company Group to make a report to an Authority. 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.

 

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, 2021 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.

 

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(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(c), (i) 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 and (ii) 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.

 

(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(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. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(c), 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.

 

(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 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. With respect to any individual who is employed by any member of the Company Group pursuant to a visa, such visa(s) is (are) valid and have not expired, and Schedule 4.19(e) sets forth each such individual who is a key employee or officer of the Company Group 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.

 

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(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 or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has plans to terminate their employment with the Company Group, nor does the Company have any present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing.

 

(g) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19(g), the employment of each of the employees of the Company Group and the 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”). Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(c), 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 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) The Company has made available to Parent a true, correct and complete list, dated no more than five (5) business days prior to the date of this Agreement, of the names 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, and (E) 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 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.

 

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(j) The Company has made available to Parent a true, correct and complete list, dated no more than five (5) business days prior to the date of this Agreement, of all employees of the Company Group, including 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.

 

(k) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.19(c), Since January 1, 2020, the Company Group has not received or, to the Knowledge of the Company, been threatened with any notice 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 and has investigated all such 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, except as set forth on Schedule 4.19(c), the Company Group has taken corrective action and there is no pending obligation for any member of the Company Group under any settlement or out-of-court or pre-litigation arrangement relating to such matters. 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.

 

(l) 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.

 

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(m) 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 promptly and thoroughly 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 taken prompt corrective action that is reasonably calculated to prevent further spread of COVID-19 within the Company Group’s workplace.

 

(n) 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, 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 reasonably anticipated 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.

 

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.

 

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(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 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.

 

(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.

 

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(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 with the requirements thereof.

 

(j) All Plans subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States (i) if they are intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meet all requirements for such treatment, and (ii) if they are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved, are fully funded and/or book reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(k) Other than any Plan that applies to the Company Group’s employees located in the United Kingdom, no Plan covers any employees outside of the United States.

 

4.22 Real Property.

 

(a) 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. The Company Group has not breached or violated any local zoning ordinance, and 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.

 

(b) 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 obligations imposed on it under such Lease including with respect to any use restrictions and there exists no 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) there are no outstanding claims of breach or indemnification or notice of default or termination thereunder; and (ix) the applicable member of the Company Group has not exercised early termination options, if any, under such Lease. 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.

 

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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 all 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; (iii) there is no Action pending, or proposed in writing, with respect to Taxes of the Company Group; (iv) 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; (v) the Company Group has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting, payment, collection and withholding of Taxes and has duly and timely withheld or collected, paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority and reported all Taxes (including income, social, security and other payroll Taxes) required to be withheld or collected by the Company Group; (vi) the Company has (A) 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 (B) 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; (vii) 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, subpoena or request for information by any Taxing Authority or agreement with any Taxing Authority with respect to the Company Group; (viii) there is no Lien (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company Group; (ix) no claim has ever been made 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, 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 entity members of the Company Group are and have always been tax residents solely in their respective countries of incorporation or formation; (x) the Company has provided or made available to Parent true, complete and correct copies of all Tax Returns relating to, and all audit reports and correspondence relating to each proposed adjustment, if any, made by any Taxing Authority with respect to, any taxable period for which the statute of limitations has not expired; (xi) 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; (xii) 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 the principal purpose of which is not Taxes); (xiii) 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 the common parent of which was the Company); (xiv) the Company has no liability for the Taxes of any other Person (A) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (B) as a transferee or successor or by contract or (C) otherwise by operation of applicable Law; (xv) no issue has been raised by a Taxing Authority in any prior Action relating to the Company Group with respect to any Tax for any period that, by application of the same or similar principles, could reasonably be expected to result in a proposed Tax deficiency of the Company Group for any other period; (xvi) 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; (xvii) 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; (xviii) 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 foreign Law; and (xix) 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).

 

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(b) No member of the Company Group will be required to include any item of income or exclude any item of deduction for any taxable period ending after 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 similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law); (iii) any installment sale or open sale transaction disposition made in a Pre-Closing Tax period; (iv) any prepaid amount received in a Pre-Closing Tax period; (v) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax law); (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code made on or before the Closing; (vii) 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; (viii) “global intangible low-taxed income” of the Company Group within the meaning of Section 951A of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) attributable to any taxable period (or portion thereof) on or before the Closing; or (ix) an election made pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) The Company Group has been in compliance in all respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and legal requirements.

 

(e) The Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(f) 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).

 

(g) The Company will not be obligated to pay any Tax under Section 1374 of the Code in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(h) The Company (i) has been validly classified at all times since the effective date of its subchapter S corporation election as a subchapter S corporation for all federal, state and local income Tax purposes, (ii) has had in effect at all times since the effective date of its subchapter S corporation election a valid election under Section 1362(a) of the Code, and (iii) has been validly treated in a similar manner for purposes of the income Tax Laws of all state and local jurisdictions in which it has been subject to taxation. The Company has, in the past five (5) years, (A) not acquired assets from another corporation in a transaction in which the acquirer’s Tax basis for such assets was determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the Tax basis of the acquired assets (or any other property) in the hands of the transferor and (B) not acquired the stock of any corporation that is a qualified subchapter S Subsidiary. Each of the shareholders of the Company since the date of its S corporation election has been a person permitted to be a shareholder of an S corporation under Section 1361(b)(1)(B) of the Code. The Company and the shareholders have not taken any action that would cause the Company to lose its status as an S corporation as defined in Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code (and, to the extent allowable, under applicable Laws, within the meaning of the income Tax Laws of all states or localities in which such entity is required to file state or local income Tax Returns). The Company is not a transferee of, or a successor to, a subchapter C corporation. The Company does not have a “net unrealized built-in gain” as that term is defined in Section 1374(d)(1) of the Code. The Company has never had any liability for Taxes imposed under Section 1375 of the Code.

 

4.24 Sufficiency of Assets. Following the UK Contribution, 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 necessary and sufficient to operate the Business, as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

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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 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.

 

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”).

 

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(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.

 

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 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 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. To the Company’s Knowledge, the insurance policies to which any member of the Company Group is a party are 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 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.

 

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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).

 

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 Florida. 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.

 

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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. 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.

 

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 Florida, (b) the filing with the SEC of (i) the Form S-4 and the declaration of the effectiveness 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, and (c) 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.

 

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5.5 Finders’ Fees. Except for the Persons identified on 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 Contingent Merger Consideration Shares, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

5.7 Capitalization.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 101,000,000 shares of Parent Capital Stock of which 1,000,000 shares of Parent Preferred Stock are authorized and zero shares of Parent Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, 100,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock are authorized and 14,632,500 are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, 11,757,500 Parent Rights are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, each entitling the holder to receive one-eighth of one share of Parent Common Stock upon the consummation of the business combination, and 11,757,500 Parent Warrants are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, each entitling the holder to purchase one share of Parent Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share. 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 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (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, 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 Florida Business Corporation Act, 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.

 

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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).

 

5.9 Trust Fund. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent has at least $116,150,000 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 Common Stock sold in the IPO who shall have elected to redeem their shares of Parent 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 Common Stock, Parent Warrants and Parent Rights, are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, with trading tickers “EFHT,” “EFHTW” and “EFHTR”.

 

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”).

 

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(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.

 

5.12 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements.

 

(a) Parent has 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.

 

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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.

 

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 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 liabilities for expense incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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5.18 Tax Matters.

 

(a) (i) Parent has duly and timely filed all material Tax Returns which are required to be filed by or with respect to it, and has paid all Taxes which have become due (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns); (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct, complete and accurate in all material respects; (iii) to the Knowledge of Parent, there is no Action, pending or proposed in writing, with respect to Taxes of Parent; (iv) 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; (v) Parent has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting, payment, collection and withholding of Taxes and has duly and timely withheld or collected, paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority and reported all Taxes (including income, social, security and other payroll Taxes) required to be withheld or collected by Parent; (vi) Parent has (A) 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 (B) 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; (vii) 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, subpoena or request for information by any Taxing Authority or agreement with any Taxing Authority with respect to Parent; (viii) there is no Lien (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon any of the assets of Parent; (ix) no claim has ever been made 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, 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 members by virtue of having a permanent establishment or other place of business in that country, and the members of Parent are and have always been tax residents solely in their respective countries of incorporation or formation; (x) Parent has provided to Company true, complete and correct copies of all Tax Returns relating to, and all audit reports and correspondence relating to each proposed adjustment, if any, made by any Taxing Authority with respect to, any taxable period since its formation; (xi) 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; (xii) Parent is not, and has never been, a party to any Tax sharing, Tax indemnity or Tax allocation Contract (other than any customary commercial contract the principal purpose of which is not Taxes); (xiii) 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 (other than a group the common parent of which was Parent); (xiv) Parent has no liability for the Taxes of any other Person: (A) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (B) as a transferee or successor or by contract or (C) otherwise by operation of applicable Law; (xv) no issue has been raised by a Taxing Authority in any prior Action relating to the Parent with respect to any Tax for any period which, by application of the same or similar principles, could reasonably be expected to result in a proposed Tax deficiency of the Parent for any other period; (xvi) Parent has not requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed; (xvii) 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; (xviii) 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 foreign Law); and (xix) Parent 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).

 

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(b) Parent will not be required to include any item of income or exclude any item of deduction for any taxable period ending after 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 similar provision of state, local or foreign Law); (iii) any installment sale or open sale transaction disposition made in a Pre-Closing Tax period; (iv) any prepaid amount received in a Pre-Closing Tax period; or (v) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax law); (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code made on or before the Closing; (vii) the Parent being treated as 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, (viii) “global intangible low-taxed income” of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 951A of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) attributable to any taxable period (or portion thereof) on or before the Closing, or (ix) election made pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) Parent has been in compliance in all respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and legal requirements.

 

(e) Parent is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(f) Parent has not deferred the withholding or remittance of any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to any Applicable Wages for any employees of the Parent and shall not defer the withholding or remittance any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to Applicable Wages for any employees of the 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).

 

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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 by applicable Law, as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a), as necessary to consummate the Restructuring, 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 by applicable Law, as necessary to consummate the Restructuring, 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, or 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) enter into any contract, agreement, lease, license or commitment that would constitute a Material Contract, other than any Contracts with customers entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(iv) make any capital expenditures in excess of $200,000 (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) solely in the case of the Company, sell, exclusively license, abandon, permit to lapse, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any Company Owned IP;

 

(vii) solely in the case of the Company, permit any material Registered Owned IP 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;

 

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(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 other than, in each case, the payment of dividends consistent with the Company’s past practice; (B) pay, declare or promise to pay any other amount to any stockholder or other equity holder in its capacity as such other than, in each case, the payment of dividends consistent with the Company’s past practice; 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 other than loans to the Company’s employees in an amount not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate; (B) incur any new 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 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;

 

(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 redemption by Parent of shares of Parent Common Stock held by its public stockholders as contemplated by Section 6.5(f);

 

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(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, benefits, and dividends consistent with the Company’s past practice;

 

(xxi) solely in the case of the Company, other than as required by a Plan (A) increase or change the compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider except as consistent with the Company’s past practice, (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) 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 and other than loans to the Company’s employees in an amount not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate, or (E) 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).

 

(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.

 

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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.

 

(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.

 

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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;

 

(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

 

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(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 Form S-4/Proxy Statement; Other Filings.

 

(a) The Company shall promptly provide to Parent such information concerning the Company Group and the Company Stockholders as is either required by the federal securities Laws or reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in the Offer Documents. 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, proxy materials 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”). Such proxy materials shall be in the form of a joint proxy/information statement/prospectus (the “Proxy Statement”), which shall be included in a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) filed by Parent with the SEC, pursuant to which the offer and issuance of the Parent Common Stock in the Merger shall be registered. Parent shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Form S-4. The Proxy Statement, the Form S-4 and the documents included or referred to therein, together with any supplements, amendments or exhibits thereto, are referred to herein as the “Offer Documents”.

 

(b) Parent: (i) shall permit the Company and its counsel to review and comment on the Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 and any exhibits, 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 and the Form S-4 or any exhibit, 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 the Form S-4 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 the Form S-4 or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed with the SEC and the time when the Form S-4 declared effective or any stop order relating to the Form S-4 is issued.

 

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(c) As soon as practicable following the date on which the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC (the “S-4 Effective 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 S-4 Effective 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 Florida, and Nasdaq rules, in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Form S-4 and 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 Form S-4, at the time it is initially filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, and on the S-4 Effective Date, and 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 or the Form S-4, as applicable, (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) does not, with respect to the Form S-4, at the time it is initially filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, or on the S-4 Effective Date and, with respect to the Proxy Statement, 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.

 

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(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 form and substance mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company, including the change of the name of Parent to as shall be mutually agreed upon between Parent and the Company (the “Amended Parent Charter”); (iii) approval of the members of the Board of Directors of Parent immediately after the Closing; (iv) approval of the issuance of more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock to the Company Stockholders in connection with the Merger under applicable Nasdaq rules; (v) approval to adjourn the Parent Stockholder Meeting, if necessary; and (vi) 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), and (vi) collectively, the “Required Parent Proposals” and, together with the proposal set forth in the foregoing clause (v), the “Parent Proposals”.

 

(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 Form S-4 and have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC, and to keep the Form S-4 effective as long as is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. As soon as practicable after the S-4 Effective Date, Parent shall cause the Proxy Statement, together will all other Offer Documents, 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 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 S-4 Effective Date 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.

 

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(g) The Company acknowledges that a substantial portion of the Proxy Statement/Form S-4 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/Form S-4, 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/Form S-4 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 S-4 Effective Date, 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 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 Group or the Company Stockholders as may be reasonably requested by Parent in connection with any such action.

 

(j) In connection with the preparation and filing of the Form S-4 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 Form S-4, including the Proxy Statement, and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC or its staff thereon.

 

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.

 

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(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) 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.

 

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6.7 Nasdaq Listing Requirements. From and after the date on which the Parent Stockholder Approval is obtained, and until the Closing, each of Parent and the Company agrees and covenants to take all actions necessary and/or appropriate to cause and ensure that the listing requirements set forth under Nasdaq Rule 5505(b)(2), with respect to Parent, are satisfied.

 

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.

 

(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.

 

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(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 and fully pay the premium for 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.

 

(e) Parent shall obtain and deliver to the Company resignations executed by each director 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, the other Offer Documents 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.

 

6.11 PIPE Financing. During the Interim Period, Parent, with the assistance of the Company and its Affiliates, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Company true, correct and complete copies of fully executed subscription agreements with investors relating to a purchase of Parent Common Stock through a private placement with an aggregate amount of investment of approximately $65 million (collectively, the “PIPE Agreements” and such equity financing hereinafter referred to as the “PIPE Financing”). The Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to take, or with respect to actions required to be taken by the counterparties to the PIPE Agreements, request to be taken by such counterparties, all actions and use its commercially reasonable best efforts to do, or with respect to actions required to be taken by such counterparties request to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the PIPE Agreements on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the PIPE Agreements.

 

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6.12 Employment Agreements. At the Closing, the Company will enter into employment agreements with each of the Persons set forth on Schedule II in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and the Company (the “Employment Agreements”).

 

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 Common Stock, Parent Unit, Parent Warrant or Parent Right, 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 S-4 Effective Date and in any event within five Business Days following the S-4 Effective Date (the “Company 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 Company Stockholder Approval that is duly executed by the Company Stockholders that hold at least the requisite number and class of issued and outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock required to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval (the “Company Stockholder Written Consent”).

 

(b) The Company’s Board of Directors shall recommend that the Company Stockholders vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement and any other related matters that the Company submits to the Company 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 31, 2023, the Company shall provide or make available to Parent the Company’s audited financial statements for the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years, 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 each of the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years (the “Audited Financial Statements”). Subsequent to the delivery of the 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.

 

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7.4 Lock-Up Agreements. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause those persons set forth on Schedule 7.4(a) to enter into a Company Lock-Up Agreement 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 Company Lock-Up Agreements. 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 Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement 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 Lock-Up Agreement.

 

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 (a) for the payment of all amounts payable to public holders of shares of Parent Common Stock (the “Parent Redemption Amount”), (b) if funds in the Trust Account are available, deferred underwriting commissions and the expenses of Parent and the Company Group to the third parties to which they are owed, which shall otherwise be paid out of Parent Closing Cash, and (c) the remaining monies in the Trust Account to Parent or the Surviving Corporation after the Closing.

 

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 September 8, 2022, by and between Parent and EF Hutton, a division of Benchmark Investments, LLC and (c) enforce the terms of (i) the letter agreement, dated as of September 8, 2022, by and among Parent, Sponsor and each of the officers and directors of Parent named therein, and (ii) Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 8, 2022, by and among the Parent and the initial stockholders of the Parent and (iii) the indemnity agreements, dated September 8, 2022, by and between the Parent and each of the Parent’s the directors and officers.

 

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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 Common Stock, the Parent Warrants and the Parent Rights 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; (ii) all applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq to be satisfied; and (iii) the Parent Common Stock, including the Merger Consideration Shares, the Parent Warrants and the Parent Rights 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. 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.

 

8.6 Certain Tax Matters.

 

(a) Each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Neither Parent nor the Company shall take any action, or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. 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, the Merger as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, unless otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

(b) If, in connection with the preparation and filing of the Form S-4, the SEC requests or requires a tax opinion be prepared and submitted, Parent and the Company shall deliver to each other and to legal counsel of their choosing customary Tax representation letters satisfactory to such counsel, dated and executed as of such date as determined reasonably necessary by such counsel and, if required, the Company shall procure legal counsel to furnish an opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, to the effect that the Merger should qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Loeb & Loeb LLP shall not be required to provide any opinion to any party regarding the Merger.

 

(c) 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.

 

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(d) The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will cause the Company to terminate its status as an S corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, effective as of the date preceding the Closing Date (the “Termination Date”). Pursuant to section 1362(e)(1) of the Code, the Company shall have two short taxable years for the year that includes the Closing Date, an S short year beginning January 1 of such year and ending on the Termination Date and a C short year beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the next succeeding close of the Parent’s consolidated return taxable year. The Parent and the Parent’s Stockholders shall elect and shall consent, pursuant to section 1362(e)(3) of the Code, to allocate tax items to the S short year and the C short year pursuant to normal tax accounting rules (the “closing of the books method”) of the Company. The allocation of such items shall be done on a basis consistent with the Company’s past accounting practice and in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Company’s Stockholders.

 

(e) Tax Returns for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be prepared by the Company’s accountant. The Parent shall not amend any Tax return of the Company for any Pre-Closing Tax Periods or agree to any adjustment for any Pre-Closing Tax Period if such amendment or adjustment proposed by any Taxing Authority would increase the tax liability of any of the Company’s Stockholders.

 

8.7 Extensions of Time to Consummate a Business Combination.

 

(a) Initial Extension Periods. If the Closing has not occurred by June 13, 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 it to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of one month up to three times (i.e., to July 13, 2023, August 13, 2023 and September 13, 2023, each, an “Initial Extension Period”), including providing any required notices to the Trustee. Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, into the Trust Account, 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 such additional one month periods up to three times through the Initial Extension Period.

 

(b) Subsequent Extension Periods. If the Closing has not been consummated by the expiration of the Initial Extension Periods (i.e., on or prior to September 13, 2023), with the Company’s reasonable cooperation, 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 subsequent additional period of one month up to six times (each, a “Subsequent Extension Period”), including providing any required notices to the Trustee. 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 then applicable Extension Period, the Company, shall deposit or cause to be deposited, into the Trust Account, not later than two Business Days prior to the expiration of the then-applicable Subsequent Extension Period, 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 one month.

 

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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 by deputization, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

8.9 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 (7) 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) 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) 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.

 

(c) The Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

 

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

 

(e) Parent’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been conditionally 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 Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq.

 

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(f) The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC that remains in effect and no proceeding seeking such a stop order shall have been initiated by the SEC and not withdrawn.

 

(g) The Parent Closing Cash shall equal or exceed $65,000,000.

 

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 and the ECD UK Subsidiary contained in this Agreement (disregarding all qualifications contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), other than the Company Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct in all respects 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 an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such earlier date) other than as would not in individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company Group. The Company 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 as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of such specific date).

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) 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.

 

(e) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of the Company 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 Florida; (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 Company 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 Florida.

 

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(f) Each of the Company and the Company Stockholders, as applicable, shall have duly executed and delivered to Parent a copy of each Additional Agreement to which the Company or such Company Stockholder, as applicable, is a party.

 

(g) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a duly executed certificate conforming to the requirements of Sections 1.897-2(h)(1)(i) and 1.1445-2(c)(3)(i) of the United States Treasury regulations, and a notice to be delivered to the United States Internal Revenue Service as required under Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the United States Treasury regulations, each dated no more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonable acceptable to Parent.

 

(h) Not more than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock shall constitute Dissenting Shares.

 

(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 31, 2023.

 

(k) The UK Contribution has been completed in accordance with the terms set forth in this 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 (disregarding all qualifications contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), other than the Parent Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct in all respects 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 an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of such earlier date) other than as would not in individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Parent Parties. 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 as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly 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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(c) 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.

 

(d) 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.

 

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

 

(f) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of Parent 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.

 

(g) 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 Florida.

 

(h) 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.

 

(i) 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.

 

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

 

(k) 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.

 

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Article X

TERMINATION

 

10.1 Termination Without Default.

 

(a) In the event that the Closing has not occurred by September 13, 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 proximately caused 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 proximately caused 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(f), Section 9.2(h) and Section 9.2(j) 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 with respect to the obligation to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 9.2(j) five (5) days, or (2) the Outside Termination Date; or (ii) at any time after the Company Stockholder Written Consent Deadline if the Company has not received the Company Stockholder Approval (provided, that upon the Company receiving the Company 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), or Section 9.3(c) from being satisfied.

 

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(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), or Section 9.3(c) 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 Company is not then in breach of this Agreement so as to prevent the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 9.2(a), Section 9.2(b) or Section 9.2(c) 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.

 

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:

 

Humble Imports, Inc.

Unit 107 - 4930 Industrial Lane

Kissimmee, Florida 34758

Attn: Scott Wallace

E-mail: scowal5@gmail.com

 

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

 

Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.

1000 Legion Pl Ste 1700

Orlando, FL 32801

Attn: Julia D. Dennis

E-mail: jdennis@sllaw.com

 

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

 

EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, MA 02043

Attn: Benjamin Piggott

E-mail: bpiggott@efhuttonacquisitioncorp.com

 

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 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, 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 the parties at the Closing.

 

11.5 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.

 

11.6 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.

 

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11.7 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.

 

11.8 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.

 

11.9 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.

 

11.10 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 and to satisfy the conditions to closing contemplated by this Agreement, including in Article IX, and not to materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or

 

11.11 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.8 and Section 11.17, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof confers any benefit or right upon or may be enforced by any Person not a signatory hereto.

 

11.12 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 the Company Stockholders, 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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11.13 No Other Representations; No Reliance.

 

(a) NONE OF THE COMPANY, ANY COMPANY STOCKHOLDER 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, any Company Stockholder 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, any Company Stockholder or their respective Representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties of the Company or any Company Stockholder, 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, the Company Stockholders 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 any Company Stockholder 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 the Company Stockholders 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, the Company Stockholders 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 11.13(a), nothing in this Section 11.13(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 and the Company Stockholders 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 and the Company Stockholders 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 or Company Stockholders 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, the Company Stockholders or their respective Representatives or made available to the Company, the Company Stockholders 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, the Company Stockholders 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 11.13(b), nothing in this Section 11.13(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.

 

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11.14 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 11.14.

 

11.15 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 11.15 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.

 

11.16 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 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.

 

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11.17 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 11.17) 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.

 

11.18 Securityholder Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Company Stockholder shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Securityholder Representative as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person for all purposes in connection with this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the agreements ancillary hereto and thereto. The Securityholder Representative shall act as the representative of the Company Stockholders in respect of all matters arising under this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the agreements ancillary hereto and thereto, and shall be authorized to act, or refrain from acting, with respect to any actions to be taken by or on behalf of the Company Stockholders or the Securityholder Representative, including to enforce any rights granted to the Company Stockholders hereunder and thereunder, in each case as the Securityholder Representative believes is necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and/or the agreements ancillary hereto and thereto, for and on behalf of the Company Stockholders. The Company Stockholders shall be bound by all such actions taken by the Securityholder Representative and the Company Stockholders shall not be permitted to take any such actions.

 

(b) The Securityholder Representative is serving as the Securityholder Representative solely for purposes of administrative convenience, and is not personally liable for any of the obligations of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Company Stockholders hereunder, and Parent (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates) agrees that it will not look to the Securityholder Representative or the underlying assets of the Securityholder Representative for the satisfaction of any obligations of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Company Stockholders. The Securityholder Representative shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken, in connection with the performance by the Securityholder Representative of the Securityholder Representative’s duties or the exercise by the Securityholder Representative of the Securityholder Representative’s rights and remedies under this Agreement, any Additional Agreement or any agreement ancillary hereto or thereto, except in the case of its intentional fraud or willful misconduct. No bond shall be required of the Securityholder Representative. The Securityholder Representative may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts. The Securityholder Representative shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or any agreement ancillary hereto or thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Securityholder Representative shall have the full power and authority to interpret all the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements or any agreement ancillary hereto or thereto, and to consent to any amendment hereof or thereof on behalf of the Company Stockholders and their respective successors.

 

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(c) The Securityholder Representative may resign at any time by giving twenty (20) days’ notice to Parent and the Company Stockholders; provided, however, in the event of the resignation or removal of the Securityholder Representative, a new Securityholder Representative (who shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent) shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of a majority of the shares of Parent Common Stock, voting together as a single class (with each such share entitled to one vote), then held by the Company Stockholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

(d) The appointment of the Securityholder Representative is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable by Company Stockholders in any manner or for any reason. This authority granted to the Securityholder Representative shall not be affected by the death, illness, dissolution, disability, incapacity or other inability to act of any principal pursuant to any applicable Law. Scott Wallace hereby accepts his appointment as the initial Securityholder Representative. Any decision, act, consent or instruction taken by the Securityholder Representative in accordance with this Section 11.18 on behalf of Company Stockholders (each, an “Securityholder Representative Authorized Action”) shall be final, binding and conclusive on Company Stockholders as fully as if such Persons had taken such Securityholder Representative Authorized Action.

 

11.19 Privileged Communications. 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 Engagements”). Each of the Company and the Company Stockholders agree, on behalf of itself and/or themselves, as the case may be, 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 in any way to the Pre-Closing 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 Engagements, to the Company, the Company Stockholders, 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 Company Stockholders will not have access to any such Parent Privileged Communications, or to the files of Parent Counsel relating to the Pre-Closing Engagements. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.18 to the contrary, if after the Closing a dispute arises between Company or any of its Affiliates, including the Surviving Corporation and the Company Stockholders, on the one hand, and a third party, other than the Sponsor or any of its respective 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, the Company Stockholders, Parent nor the Surviving Corporation may waive such privilege without the prior written consent of the Sponsor.

 

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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:
   
  EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I
     
  By: /s/ Benjamin Piggott
  Name: Benjamin Piggott
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Merger Sub:
   
  EFHAC MERGER SUB, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Benjamin Piggott
  Name: Benjamin Piggott
  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:
   
  HUMBLE IMPORTS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Emily Humble
  Name: Emily Humble
  Title: President
     
  ECD UK Subsidiary:
   
  ECD AUTO DESIGN UK, LTD.
     
  By: /s/ Emily Humble
  Name: Emily Humble
  Title: Sole Director
     
  Securityholder Representative:
     
  By: /s/ Scott Wallace
  Name: Scott Wallace

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

Persons to Execute Company Support Agreement

 

Emily Humble

 

Scott Wallace

 

Elliot Humble

 

Schedule II

Persons to Execute Employment Agreements

 

Elliot Humble

 

Emily Humble

 

Thomas Humble

 

Scott Wallace

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 3, 2023 (this “Support Agreement”), is entered into by and among the stockholders listed on Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Stockholder”), Humble Imports Inc, d/b/a ECD Auto Design, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Support Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, Parent, the Company, ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation, EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Company Stockholders (the “Securityholder Representative”), are parties to a Merger Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder owns the number of shares of the Company Common Stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), as set forth on Exhibit A (all such shares, or any successor or additional shares of the Common Stock of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by the Stockholder prior to the termination of this Support Agreement being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (a) has approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and the Additional Agreements to which the Company is or will be a party, including the Merger (collectively, the “Transactions”) and the performance of its 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 and its stockholders, and (c) resolved to recommend that the Company Stockholders approve the Merger and the Transactions and adopt the Merger Agreement, the Additional Agreements to which it is or will be a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder is executing and delivering this Support Agreement to the 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. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time, and (ii) such date and time as the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms (whichever earlier, the “Expiration Time”), and except as may be necessary or advisable to effect such termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, each Stockholder, in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, agrees that, at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement including the UK Contribution (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 Company’s stockholders related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement including the UK Contribution (all meetings or consents related to the Merger Agreement, collectively referred to herein as the “Meeting”), such 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;

 

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b. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Stockholder Shares in favor of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

c. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Stockholder Shares in favor of the proper implementation of the UK Contribution as may be requested by the Company or Parent;

 

d. authorize and approve any amendment to the Company’s Organizational Documents that is deemed necessary or advisable by the Company for purposes of effecting the Transactions; and

 

e. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and 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 the Company 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 Support Agreement.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer. Until the Expiration Time, each Stockholder agrees that it shall not sell, assign, dispose of, encumber or otherwise transfer any of the Stockholder Shares unless the buyer, assignee or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to this Support Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent or enter into any binding arrangement with respect to the transfer of any Stockholder Shares. The Company shall not register any sale, assignment or transfer of the Stockholder Shares on the Company’s stock ledger (book entry or otherwise) that is not in compliance with this Section 2.

 

3. New Securities. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Time, in the event that, (a) any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company are issued to any Stockholder after the date of this Support Agreement pursuant to any issuance, stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or other securities of any other entity in exchange for Company securities owned by the Stockholder, (b) any Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of Company or securities of any other entity in exchange for Company securities owned by the Stockholder, after the date of this Support Agreement, or (c) any Stockholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company after the date of this Support Agreement (such Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by the relevant Stockholder shall be subject to the terms of this Support Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Stockholder Shares as of the date hereof.

 

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4. 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, 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 Support Agreement or the Merger Agreement or (b) allegeing a breach of fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement.

 

5. Consent to Disclosure. Each Stockholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Form S-4 and 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 Governmental Authority or to securityholders of the Parent) of such Stockholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of Stockholder Shares and the nature of such Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Support Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Parent or the Company, a copy of this Support Agreement. 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).

 

6. Waiver. Each Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally waives any rights of appraisal, dissenter’s rights and any similar rights relating to the Merger Agreement and the consummation by the parties of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, that such stockholder may have under applicable law (including Section 607.1302 of the Florida Business Corporation Act).

 

7. Stockholder Representations: Each Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent and the Company, as of the date hereof, that:

 

a. such Stockholder has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Support Agreement;

 

b. (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 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 the Stockholder and (ii) if such Stockholder is an individual, the signature on this Support Agreement is genuine, and such Stockholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same;

 

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c. this Support Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Support Agreement, this 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);

 

d. except as otherwise expressly provided in the Merger Agreement, the execution and delivery of this Support Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the performance by such Stockholder of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) 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 its obligations under this Support Agreement;

 

e. 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 arbitrator or any Governmental Authority, which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Support Agreement;

 

f. no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with this Support Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by the Stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, by the Company;

 

g. such Stockholder has had the opportunity to read the Merger Agreement and this Support Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with such Stockholder’s tax and legal advisors;

 

h. such Stockholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent such Stockholder from performing any of such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder;

 

i. such Stockholder has good title to the Stockholder Shares opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A, free and clear of any Liens other than Liens pursuant to this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, the organizational documents of the Company and the Permitted Liens, and such Stockholder has the sole power to vote or cause to be voted such Stockholder Shares; and

 

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j. the Stockholder Shares listed opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A are the only shares of the Company capital stock owned of record or beneficially owned by the 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 Support Agreement.

 

8. Damages; Remedies. Each Stockholder hereby agrees and acknowledges that (a) Parent and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Support Agreement, (b) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (c) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

9. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This 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. This 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.

 

10. Assignment. No party hereto may, except as set forth herein, assign either this Support Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Support Agreement shall be binding on each Stockholder, Parent and the Company and each of their respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

11. Counterparts. This 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.

 

12. Severability. This 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 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 Support Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

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13. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver. Section 11.6 and Section 11.14 of the Merger Agreement are incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Support Agreement.

 

14. Notice. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Support Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the address set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to each Stockholder, at its address set forth on Exhibit A.

 

15. Termination. This Support Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of the Closing or the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. No such termination shall relieve any Stockholder, Parent or the Company from any liability resulting from a breach of this Support Agreement occurring prior to such termination.

 

16. Adjustment for Stock Split. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Stockholder Shares by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Support Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to each Stockholder, Parent, the Company and the Stockholder Shares as so changed.

 

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.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

6
 

 

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

 

EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I  
     
By: /s/ Benjamin Piggott  
Name:  Benjamin Piggott  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

HUMBLE IMPORTS, INC  
     
By: /s/ Emily Humble  
Name:  Emily Humble  
Title: President  

 

7
 

 

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

 

STOCKHOLDERS  
     
By: /s/ Emily Humble             
Name:  Emily Humble  
     
By: /s/ Scott Wallace  
Name: Scott Wallace  
   
By: /s/ Elliot Humble  
Name: Elliot Humble

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Stockholder   Number of Shares   Address for Notices
Emily Humble   51    
Scott Wallace   22    
Elliot Humble   5    

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

PARENT STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT

  

This Parent STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 3, 2023 (this “Support Agreement”), is entered into by and among the stockholders listed on Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Stockholder”), Humble Imports, Inc, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Support Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, Parent, the Company, ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation, EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Company Stockholders (the “Securityholder Representative”) are parties to a Merger Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder owns the number of shares of the Parent common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”), as set forth on Exhibit A (all such shares, or any successor or additional shares of the Common Stock of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by the Stockholder prior to the termination of this Support Agreement being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder is executing and delivering this Agreement to Parent and 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. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, and (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with its terms (the “Expiration Time”), each Stockholder, in its capacity as a stockholder of Parent, agrees that, at the Parent Stockholder Meeting, at any other meeting of Parent’s stockholders related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and in connection with any written consent of Parent’s stockholders related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the Parent Stockholder Meeting and all other meetings or consents related to the Merger Agreement, collectively referred to herein as the “Meeting”), such 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 execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Stockholder Shares in favor of each of the Parent Proposals; and

 

   
 

 

  c. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and 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 Support Agreement.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer. Until the Expiration Time, each Stockholder agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, assign or otherwise transfer any of the Stockholder Shares unless the buyer, assignee or transferee thereof executes a joinder agreement to this Support Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. Parent shall not register any sale, assignment or transfer of the Stockholder Shares on Parent’s transfer (book entry or otherwise) that is not in compliance with this Section 2.

 

3. No Redemption. Each Stockholder hereby agrees that 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 period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Time, in the event that, (a) any shares of Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent are issued to any Stockholder after the date of this Support Agreement pursuant to any issuance, stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, (b) any 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 Support Agreement, or (c) any 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 Support Agreement (such Parent Common Stock or other equity securities of Parent, collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by the relevant Stockholder shall be subject to the terms of this Support Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Stockholder Shares as of the date hereof.

 

5. Consent to Disclosure. Each Stockholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Form S-4 and 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 Governmental Authority or to securityholders of Parent) of such Stockholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of Stockholder Shares and the nature of such Stockholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Support Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Parent or the Company, a copy of this Support Agreement. 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).

 

   
 

 

6. 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 it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this 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 Support Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the such Stockholder’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions on the part of the Stockholder and (ii) if such Stockholder is an individual, the signature on this Support Agreement is genuine, and such Stockholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same;
     
  d. this Support Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Support Agreement, this 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 Support Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the performance by such Stockholder of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) 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 its obligations under this Support Agreement;
     
  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 arbitrator or any Governmental Authority, which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of such Stockholder’s obligations under this 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 Support Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by the Stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, by Parent;
     
  h. such Stockholder has had the opportunity to read the Merger Agreement and this Support Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with such Stockholder’s tax and legal advisors;
     
  i. such Stockholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent such Stockholder from performing any of such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder;
     
  j. such Stockholder has good title to the Stockholder Shares opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens, and such Stockholder has the sole power to vote or cause to be voted such Stockholder Shares; and
     
  k. the Stockholder Shares opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A are the only shares of Parent Common Stock owned of record or beneficially owned by the 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 Support Agreement.

 

7. Damages; Remedies. Each Stockholder hereby agrees and acknowledges that (a) Parent and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Support Agreement, (b) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (c) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

8. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This 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. This 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.

 

9. Assignment. No party hereto may, except as set forth herein, assign either this Support Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Support Agreement shall be binding on each Stockholder, the Parent and the Company and each of their respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

   
 

 

10. Counterparts. This 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.

 

11. Severability. This 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 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 Support Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

12. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver. Section 11.6 and Section 11.14 of the Merger Agreement is incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Support Agreement.

 

13. Notice. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Support Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the address set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to each Stockholder, at its address set forth on Exhibit A.

 

14. Termination. This Support Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of the Closing or the termination of the Merger Agreement. No such termination shall relieve any Stockholder, Parent or the Company from any liability resulting from a breach of this Support Agreement occurring prior to such termination.

 

15. Adjustment for Stock Split. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Parent or the Stockholder Shares by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Support Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to each Stockholder, Parent, the Company, the Stockholder Shares as so changed.

 

16. 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.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

   
 

 

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

 

  HUMBLE IMPORTS, INC
   
  By: /s/ Emily Humble
  Name:  Emily Humble
  Title: President

 

  EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION i
   
  By: /s/ Benjamin Piggott
  Name:  Benjamin Piggott
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

   
 

 

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

 

  STOCKHOLDERS
     
  EF Hutton Partners, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Joseph Rallo
  Name: Joseph Rallo
  Title: Manager
     
  SHR Ventures, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Jerelyn C. Creutz                   
  Name: Jerelyn C. Creutz
  Title: Manager
     
  Kevin M. Bush
   
  /s/ Kevin M. Bush
     
  Stanley Hutton Rumbough
   
  /s/ Stanley Hutton Rumbough
     
  Anne Lee
   
  /s/ Anne Lee
     
  Thomas Woods
   
  /s/ Thomas Woods
     
  Paul Hodge, Jr.
   
  /s/ Paul Hodge, Jr.

 

   
 

 

Exhibit A

Stockholders

 

Stockholder   Number of Shares   Address for Notices
EF Hutton Partners, LLC  

1,819,918

 

 

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

SHR Ventures, LLC   173,186  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Kevin M. Bush   78,864  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Stanley Hutton Rumbough   50,000  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Anne Lee   50,000  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Thomas Woods   50,000  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Paul Hodge, Jr.   107,729  

c/o EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

 

   

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of ______________, 2023, by and among the undersigned (the “Holder”) and EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A. SPAC, Humble Imports Inc, d/b/a ECD Auto Design, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation. (the “ECD UK Subsidiary”), and EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of SPAC, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Company’s stockholders (the “Securityholder Representative”), entered into a Merger Agreement dated as of _____________, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

B. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will merge with and into the Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with the Company as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Merger, the SPAC will become the 100% stockholder of the Company.

 

C. The Holder is the record and/or beneficial owner of certain shares of Parent common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”).

 

D. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for SPAC 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 SPAC (these actions, collectively, “Transfer”).

 

 

 

 

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, SPAC will (i) place an irrevocable stop order on all Lock-up Shares, including those which may be covered by a registration statement, and (ii) notify SPAC’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on such Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct the Purchaser’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.

 

(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 with respect to the Lock-up Shares, the period commencing on Closing Date and ending on the date that is six (6) months thereafter.

 

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) transfers relating to Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the Closing Date, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise, other than a required filing on Schedule 13F, 13G or 13G/A) during the Lock-up Period; and

 

 

 

 

(8) the entry, by the Holder, at any time after the effective time of the Merger, of any trading plan providing for the sale of 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 Common Stock during the Lock-up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-up Period.

 

In the case of clauses (1) through (6) such transferee shall agree to be bound 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 SPAC and SPAC’s subsidiaries to a third-party purchaser; (b) a sale resulting in no less than a majority of the voting power of SPAC being held by person that did not own a majority of the voting power prior to such sale; or (c) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of SPAC 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, 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), any Common Stock, or any economic interest in or derivative of such stock, other than those securities specified on the signature page hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder as specified on the signature page hereto, and the Common Stock that such Common Stock will be converted into pursuant to the Merger Agreement, are collectively referred to as the “Lock-up Shares.”

 

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 Holder upon the Holder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall only become effective upon the Closing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the 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 sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is confirmed electronically, if by 4:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, and otherwise on the first Business Day after the date of such confirmation; or (c) five days after mailing by 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 SPAC, to:

 

EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Attention: Benjamin Piggott, CEO

Email: bpiggott@efhuttonacquisitioncorp.com

 

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:

 

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

 

Julia D. Dennis, Esq.

1000 Legion Place, Suite 1700

Orlando, FL 32801

 

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.

 

 

 

 

7. Enumeration and Headings. The enumeration 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. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

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 SPAC and its successors and assigns.

 

10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision will be conformed to prevailing law rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the parties hereto.

 

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]

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  EF HuTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I
     
  By:                             
  Name:  Benjamin Piggott
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  NAME OF HOLDER:
     
  By:                                     
  Name:  
  Title:  
  Address:  
  Attention:   
  Email:  

 

  NUMBER OF LOCK-UP SHARES: __________

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of ______________, 2023, by and among the undersigned (the “Holder”) and EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A. SPAC, Humble Imports Inc, d/b/a E.C.D. Automotive Design, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation. (the “ECD UK Subsidiary”), and EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Company’s stockholders (the “Securityholder Representative”), entered into a Merger Agreement dated as of _____________, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

B. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will merge with and into the Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with the Company as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Merger, the SPAC will become the 100% stockholder of the Company.

 

C. The Holder is the record and/or beneficial owner of certain shares of Parent common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”).

 

D. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for the Company to enter into and conumate 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 SPAC (these actions, collectively, “Transfer”).

 

 

 

 

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, SPAC will (i) place an irrevocable stop order on all Lock-up Shares, including those which may be covered by a registration statement, and (ii) notify SPAC’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on such Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct the Purchaser’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.

 

(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 with respect to the Lock-up Shares, the period commencing on Closing Date and ending on the date that is six (6) months thereafter.

 

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) transfers relating to Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the Closing Date, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise, other than a required filing on Schedule 13F, 13G or 13G/A) during the Lock-up Period; and

 

(8) the entry, by the Holder, at any time after the effective time of the Merger, of any trading plan providing for the sale of 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 Common Stock during the Lock-up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-up Period.

 

 

 

 

In the case of clauses (1) through (6) such transferee shall agree to be bound 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 SPAC and SPAC’s subsidiaries to a third-party purchaser; (b) a sale resulting in no less than a majority of the voting power of SPAC being held by person that did not own a majority of the voting power prior to such sale; or (c) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of SPAC 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.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Shares (i) subsequent to the Business Combination, if the last sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial Business Combination, or earlier in each case if, subsequent to the Business Combination, SPAC completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

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, 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), any Common Stock, or any economic interest in or derivative of such stock, other than those securities specified on the signature page hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder as specified on the signature page hereto, and the Common Stock that such Common Stock will be converted into pursuant to the Merger Agreement, are collectively referred to as the “Lock-up Shares.”

 

 

 

 

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 Holder upon the Holder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall only become effective upon the Closing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the 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 sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is confirmed electronically, if by 4:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, and otherwise on the first Business Day after the date of such confirmation; or (c) five days after mailing by 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 SPAC, to:

 

EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, Massachusetts 02043

Attention: Benjamin Piggott, CEO

Email: bpiggott@efhuttonacquisitioncorp.com

 

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:

 

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

 

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.

 

 

 

 

7. Enumeration and Headings. The enumeration 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. This Agreement may be executed in facsimile and in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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 SPAC and its successors and assigns.

 

10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision will be conformed to prevailing law rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the parties hereto.

 

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]

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  EF HuTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I
     
  By:                              
  Name:  Benjamin Piggott
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

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.

 

  NAME OF HOLDER:
     
     
  By:                              
  Name:  
  Title:  
  Address:  
  Attention:   
  Email:  

 

  NUMBER OF LOCK-UP SHARES: __________

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT

 

This RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made as of ______, 2023, with effect as of the Effective Time, by and among EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I., a Delaware corporation (“EFHT” or “Buyer”), Humble Imports Inc., a Florida corporation (“ECD”), and _______________ (“Stockholder,” together with EFHT and the Company, the “Parties” and, each, a “Party”).

 

WHEREAS, Stockholder is a stockholder of ECD;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among EFHT, EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of EFHT (the “Merger Subsidiary”) and ECD, EFHT will acquire all of the issued and outstanding stock of ECD as a result of the merger of the Merger Subsidiary with and into ECD (the “Merger”), and, as a result of which, ECD will be the surviving company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of EFHT;

 

WHEREAS, the Merger shall be effective as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, Stockholder’s entry into this Agreement is a condition of the Merger for the purpose of protecting Confidential Information (defined below), good will, customers, employees and other protectable interests of ECD and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation (the “ECD Subsidiary,” together with ECD, the “Acquired Companies” and, each, an “Acquired Company”);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms not expressly defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

2. Representations and Acknowledgements. Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that:

 

2.1 among the Acquired Companies’ most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its good will and close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below), and current and former employees, which the Acquired Companies have devoted and continue to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop;

 

2.2 in order to protect such valuable and indispensable assets, the Buyer has required that Stockholder agree to the restrictive covenants and other provisions of this Agreement as a condition to the Merger;

 

2.3 Stockholder shall receive payments and benefits as a result of the Merger, which payments and benefits are good and valuable consideration for entering into this Agreement;

 

 
 

 

2.4 to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Stockholder than is necessary to preserve the value of the Acquired Companies being purchased by Buyer; and

 

2.5 any breach of such covenants will result in the Acquired Companies being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Acquired Companies serious and irreparable harm to their business.

 

3. Confidential Information.

 

3.1 As used herein, “Confidential Information” includes any of the following information held or used by or relating to any Acquired Company:

 

(a) all information that is a Trade Secret;

 

(b) all information concerning product specifications, data, know-how, formulae, compositions, processes, designs, sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions and ideas, past, current, and planned research and development, current and planned manufacturing or distribution methods and processes, computer hardware, Software and computer software, database technologies, systems, structures and architectures; and

 

(c) all information concerning the business and affairs of any Acquired Company, including historical and current financial statements, financial projections and budgets, tax returns and accountants’ materials, historical, current, and projected sales, capital spending budgets and plans, business plans, strategic plans, marketing and advertising plans, publications, client and customer and prospect lists and files, current and anticipated customer requirements, price lists, market studies, Contracts, the names and backgrounds of key personnel and personnel training techniques and materials, however documented.

 

3.2 Stockholder acknowledges the confidential and proprietary nature of Confidential Information and agrees that Stockholder shall, except to the extent required by law or if Stockholder is employed by an Acquired Company to fulfill Stockholder’s duties in the course of such employment, from and after the Closing: (i) keep Confidential Information confidential and deliver promptly to Buyer, or immediately destroy at Buyer’s option, all embodiments and copies of Confidential Information that are in Stockholder’s possession; (ii) not use Confidential Information for any reason or purpose; and (iii) without limiting the foregoing, not disclose Confidential Information to any Person, except with Buyer’s Consent.

 

3.3 Section 3.2 above does not apply to that part of Confidential Information that becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section 3 by Stockholder. Confidential Information shall not be deemed “generally available to the public” merely because it is included or incorporated in more general information that is publicly available or because it combines features which individually may be publicly available.

 

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3.4 If Stockholder becomes compelled in any proceeding to make any disclosure that is prohibited by this Section 3, Stockholder shall, to the extent legally permissible, provide Buyer with prompt notice of such compulsion so that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the provisions of this Section 3. In the absence of a protective order or other remedy, Stockholder may disclose that portion (and only that portion) of Confidential Information that, based upon the opinion of Stockholder’s counsel, Stockholder is legally compelled to disclose; provided, however, that Stockholder shall use Stockholder’s best efforts to obtain written assurance that any Person to whom any Confidential Information is so disclosed shall accord confidential treatment to such Confidential Information.

 

3.5 Nothing in this Section 3 will diminish the protections and benefits under applicable Law to which any Trade Secret of any Acquired Company is entitled. If any information that an Acquired Company asserts to be a Trade Secret under applicable Law is found by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be such a Trade Secret, such information will nonetheless be considered Confidential Information of that Acquired Company for purposes of this Section 3.

 

3.6 Stockholder acknowledges that Stockholder has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

 

4. Non-Competition and Non-Interference.

 

4.1 Non-Competition. Other than on behalf of any Acquired Company, during the Restricted Period (defined below), Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly (defined below), engage or attempt to engage in the Business (defined below) within the Territory (defined below).

 

4.2 Non-Interference with Customers. During the Restricted Period, Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, attempt to or actually, (i) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with any Acquired Company; (ii) solicit, induce or cause any Customer to become a customer of or enter into any contractual or other relationship, in each case for Competing Services (defined below), with Stockholder or any other person or entity; and/or (iii) offer or provide to any Customer any Competing Services.

 

4.3 Non-Interference with Suppliers (Including Stockholders). Stockholder agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, attempt to or actually: (i) solicit, induce, or cause any Supplier or other Business Relation (defined below) of any Acquired Company to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending such person’s or entity’s business or employment relationship with any Acquired Company; (ii) solicit, induce or cause any employee of any Acquired Company to engage in Competing Services; or (iii) engage as an employee, independent contractor or consultant on behalf of a person or entity other than an Acquired Company (A) any employee of any Acquired Company or (B) any person who was employed by any Acquired Company within the then prior six-month period.

 

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4.4 Definitions.

 

(a) Business” means the acquisition, restoration, modification and resale of classic automobiles; initially Land Rover Defenders and Jaguar E-Types at the ECD’s 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Kissimmee Florida, which currently has capacity to build approximately 180 vehicles per year. ECD cars have price points in excess of $200,000 and compete against other exotic car manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin.

 

(b) Business Relation” means herein any person or entity other than a Supplier that conducts business with any Acquired Company.

 

(c) Competing Services” means herein products or services (other than those of an Acquired Company) that are the same, similar or otherwise in competition with the products or services of any Acquired Company.

 

(d) Customer” means herein any person or entity that: (i) during the two-year period immediately preceding the Effective Time or during the Restricted Period, has purchased products or services from any Acquired Company and/or (ii) during the one-year period immediately preceding the Effective Time, was contacted by an Acquired Company regarding the potential purchase of products or services from any Acquired Company.

 

(e) Directly or indirectly” as used herein includes any activity, on behalf of Stockholder or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person or entity, whether as an employee, agent, consultant, independent contractor, officer, director, principal, shareholder, equity holder, partner, member, joint venturer, lender, investor or otherwise, except that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Stockholder from being a passive holder, for investment purposes only, of not more than five percent (5%) of the securities of any publicly-traded entity.

 

(f) Restricted Period” means herein the three (3) year period immediately following the Effective Time, except that such period shall be extended for any period therein during which Employee was in violation of any provision of this Section 4.

 

(g) Supplier” means herein any person or entity that supplies goods, services or capital to any Acquired Company, whether as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise.

 

(h) Territory” means herein anywhere in the United States. Stockholder acknowledges that the Acquired Companies do business throughout the United States and, thus, it is necessary and appropriate to have the non-competition provision herein apply to the entire United States in order to protect the value of the Acquired Companies being purchased by Buyer.

 

5. Non-Disparagement. After the Effective Time, Stockholder shall not disparage any Acquired Company, EFHT and/or any of their respective businesses, personnel, shareholders, members, directors, officers, consultants, services, products or business methods.

 

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6. Remedies. Stockholder understands and acknowledges that a breach of the provisions of this Agreement would injure EFHT and/or the Acquired Companies irreparably in a way which could not be adequately compensated for by an award of monetary damages. Stockholder therefore consents to the issuance to EFHT and/or any of the Acquired Companies of a preliminary and/or permanent injunction, without the posting of a bond, to restrain any such breach or threatened breach. Additionally, in the event Stockholder breaches or threatens to breach any of the covenants, promises or obligations contained in this Agreement, EFHT and/or the Acquired Companies shall be entitled to recover from Stockholder, without limitation, all costs and fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by EFHT or such Acquired Company in connection with enforcing this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed, however, as prohibiting EFHT or any Acquired Company from pursuing any other available remedies for such breach or threatened breach. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Stockholder is subject under this Agreement shall be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or any other agreement or obligation between Stockholder, on one hand, and EFHT and/or any Acquired Company, on the other hand, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Stockholder against EFHT or any Acquired Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement of such covenants and restrictions.

 

7. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

7.1 Severability and Blue Penciling. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. However, if any court determines that any covenant in this Agreement or any part thereof is unenforceable because the duration, geographic scope or restricted activities thereof are overly broad, then such provision or part thereof shall be modified by reducing the overly broad duration, geographic scope or restricted activities by the minimum amount so as to make the covenant, in its modified form, enforceable.

 

7.2 Choice of Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. The Parties agree that any dispute concerning or arising out of this Agreement shall be heard exclusively in an appropriate state or federal court in or closest to Orange County, Florida and hereby consent, and waive any objection, to the jurisdiction of any such court.

 

7.3 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BY THIS AGREEMENT WOULD INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT FACTUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES AND THAT, THEREFORE, ANY ACTION BROUGHT BY ONE PARTY AGAINST THE OTHER, WHETHER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHERS, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE DETERMINED BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY. ACCORDINGLY, EACH PARTY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.

 

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7.4 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding upon Buyer and Stockholder, and will inure to the benefit of (i) Buyer, the Acquired Companies and their respective affiliates, successors and assigns and (ii) Stockholder and Stockholder’s assigns, heirs and legal representatives, as applicable. This Agreement may be assigned by Buyer to a person or entity that is an affiliate or a successor in interest of the Buyer or any Acquired Company. Upon such assignment, the rights and obligations hereunder of the Buyer shall become the rights and obligations of such affiliate or successor.

 

7.5 Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be altered, amended, modified, superseded or canceled, and the terms hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by all of the Parties or, in the case of a waiver, by the Party waiving compliance. No delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any Party of any such right, power or privilege, nor any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

7.6 Interpretation. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The language in all parts of this Agreement shall in all cases be construed according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any Party. The Parties acknowledge that both of them have participated in drafting this Agreement; therefore, any general rule of construction that any ambiguity shall be construed against the drafter shall not apply to this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders and the singular and the plural include one another.

 

7.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement, and other documents referenced therein, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior written and oral negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings and agreements between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

7.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart, when executed, shall have the efficacy of a signed original. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

7.9 Voluntary and Knowing Execution of Agreement. Stockholder acknowledges that (i) Stockholder has had the opportunity to consult an attorney regarding the terms and conditions of this Agreement before executing it, (ii) Stockholder fully understands the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the significance and consequences of the restrictive covenants herein, and (iii) Stockholder is executing this Agreement voluntarily, knowingly and willingly and without duress.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the Effective Time.

 

BUYER:  
     
EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I.  
     
By:    
Name: Benjamin Piggott  
Title: CEO  
     
ECD:  
     
Humble Imports, Inc.  
     
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
     
STOCKHOLDER:  
     
   
Name:    

 

{Signature Page to Restrictive Covenant Agreement}

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) effective as of [●] day of [●] 2023, is made and entered into by and among EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and each of the undersigned parties, whose name and address is set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto, that are the Pre-IPO Investors (as defined below), and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement (together with the Pre-IPO Investors, the “Investors”).

 

WHEREAS, each of Parent and certain investors (each, a “Pre-IPO Investor”) is a party to, and hereby consents to, this amendment and restatement of certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2022 (the “Original Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Parent granted the Pre-IPO Investors certain registration rights with respect to certain of its securities, as set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, Parent, Humble Imports, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ECD”), ECD Auto Design UK, Ltd., an England and Wales corporation, EFHAC Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Merger Sub”) and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, and Scott Wallace, solely in his capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Parent Stockholders, are parties to that certain Merger Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into ECD, and ECD will be the surviving corporation (collectively, the “Business Combination”). Following the Busisness Combination ECD will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent; and

 

WHEREAS, the Investors and the Parent desire to enter into this Agreement in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to amend and restate the Original Registration Rights Agreement to provide the Investors with certain rights relating to the registration of the securities held by them as of the date hereof on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Board” means the board of directors of the Parent.

 

Business Combination” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

 
 

 

EF Hutton” means EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC and its affiliates.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Initial Shares” means all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock issued prior to the consummation of the Parent’s initial public offering.

 

Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.

 

Parent” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Private Rights” means all of the outstanding rights issued in private offerings prior to or in connection with the consummation of the Parent’s initial public offering.

 

Private Shares” means all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock issued in private offerings prior to or in connection with the consummation of the Parent’s initial public offering.

 

Private Warrants” means all of the outstanding warrants issued in private offerings prior to or in connection with the consummation of the Parent’s initial public offering.

 

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

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Initial Shares, (ii) the Private Shares, (iii) the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants, (iv) the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Rights and (v) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Parent issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $5,475,000 made to the Parent by an Investor. Registrable Securities include any warrants, rights, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Parent issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Initial Shares, Private Shares, Private Warrants and Private Rights (and underlying shares of Common Stock). As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Parent and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 without volume limitations.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Parent with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).

 

 
 

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Offering” means a Registration in which securities of Parent are sold to the Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

Units” means the units of the Parent, each comprised of one share of Common Stock, one warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock and one right entitling the holder to receive 1/8 of one share of Common Stock upon the consummation of the Parent’s initial business combination.

 

2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

2.1 Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1 Request for Demand Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after the date that Parent consummates a Business Combination, with respect to Registrable Securities the Pre-IPO Investors, may make a written demand, on no more than two occasions, for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. Parent shall notify all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify Parent within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from Parent. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. Parent shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.

 

2.1.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective, (ii) Parent has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that Parent shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering pursuant to Demand Registration. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise Parent as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

 
 

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Offering in Connection with Demand Registration. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to a Demand Registration in good faith advises Parent and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Parent Common Stock or other securities which Parent desires to sell, if any, as to which a registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of Parent who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then Parent shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) up to the maximum amount that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Parent Common Stock or other securities that Parent desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Parent Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that Parent is obligated to register pursuant to then other written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal.

 

(a) If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to Parent and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in this Section 2.1. Notwithstanding the forgoing, an Investor may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement; provided that such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, an Investor shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration as to which such withdrawal was made.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Parent shall be responsible for the registration expenses described in Section 3.3 incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration or an Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.5.

 

 
 

 

2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights.

 

(a) If at any time on or after the date Parent consummates a Business Combination, Parent proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by Parent for its own account or for the account of shareholders of Parent (or by Parent and by shareholders of Parent including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to Parent’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of Parent or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then Parent shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2.2 hereof, Parent shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of Parent and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding sentences, the right to a Piggy-Back Registration set forth under this Section 2.2.1 with respect to the Registrable Securities shall terminate on the seventh anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

2.2.2 Reduction of Underwritten Offering in Connection with Piggy-Back Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an Underwritten Offering advises Parent and the holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Underwritten Offering in writing that the dollar amount or number of Parent Common Stock which Parent desires to sell in such Underwritten Offering, taken together with Parent Common Stock, if any, as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been requested under Section 2.2.1 above, and Parent Common Stock, if any, as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual Piggy-Back Registration rights of other shareholders of Parent, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then Parent shall include in any such registration:

 

(a) If the Underwritten Offering is undertaken for Parent’s account: (A) first, Parent Common Stock or other equity securities that Parent desires to sell in such Underwritten Offering that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), Parent Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Parent Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that Parent is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;

 

(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, Parent Common Stock or other securities for the account of the demanding persons and Parent Common Stock or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), Parent Common Stock or other securities that Parent desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Parent Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that Parent is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

 
 

 

2.2.3 Piggy-Back Registration Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to Parent of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Parent (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, Parent shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.

 

2.3 Resale Shelf Registration Rights.

 

2.3.1 Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time, request in writing that Parent register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3, Form F-3 or any similar short-form registration which may be available at such time (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”); provided, however, that (i) Parent shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering and (ii) Parent shall not be obligated to effect more than two such requests. Upon receipt of such written request, Parent will promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of Parent, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from Parent; provided, however, that Parent shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form S-3 or Form F-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of Parent entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $1,000,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

2.3.2 Amendments and Supplements. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3.1 above, Parent shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission from time to time such amendments and supplements to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all the Registrable Securities, provided that Parent shall not be responsible for ensuring the Investor’s ability to utilize the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement between April 1st of each year and the date on which Parent files it annual report on form 20-F (if and to the extent Parent qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act and Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act), which shall be no later than April 30th of the same year, solely due to staleness under Regulation S-X of Parent’s financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein. If any Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.3.1 is filed on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and thereafter Parent becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 or Form F-3 for secondary sales, Parent shall promptly notify the holders of such ineligibility and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file a shelf registration on an appropriate form as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and have such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; provided, however, that at any time Parent once again becomes eligible to use Form S-3 or Form F-3, Parent shall cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is once again on Form S-3 or Form F-3.

 

 
 

 

2.3.3 SEC Cutback. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.3, in the event the Commission informs Parent that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, Parent agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”) on Form S-3 or Form F-3, or if Form S-3 or Form F-3 is not then available to Parent for such registration statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that Parent used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a holder as to further limit its Registrable Securities to be included on the Registration Statement, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced Pro Rata among all such selling shareholders whose securities are included in such Registration Statement, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain holders must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such holders. In the event Parent amends the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to Parent or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or Form F-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.

 

2.3.4 Underwritten Shelf Takedown. At any time and from time to time after a Resale Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, the holders of Registrable Securities may request to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided, however, that Parent shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $10,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to Parent at least ten (10) days prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Parent shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to be included by any holder (each a “Takedown Requesting Holder”) at least 48 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of such holder (including those set forth herein). All such holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under this subsection 2.3.4 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Takedown Requesting Holders initiating the Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

2.3.5 Reduction of Underwritten Shelf Takedown. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advise Parent and the Takedown Requesting Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Takedown Requesting Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Parent Common Stock or other equity securities that Parent desires to sell, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then Parent shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Takedown Requesting Holders, on a Pro Rata basis, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Parent Common Stock or other equity securities that Parent desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.3.6 Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1. Under no circumstances shall Parent be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns in any 12-month period.

 

 
 

 

3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever Parent is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:

 

3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement; Restriction on Registration Rights. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which Parent then qualifies or which counsel for Parent shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its commercially reasonable best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that Parent shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if Parent shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of Parent stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Parent, it would be materially detrimental to Parent and its stockholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that Parent shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.

 

3.1.2 Copies. Parent shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.

 

3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. Parent shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn, provided that Parent shall not be responsible for ensuring the Investor’s ability to utilize the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement between April 1st of each year and the date on which Parent files it annual report on form 20-F (if and to the extent Parent qualifies as a “foreign private issuer” defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act and Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act), which shall be no later than April 30th of the same year, solely due to staleness under Regulation S-X of Parent’s financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein.

 

3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, Parent shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and Parent shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment.

 

 
 

 

3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of Parent and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

 

3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. Parent shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of Parent in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of Parent, the principal financial officer of Parent, the principal accounting officer of Parent and all other officers and members of the management of Parent shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.

 

3.1.8 Records. Parent shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of Parent, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause Parent’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.9 [Intentionally left blank]

 

3.1.10 Earnings Statement. Parent shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its stockholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

3.1.11 Listing. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by Parent are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.

 

3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, Parent shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of Parent to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering.

 

 
 

 

3.1.13 Regulation M. Parent shall take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided, that, to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to Parent, Parent will take all reasonable action to make any such prohibition inapplicable.

 

3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from Parent of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 or Form F-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by Parent, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by Parent’s Board of Directors, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in Parent’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in Parent’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by Parent, each such holder will deliver to Parent all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

3.3 Registration Expenses. Parent shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 or Form F-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) Parent’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for Parent and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by Parent; (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by Parent in connection with such registration; and (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel (not to exceed $25,000) selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. Parent shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling stockholders and Parent shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

3.4 Holders’ Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by Parent, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with Parent’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

 

4.1 Indemnification by Parent. Parent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in (or incorporated by reference in) any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or any filing under any state securities law required to be filed or furnished, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by Parent of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to Parent and relating to action or inaction required of Parent in connection with any such registration; and Parent shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that Parent will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, or free writing prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to Parent, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse Parent, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Parent also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable) on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.

 

 
 

 

4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless Parent, each of its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person, if any, who controls Parent (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to Parent by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse Parent, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.

 

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall only be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of one such separate counsel for all Indemnified Parties in such circumstances. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding. In addition, no Indemnified Party, in any action or pending or threatened proceeding, or based on any claim, in which it may seek indemnification hereunder from any Indemnifying Party, shall consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any such action, claim or proceeding without such Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent.

 

 
 

 

4.4 Contribution.

 

4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.

 

4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

5. RULE 144.

 

5.1 Rule 144. Parent covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.

 

6. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

6.1 Other Registration Rights. Parent represents and warrants that except for the registration rights granted to certain investors pursuant to the PIPE Financing (as defined in the Merger Agreement), no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require Parent to register any of Parent’s share capital for sale or to include Parent’s share capital in any registration filed by Parent for the sale of share capital for its own account or for the account of any other person.

 

 
 

 

6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Parent hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Parent in whole or in part without the consent of the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and to the permitted assigns of the Parent and the holders of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2.

 

6.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery or electronic transmission, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted electronically by e-mail; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery. The parties hereto consent to the delivery of notices or other communications by electronic transmission at the e-mail address set forth below the respective party’s name in Section 7.3 hereto. To the extent that any notice given by means of electronic transmission is returned or undeliverable for any reason, the foregoing consent shall be deemed to have been revoked until a new or corrected e-mail address has been provided, and such attempted electronic notice shall be ineffective and deemed to not have been given. Each party agrees to promptly notify the other parties of any change in its e-mail address, and that failure to do so shall not affect the foregoing. The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.

 

To the Parent:

 

EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102

Hingham, MA 02043

Attn: Benjamin Piggott

Email: bpiggott@efhuttonacquisitioncorp.com

 

Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq. and James A. Prestiano, Esq.

Email:mnussbaum@loeb.com

jprestiano@loeb.com

 

To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

6.4 Severability. This 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 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 Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.

 

6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

 
 

 

6.7 Term. This Agreement shall terminate on the seven-year anniversary of the date hereof.

 

6.8 Titles and Headings; Amendments. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the holders of Registrable Securities unless executed in writing by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement approved in writing by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall be binding upon all holders of Registrable Securities and their permitted assignees.

 

6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

6.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Parent fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, any Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The Parent irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Parent irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

6.12 Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY INVESTOR IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amended and Restated Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

  PRE-IPO INVESTORS
     
  EF HUTTON PARTNERS, LLC
     
  By:  
  Name: Joseph Rallo
  Title: Manager
     
  SHR VENTURES, LLC
     
  By:  
  Name: Jerelyn C. Creutz
  Title: Manager
     
  THOMAS WOOD
     
  By:  
  Name: Thomas Wood
     
  STANLEY HUTTON RUMBOUGH
     
  By:  
  Name: Stanley Hutton Rumbough
     
  PAUL HODGE, JR.
     
  By:  
  Name: Paul Hodge, Jr.
     
  ANNE LEE
     
  By:  
  Name: Anne Lee
     
  KEVIN M. BUSH
     
  By:  
  Name: Kevin M. Bush

 

[Signature Page to Registration and Stockholder Rights Agreement]

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Name of Investors   Address
EF Hutton Partners, LLC   c/o 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043
Kevin M. Bush   c/o 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043
Paul Hodge, Jr.   c/o 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043
Thomas Wood   c/o 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043
Anne Lee   c/o 24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043
Stanley Hutton Rumbough   c/o SHR Ventures, LLC, 370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 505, New York, NY 10017
SHR Ventures, LLC   370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 505, New York, NY 10017

 

A-1

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

E.C.D. AUTO DESIGN ANNOUNCES PLANS

TO BECOME A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY

THROUGH EXECUTION OF MERGER AGREEMENT WITH

NASDAQ-LISTED EF HUTTON ACQUISITION CORPORATION I

 

HINGHAM, MA and KISSIMMEE, FL, March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Humble Imports, Inc. d/b/a E.C.D. Auto Design (“E.C.D.” or the “Company”), the industry leader in delivering of restored and modified Land Rover Defenders, and EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I (“EFHT”) (NASDAQ: EFHT), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, a leading middle market investment bank, announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement, dated March 3, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”).

 

Upon completion of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Business Combination”), E.C.D. will be a wholly owned subsidiary of EFHT, EFHT will change its name to “E.C.D. Automotive Design Inc.” and the combined company’s common stock is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The transaction reflects an initial value for E.C.D. of $225 million.

 

E.C.D. has dedicated itself to fully restoring Land Rover Defenders from the ground up, returning the nostalgic experience to the road and ensuring their timelessness with modern touches, performance, and quality upgrades. The E.C.D. line-up also includes the Land Rover Series IIA, the Range Rover Classic and the Jaguar E-Type. The Company has also been a pioneer in the electrification of classic vehicles and is well positioned to capitalize on this powerful secular trend.

 

E.C.D. was founded in 2013 and since inception, the Company has delivered over 500 vehicles. E.C.D. recently moved into a state of the art, 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Kissimmee, Florida to accommodate its backlog of vehicle orders. In addition, E.C.D. has an affiliated dedicated logistics facility in the United Kingdom that it uses to source vehicles, giving E.C.D. one of the most comprehensive supply chains in the industry. Over the past decade, E.C.D. has increased both the number of units built and the average selling price of a vehicle at a compound annual growth rate of 26% and 19%, respectively.

 

“We are excited to work with the experienced management team at EFHT and grateful for the opportunity to bring E.C.D. to new heights,” E.C.D.’s CEO and co-founder Scott Wallace said. “At E.C.D., we have overcome significant challenges and succeeded in creating one-of-one vehicle builds out of pure imagination, all made possible by our genuine passion for automotives. Our clients, fans and employees all share this drive for quality and innovation in E.C.D.’s vehicles, which is our north star as we grow the business of E.C.D.,” Mr. Wallace stated.

 

“We are thrilled to team up with the founders of E.C.D., as we view E.C.D. as the scaled leader in the highly fragmented, exotic automobile restoration and modification industry, which caters to an affluent client base and delivers a gross margin profile on par with other ultra-high end automobile manufacturers,” said EFHT’s Chairman and CEO, Benjamin Piggott. “E.C.D. has essentially been self-financed since inception and we believe that now is an opportune time to inject capital into the business, to accelerate E.C.D.’s already strong organic growth profile and fortify its dominant competitive position. We believe that the E.C.D. management team is keenly aware of the importance surrounding capital allocation decisions and that they have several projects that will deliver exceptional rates of return over the long term,” concluded Mr. Piggott.

 

   
 

 

Overview of Business Combination

 

In connection with the Business Combination, EFHT has formed a wholly owned Florida corporation that will merge with E.C.D. and E.C.D. shall be the surviving corporation. Following the merger, E.C.D. shall be a wholly owned subsidiary of EFHT. As consideration for the Business Combination, the shareholders of E.C.D. shall receive 21,000,000 shares of common stock of EFHT valued at $10 per share and a cash payment of $15,000,000.

 

The boards of directors of both E.C.D. and EFHT have approved the transaction. The transaction will require the approval of the stockholders of both E.C.D. and EFHT, and is subject to other customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.

 

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the Merger Agreement, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by EFHT with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement and will be available at www.sec.gov.

 

About Humble Imports, Inc. d/b/a E.C.D. Auto Design

 

E.C.D. is a creator of restored luxury vehicles that combines classic English beauty with modern performance. Currently, E.C.D. restores Land Rovers Defenders, Land Rover Series IIA, the Range Rover Classic and the Jaguar E-Type. Each vehicle produced by E.C.D. is fully bespoke, a one-off that is designed by the client through an immersive luxury design experience and hand-built from the ground up in 2,200 hours by master-certified Automotive Service Excellence (“ASE”) craftsmen. The Company was founded in 2013 by three British ”petrol heads’’ whose passion for classic vehicles is the driving force behind exceptionally high standards for quality, custom luxury vehicles. E.C.D.’s global headquarters, known as the ”Rover Dome,” is a 100,000-square-foot facility located in Kissimmee, Florida that is home to 70 talented craftsmen and technicians, who hold a combined 61 ASE and five master level certifications. E.C.D. has an affiliated logistics center in the U.K. where its seven employees work to source and transport 25-year-old work vehicles back to the U.S. for restoration. For more information, visit www.ecdautodesign.com.

 

About EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I

 

EFHT is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

 

   
 

 

Advisors

 

EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC is serving as Capital Markets Advisor to EFHT. Loeb & Loeb, LLP is serving as legal counsel to EFHT. Shuffled, Lowman & Wilson PA is serving as legal counsel to E.C.D.

 

Important Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed Business Combination, E.C.D. and EFHT intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form S-4 and a proxy statement on Schedule 14A, including a preliminary proxy statement and a definitive proxy statement. EFHT’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement and documents incorporated by reference therein filed in connection with the proposed Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about E.C.D. and EFHT, and the proposed Business Combination. Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed Business Combination with the SEC, EFHT will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting on the Business Combination and the other proposals. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement, and other relevant materials filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

EFHT and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from EFHT’s stockholders with respect to the Business Combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in EFHT will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination and be available at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination when available. Information about EFHT’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of EFHT common stock is set forth in EFHT’s final prospectus, as filed with the SEC on September 9, 2022, or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 filed with the SEC since the date of such filing. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the proxy statement pertaining to the proposed Business Combination when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

 

E.C.D. and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of EFHT in connection with the proposed Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed Business Combination will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed Business Combination.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. E.C.D.’s and EFHT’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, E.C.D.’s and EFHT’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the proposed Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the proposed Business Combination, and the timing of the completion of the proposed Business Combination.

 

   
 

 

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside E.C.D.’s and EFHT’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against E.C.D. and EFHT following the announcement of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of E.C.D. and EFHT, certain regulatory approvals, or satisfy other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close; (5) the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on E.C.D.’s business and/or the ability of the parties to complete the proposed Business Combination; (6) the inability to obtain the listing of the combined company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market following the proposed Business Combination; (7) the risk that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of E.C.D. to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the proposed Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that E.C.D. and EFHT may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (12) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to E.C.D.; (13) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of E.C.D.’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; (14) the amount of redemption requests made by EFHT’s stockholders; and (15) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of EFHT for its initial public offering and the registration statement on Form S-4, including the proxy statement relating to the proposed Business Combination, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in EFHT’s other filings with the SEC. EFHT cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. E.C.D. and EFHT caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. E.C.D. and EFHT do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

   
 

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed Business Combination. This press release shall also 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 states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

 

Contacts:

 

For Humble Imports, Inc. d/b/a E.C.D. Auto Design:

 

Scott Wallace

Chairman and CEO

4930 Industrial Lane, Unit 107, Kissimmee, FL 34758

Email: investorrelations@ecdautodesign.com

Tel: 407-483-4825

 

For EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I:

 

Benjamin Piggott

Chairman and CEO

24 Shipyard Drive, Suite 102, Hingham, MA 02043

Email: bpiggott@efhuttonacquisitioncorp.com

Tel: 929-528-0767