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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2024

 

PowerUp Acquisition Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Cayman Islands   001-41293   N/A

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

188 Grand Street Unit #195

New York, NY 10013

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(347) 313-8109

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, and one-half of one Redeemable Warrant   PWUPU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, included as part of the Units   PWUP   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable Warrants each exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share, included as part of the units   PWUPW   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 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company

 

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

 

 

 

 
 

 

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

As previously disclosed, on August 26, 2024, PowerUp Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, PowerUp Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), SRIRAMA Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Stephen Quesenberry, in the capacity as the representative from and after the Effective Time for the Aspire stockholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and Aspire Biopharma, Inc., a Puerto Rico corporation (“Aspire”) (as subsequently amended and as may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, among other things, the parties will effect the merger of Merger Sub with and into Aspire (together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Business Combination”), with Aspire continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

In connection with its efforts to consummate the Business Combination, on December 18, 2024, and effective December 13, 2024, the Company entered into (i) a subscription agreement (the “Blackstone Subscription Agreement”), (ii) a promissory note (the “Blackstone Note”), and (iii) a registration rights agreement (the “RRA”) with Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc. (“Blackstone”), an entity controlled by Aspire’s Director of Investor Relations, Lance Friedman (all transactions contemplated by such agreements, collectively, the “Blackstone Transaction”). Pursuant to the terms of the Blackstone Transaction, Blackstone may loan up to an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 to the Company, with an original issue discount of twenty percent (20%). As of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the aggregate principal amount loaned equals $184,543.80. The maturity date of the Blackstone Note is the earlier of (i) June 1, 2025 or (ii) the date that the Company receives gross proceeds of at least $5,000,000 in an offering of its debt or equity securities. The principal amount of the Blackstone Note bears interest at a rate per annum of ten percent (10%). Interest will be due and payable on the maturity date. Additionally, the Company will pay Blackstone an exit fee equal to ten percent (10%) of the principal amount and accrued interest on the maturity date. Upon the closing of the Business Combination, the Sponsor will transfer three Class A ordinary shares of PowerUp to Blackstone for each dollar loaned under the Blackstone Transaction (the “Commitment Shares”). Pursuant to the RRA, the Company has agreed to register the Commitment Shares with the SEC in any registration statement filed by the Company in connection with a Qualified Offering (as defined in the Blackstone Subscription Agreement), if any.

 

The Blackstone Subscription Agreement, Blackstone Note, and RRA contain customary representations, warranties, agreements, indemnification rights and obligations of the parties. The Company offered and will issue the securities in reliance upon the exemptions from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Blackstone Subscription Agreement, Blackstone Note, and RRA are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3, respectively, and each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in such agreements were made only for purposes of such agreements and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreements and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 3.02

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed Business Combination between PowerUp and Aspire, including without limitation statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, the anticipated timing of the proposed Business Combination, the implied enterprise value, future financial condition and performance of Aspire and the combined company after the closing and expected financial impacts of the proposed Business Combination, the satisfaction of closing conditions to the proposed Business Combination, the level of redemptions of PowerUp’s public shareholders and the products and markets and expected future performance and market opportunities of Aspire. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “think,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “seeks,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.

 

 
 

 

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of PowerUp’s securities; (ii) the risk that the proposed Business Combination may not be completed by PowerUp’s business combination deadline; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed Business Combination, including the approval of the Business Combination Agreement by the shareholders of PowerUp, the satisfaction of the closing requirements and the receipt of certain governmental, regulatory and third party approvals; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (v) redemptions exceeding anticipated levels; (vi) the failure to meet Nasdaq initial listing standards in connection with the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (vii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed Business Combination on Aspire’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally; (viii) risks that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Aspire; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Aspire or against PowerUp related to the Business Combination Agreement or the proposed Business Combination; (x) changes in the markets in which Aspire competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution, or regulatory changes; (xi) changes in domestic and global general economic conditions; (xii) the risk that Aspire may not be able to execute its growth strategies; (xiii) risks related to supply chain disruptions; (xiv) the risk that Aspire may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; (xv) costs related to the proposed Business Combination and the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination or to realize estimated pro forma results and underlying assumptions, including with respect to estimated shareholder redemptions; (xvi) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination and to achieve its commercialization and development plans, and identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Aspire to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; (xvii) inability to achieve successful results or to obtain licensing of third-party intellectual property rights for future discovery and development of Aspire’s projects; (xviii) failure to commercialize products and achieve market acceptance of such products; (xix) the risk that Aspire will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (xx) the risk that Aspire, post-combination, experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; (xxi) the risk of product liability or regulatory lawsuits or proceedings relating to Aspire’s business; (xxii) risks associated with intellectual property protection; (xxiii) the risk that Aspire is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; and (xxiv) those factors discussed in PowerUp’s filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Business Combination.

 

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

 

 
 

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the proposed Business Combination, PowerUp has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a proxy statement/prospectus of PowerUp. This communication is not intended to be, and is not, a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document that PowerUp has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination. Shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the registration statement and the amendments thereto, and documents incorporated by reference therein filed in connection with the proposed Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about PowerUp, Aspire, the Business Combination Agreement, and the proposed Business Combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials for the proposed Business Combination will be mailed to shareholders of PowerUp as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and shareholders of PowerUp are urged to carefully read the entire proxy statement, when available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the proposed Business Combination. PowerUp’s investors and shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: PowerUp Acquisition Corp., 188 Grand Street Unit #195, New York, NY 10013.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

PowerUp, Aspire, and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from PowerUp’s shareholders with respect to the proposed Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the proposed Business Combination of PowerUp’s directors and officers in PowerUp’s filings with the SEC, including, when filed with the SEC, the registration statement and the amendments thereto, and other documents filed with the SEC. Such information with respect to Aspire’s directors and executive officers will also be included in the registration statement.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed Transaction and will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will 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.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
10.1   Subscription Agreement, dated December 13, 2024, by and among PowerUp Acquisition Corp. and Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.
     
10.2   Promissory Note, dated December 13, 2024, by and among PowerUp Acquisition Corp. and Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.
     
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 13, 2024, by and among PowerUp Acquisition Corp. and Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with 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.

 

  POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Surendra Ajjarapu
    Surendra Ajjarapu
    Chief Executive Officer
     
Date: December 26, 2024    

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION THEREUNDER.

 

Note that when executing this Subscription Agreement, subscribers will need to complete and sign (i) the appropriate Subscription Agreement signature page (depending on whether the subscriber is an individual or an entity) and (ii) the Investor Questionnaire attached to this Subscription Agreement as Attachment 1. The foregoing must be completed and properly executed by or on behalf of the person or entity making the investment before a subscription will be accepted.

 

Powerup acquisition corp.

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth on the signature page of this Agreement, by and among PowerUp Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Island corporation (the “Company”), and the party who is a signatory hereto (the “Subscriber”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to offer and sell in a private offering (the “Offering”) 10% Promissory Notes (the “Notes”), certain shares of common stock; $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”) and Commitment Shares having the terms set forth in Section 1(c) (“Commitment Shares”) (each Note and Commitment Share is collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement to issue and sell, and the Subscriber desires to purchase, Securities on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Subscriber are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Act.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, Subscriber and the Company agree as follows:

 

1. Purchase of Securities.

 

(a) Subscription. Subject to the terms set forth herein, the Subscriber hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Company, the Securities as set forth on the signature page hereto at the subscription amount set forth therein (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchase Price is payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as instructed by the Company.

 

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(b) Promissory Notes. The Note will have the rights, preferences, and limitations applicable as set forth in the form of 10% Promissory Note attached hereto as Exhibit A. Each Note is being issued at an original issue discount of 20%.

 

(c) Issuance of Commitment Shares. For each dollar invested, the Company will issue the Investor three (3) shares of Common Stock for no additional consideration. In the event that the Company effects a reverse split of its common stock, the number of Shares if still owned would adjust on the same terms as all other shareholders.

 

(d) Registration Rights. The Commitment Shares will entitle the Subscriber to the registration rights set forth in the registration rights agreement the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Subscriber agrees to deliver to the Company a countersigned signature page to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(e) Closing. Subject to the requirements above, the initial closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities (the “Closing”) shall occur on December 13, 2024, as determined by the Company. Each Closing shall occur or be deemed to occur at the offices of the Company 188 Grand Street, Unite #195, New York, NY 10013 or in such other manner as determined by the parties.

 

2. Representations and Warranties of Subscriber. Subscriber represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

(a) At the time Subscriber was offered the Securities, Subscriber was, and on the date Subscriber receives the Securities will be, an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501(a) under the Act, and Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Subscriber’s investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect Subscriber’s own interests.

 

(b) Subscriber understands that the Securities are not presently registered under the Act and may never become registered under the Act. Subscriber acknowledges that neither the Securities can be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, assigned or otherwise disposed of, unless such Securities or Common Stock, as the case may be, is registered under the Act, or if in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, such sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, assignment or disposition is exempt from such registration requirements. The Subscriber understands that it may have to hold the Securities, the Shares for an indefinite period of time, and that the Subscriber might have to bear the complete economic loss of its investment in the Company.

 

(c) Subscriber acknowledges and understands that the Securities are being purchased for investment purposes and not with a view to distribution or resale, nor with the intention of selling, transferring or otherwise disposing of all or any part thereof for any particular price, or at any particular time, or upon the happening of any particular event or circumstances, except selling, transferring, or disposing the Securities in full compliance with all applicable provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereunder, and applicable state securities laws. Subscriber acknowledges and understands that an investment in the Securities is not a liquid investment.

 

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(d) Subscriber acknowledges that the Note is not a publicly traded security. Subscriber acknowledges and understands that there is no public market for the Note and no assurance can be given that any public market will ever develop or if developed that any such market will be sustained. In addition, there is a very limited market in the Company’s common stock currently and there can be no assurance that such a market will develop.

 

(e) Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from the Company or any person acting on the Company’s behalf concerning the Company and its business and to obtain any additional information, to the extent possessed by the Company (or to the extent it could have been acquired by the Company without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify the accuracy of the information received by Subscriber. In connection therewith, Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber has had the opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with the Company’s management or any person acting on its behalf. In determining whether to make this investment, Subscriber has relied solely on Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon Subscriber’s own due diligence investigations and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph.

 

(f) Subscriber has all requisite legal and other power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out and perform Subscriber’s obligations under the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and subject to laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief or other general principals of equity, whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law.

 

(g) Subscriber has carefully considered and has discussed with the Subscriber’s professional legal, tax, accounting and financial advisors, to the extent the Subscriber has deemed necessary, the suitability of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, whether the acquisition of the Securities will result in any adverse tax consequences to the Subscriber, for the Subscriber’s particular federal, state, local and foreign tax and financial situation and has determined that this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are a suitable investment for the Subscriber. Subscriber relies solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company, or its agents. Subscriber understands that Subscriber (and not the Company) shall be responsible for Subscriber’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(h) This Agreement and the Purchaser Questionnaire do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit any material fact concerning Subscriber.

 

(i) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending against Subscriber or Subscriber’s properties before any court or governmental agency (nor, to Subscriber’s knowledge, is there any threat thereof) which would impair in any way Subscriber’s ability to enter into and fully perform Subscriber’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(j) The execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement, and the issuance of the Securities will not result in any material violation of, or conflict with, or constitute a material default under, any of Subscriber’s articles of incorporation or other organizational charter document or bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement, if applicable, or any of Subscriber’s material agreements, nor result in the creation of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or charge against any of the assets or properties of Subscriber or the Securities.

 

(k) Subscriber acknowledges that the Securities are speculative and involve a high degree of risk, and that Subscriber can bear the economic risk of the purchase of the Securities, including a total loss of its investment.

 

(l) Subscriber understands that the merits of the Securities have not been passed upon by the SEC nor any state securities commission, nor has the SEC nor any state securities commission opined upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Agreement and recognizes that no federal, state or foreign agency has recommended or endorsed the purchase of the Securities.

 

(m) Subscriber is aware that the Securities are and will be, when issued, “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 of the general rules and regulations under the Act.

 

(n) Subscriber understands that the Note and the Commitment Shares shall bear the following legend or one substantially similar thereto, which Subscriber has read and understands:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS (“STATE ACTS”) AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR STATE ACTS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER.”

 

(o) In addition, the Note and any and all securities issued in replacement thereof or in exchange therefore or in exercise thereof, shall bear such legends as may be required by the securities laws of the jurisdiction in which Subscriber resides.

 

(p) Any sales, transfers, or any other dispositions of the Securities by Subscriber, if any, will be in compliance with the Act.

 

(q) Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and of making an informed investment decision.

 

(r) Subscriber represents that: (i) Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Securities and to afford the complete loss of the investment; and (ii) (A) Subscriber could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect his/her/its own interests in connection with this subscription; or (B) Subscriber has a pre-existing personal or business relationship with either the Company or any affiliate thereof of such duration and nature as would enable a reasonably prudent purchaser to be aware of the character, business acumen and general business and financial circumstances of the Company or such affiliate and is otherwise personally qualified to evaluate and assess the risks, nature and other aspects of this subscription.

 

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(s) Subscriber further represents that the address set forth below is his/her principal residence (or, if Subscriber is a company, partnership or other entity, the address of its principal place of business); that Subscriber is purchasing the Securities for Subscriber’s own account and not, in whole or in part, for the account of any other person; Subscriber is purchasing the Securities for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution; and that Subscriber has not formed any entity for the purpose of purchasing the Securities.

 

(t) Subscriber represents that Subscriber is not subscribing for the Securities as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over the Internet, television or radio or presented at any seminar or meeting.

 

(u) Subscriber has carefully read this Agreement and Subscriber has accurately completed the Purchaser Questionnaire which accompanies this Agreement.

 

(v) No representations or warranties have been made to Subscriber by the Company, or any of its managers, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, or subsidiaries of the Company, other than the representations of the Company contained herein, and in subscribing for the Securities the Subscriber is not relying upon any representations other than those contained in this Agreement.

 

(w) Subscriber represents and warrants, to the best of its knowledge, no finder, broker, agent, financial advisor or other intermediary, nor any purchaser representative or any broker-dealer acting as a broker, is entitled to any compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(x) The Subscriber is not a prohibited country, territory, individual or entity listed on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) website and is not directly or indirectly affiliated with any country, territory, individual or entity named on an OFAC list or prohibited by any OFAC sanctions programs. All amounts subscribed for in this Agreement by the Subscriber were not directly or indirectly derived from activities that may contravene Federal, state or international laws and regulations, including anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing laws and regulations.

 

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(y) The Subscriber acknowledges that due to anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering regulations, the Company or any administrator acting on behalf of the Company may require further documentation verifying Subscriber’s identity and the source of funds used to purchase the Securities subscribed for hereby before this Agreement can be processed or accepted. To comply with applicable U.S. legislation and regulations, including but not limited to the International Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Anti-Terrorism Abatement Act of 2001 (Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act), the Subscriber agrees that all payments by Subscriber to the Company and all distributions to the Subscriber from the Company will only be made in Subscriber’s name and to and from a bank account of a bank based or incorporated in or formed under the laws of the Striped States or a bank that is not a “foreign shell bank” within the meaning of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq.), as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time. The Subscriber further agrees to provide the Company at any time during the term of the Company with such information or certification as the Company determines to be necessary or appropriate to verify compliance with the anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering regulations of any applicable jurisdiction or to respond to requests for information concerning the identity of Subscriber or any person directly or indirectly controlling or owning an interest in the Subscriber from any governmental authority, self-regulatory organization or financial institution in connection with the Company’s compliance procedures with respect to anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering regulations and to update such information as necessary. Such information may include, but not be limited to, the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, and Social Security or taxpayer identification number of any such individual person, or of the beneficial owners of any entity, if the Subscriber is an entity. Identity may be verified using a current valid passport or other such current valid government-issued identification (e.g., a driver’s license). The Company intends to maintain records of information used for verification of identity. Subscriber understands that any information provided to the Company may be disclosed to the United States Government by the Company.

 

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to Subscriber as follows:

 

(a) The Company is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

(b) The Company has all such corporate power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement.

 

(c) All necessary corporate action has been duly and validly taken by the Company to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the issuance and sale of the Securities to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

 

(d) The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of Securities hereunder for general operating expenses, including working capital and capital expenditures.

 

4. Indemnification. Subscriber agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its managers, members, officers, directors, employees, members, agents, counsel and affiliates, and any person acting on behalf of the Company (“Indemnitees”), from and against any and all damage, loss, liability, cost and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (“Loss”) which any of them may incur by reason of the failure by Subscriber to fulfill any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or by reason of any breach of the representations and warranties made by Subscriber herein, or in any other document provided by Subscriber to the Company. All representations, warranties and covenants of each of Subscriber and the Company contained herein shall survive the acceptance of this subscription.

 

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5. Waiver of Claims Against Trust. Reference is made to the final prospectus of the Company, dated as of February 17, 2022, and filed with the SEC on February 22, 2022 (the “IPO Prospectus”). The Subscriber hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of the Company’s IPO and the overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders (including overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters) (the “Public Stockholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their shares of Company common stock in connection with the consummation of its initial business combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus) (“Business Combination”) or in connection with an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents to extend the Company’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within fifteen (15) months after the closing of the IPO, subject to extension by amendment to the Company’s Organizational Documents, (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, amounts necessary to pay for any taxes and up to $100,000 in dissolution expenses, and (d) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of the Company entering into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Subscriber hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its affiliates that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Subscriber nor any of its affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any proposed or actual business relationship between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the Subscriber or any of its representatives, on the other hand, or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (collectively, the “Released Claims”). The Subscriber and its affiliates hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that any such party or any of its affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or its affiliates). The Subscriber agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by the Company and its affiliates to induce the Company to enter in this Agreement, and the Subscriber further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against it and each of its affiliates under applicable law. To the extent that the Subscriber or any of its affiliates commences any action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against the Company or its representatives, the Subscriber hereby acknowledges and agrees that its and its affiliates’ sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such party or any of its affiliates (or any person claiming on behalf or in lieu of any of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. In the event the Subscriber or any of its affiliates commences action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, relief against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or the Public Stockholders, whether in the form of money damages or injunctive relief, the Company and its representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover from the Subscriber and its affiliates, as applicable, the associated legal fees and costs in connection with any such action, in the event the Company or its representatives, as applicable, prevails in such action.

 

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6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Subscriber agrees not to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of Subscriber’s interest herein and further agrees that the transfer or assignment of the Securities acquired pursuant hereto shall be made only in accordance with all applicable laws.

 

(b) Subscriber agrees that Subscriber cannot cancel, terminate, or revoke this Agreement or any agreement of Subscriber made hereunder, and this Agreement shall survive the death or legal disability of Subscriber and shall be binding upon Subscriber’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and permitted assigns.

 

(c) Subscriber has read and has accurately completed this entire Agreement.

 

(d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a written execution by all parties.

 

(e) Subscriber acknowledges that it has been advised to consult with its own attorney, and tax, accounting and financial advisors regarding this subscription and Subscriber has done so to the extent that Subscriber deems appropriate.

 

(f) All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the addresses indicated below (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this paragraph).

 

If to the Company, at:

 

PowerUp Acquisition Corp.

188 Grand Street, Unit #195

New York, NY 10013

Attention: Surendra Ajjarapu

Tel: (646) 908-2658

E-mail: Suren@SRIRAMAAssociatesLLC.onmicrosoft.com

 

If to the Subscriber, at its address set forth on the signature page to this Agreement.

 

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(g) Failure of the Company to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and the Subscriber, or otherwise, or delay by the Company in exercising such right or remedy, will not operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by the Company will be effective unless and until it is in writing and signed by the Company.

 

(h) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

 

(i) Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the city of New York and County of New York, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process, summons, notice or other document by certified or registered mail to such party’s address set forth herein shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(j) Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues and, therefore, each such party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(k) If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed modified to conform to such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof that may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions hereof.

 

(l) The parties understand and agree that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of the Agreement by the Company or the Subscriber and that the party against which such breach is committed shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, as a remedy for any such breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed to be the exclusive remedies for a breach by either party of the Agreement but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or equity to the party against which such breach is committed.

 

(m) All pronouns and any variations thereof used herein shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, singular or plural, as identity of the person or persons may require. The term “it” includes “he” and “she”.

 

(n) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

9

 

 

Partnerships, Corporations or Other Entities:

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subscriber has caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed as of the date indicated below.

 

$147,635.04  
Total Subscription Amount  
   
$184,543.80  
Face Amount of 10% Promissory Note  
   
Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.  
Print or Type Name of Entity  

 

By: /s/ Lance Friedman  
Name: Lance Friedman  

 

12/13/24  
Date  
   
25 N Market St  
   
Jacksonville, FL 32202  
Address  

 

[Entity Subscriber Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed, and the foregoing subscription accepted, as of the date indicated below.

 

  PowerUp Acquisition Corp.
     
  By: /s/ Suren Ajjarapu
  Name: Suren Ajjarapu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Date: December 13, 2024

 

[Company Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.

 

Original Issue Date: December 13, 2024

 

Principal Amount: Up to $500,000

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE is one of a series of duly authorized and validly issued Notes of PowerUp Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Island corporation (the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 188 Grand Street, Unit #195, New York, NY 10013, designated as its Promissory Note due (i) the earlier of June 1, 2025 ; or (ii) the date that the Company receives gross proceeds of at least $5,000,000 in an offering of its debt or equity securities (a “Qualified Offering”), such date being referred to as the (“Maturity Date”).

 

The Company promises to pay to the order of the Holder (as defined below) the principal sum of up to Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the “Maximum Amount”) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described within this Note, including but not limited to, the original issuance discount and Exit Fee.

 

This Note shall have a 20% original issue discount which shall be reflected in the principal amount.

 

A single note shall be referred to as the “Note”.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company promises to pay to Blackstone Capital Advisor, Inc., or its registered assigns (the “Holder”), or shall have paid pursuant to the terms hereunder, the principal sum of $184,543.80 (reflecting the balance of the loan as of the date of signing) or on June 1, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”) or such earlier date as this Note is required or permitted to be repaid as provided hereunder. This Note is subject to the following additional provisions:

 

Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, in addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Bankruptcy Event” means any of the following events: (a) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) thereof commences a case or other proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction relating to the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof, (b) there is commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof any such case or proceeding that is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after commencement, (c) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered, (d) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof suffers any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property that is not discharged or stayed within sixty (60) calendar days after such appointment, (e) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (f) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof calls a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts or (g) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof admits in writing that it is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or (h) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary thereof, by any act or failure to act, expressly indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing or takes any corporate or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

 

 

 

 

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

Note Register” means the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of this Note.

 

Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of the Notes, regardless of any transfers of any Note and regardless of the number of instruments which may be issued to evidence such Notes.

 

Permitted Indebtedness” means (a) Indebtedness outstanding as of the Original Issue Date, (b) the indebtedness evidenced by the Notes, (c) capital lease obligations and purchase money indebtedness incurred in connection with the acquisition of machinery and equipment , and (d) indebtedness that is expressly subordinate to the Notes pursuant to a written subordination agreement with the Purchasers that is acceptable to each Subscriber in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Permitted Lien” means the individual and collective reference to the following: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Company) have been established in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; (b) Liens imposed by law which were incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, statutory landlords’ Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, and which (x) do not individually or in the aggregate materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or (y) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing for the foreseeable future the forfeiture or sale of the property or asset subject to such Lien; and (c) Liens incurred in connection with Permitted Indebtedness under clauses (a) and (c) thereunder; and (d) Liens incurred in connection with Permitted Indebtedness under clause (b) thereunder, provided that such Liens are not secured by assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries other than the assets so acquired or leased.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Qualified Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Note.

 

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

 

Section 2. Drawdown Requests.

 

  a) Drawdown Requests. Holder and the Company agree that the Company may request up to the Maximum Amount (taking into account the original issuance discount) for costs mutually agreed upon by the Holder and the Company (each, a “Drawdown Request”). Each Drawdown Request must state the amount to be drawn down,(an “Additional Drawdown”) and must not be an amount less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), unless agreed upon by the Company and the Holder. In no event shall the maximum amount of drawdowns collectively under this Note exceed the Maximum Amount. Once an amount is drawn down under this Note, such amount shall not be available for future Drawdown Requests, even if such amount is prepaid. The obligations relating to any Additional Drawdown shall be governed by the terms of the Note.

 

2

 

 

Section 3. Interest/Exit Fee.

 

a) Interest Rate. The principal amount of this Note shall bear interest from the date of the Note until the Maturity Date (unless otherwise specified pursuant to section 2(c)) at a rate per annum of ten percent (10%). Interest shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date. Additionally, the Company shall pay the Holder an exit fee equal to 10% of the principal amount and accrued interest of this Note (the “Exit Fee”) upon the Maturity Date.

 

b) Payment of Exit Fee. The Exit Fee shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date with the initial payment being due on June 1, 2025,) (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”). If any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the applicable payment shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

c) Default Interest. If any amount payable hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of eighteen percent (18%) per annum.

 

d) Prepayment. Except as otherwise set forth in this Note, the Company may prepay the principal amount of this Note without the prior written consent of the Holder, unless this Note is in Default.

 

Section 3. Registration of Transfers and Exchanges.

 

a) Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable for an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be payable for such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

b) Reliance on Note Register. Prior to due presentment for transfer to the Company of this Note, the Company and any agent of the Company may treat the Person in whose name this Note is duly registered on the Note Register as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment as herein provided and for all other purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 4. Certain Adjustments.

 

a) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Note is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), this Note will be immediately payable in full, including the Exit Fee.

 

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Section 5. Events of Default.

 

a) “Event of Default” means, wherever used herein, any of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and whether such event shall be voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

i. any default in the payment of (A) the principal amount of any Note or (B) interest, liquidated damages and other amounts owing to a Holder on any Note, as and when the same shall become due and payable (whether on a Maturity Date or by acceleration or otherwise) which default, solely in the case of an interest payment or other default under clause (B) above, is not cured within five (5) Business Days;
   
ii. the Company shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the Notes which failure is not cured, if possible to cure, within the earlier to occur of (A) seven (7) Business Days after notice of such failure sent by the Holder or by any other Holder to the Company and (B) ten (10) Business Days after the Company has become or should have become aware of such failure;
   
iii. a default or Event of Default (subject to any grace or cure period provided in the applicable agreement, document or instrument) shall occur under the subscription agreement dated December 13, 2024, the promissory note dated October 21, 2023, and the registration rights agreement dated December 13, 2024, (together the aforementioned documents dated December 13, 2024 and October 21, 2023 are the “Transaction Documents”);
   
iv. any representation or warranty made in this Note, any other Transaction Documents, any written statement pursuant hereto or thereto or any other report, financial statement or certificate made or delivered to the Holder or any other Holder shall be untrue or incorrect in any material respect as of the date when made or deemed made;
   
v. the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) shall be subject to a Bankruptcy Event;
   
vi. the Company being delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

b) Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs, the outstanding principal amount of this Note, plus accrued but unpaid interest, and other amounts owing in respect thereof through the date of acceleration, shall become, at the Holder’s election, immediately due and payable. Commencing five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default that results in the eventual acceleration of this Note, the interest rate on this Note shall accrue at an interest rate equal to the lesser of eighteen percent (18%) per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law. Upon the payment in full of all amounts owed, the Holder shall promptly surrender this Note to or as directed by the Company. In connection with such acceleration described herein, the Holder need not provide, and the Company hereby waives, any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, and the Holder may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. Such acceleration may be rescinded and annulled by Holder at any time prior to payment hereunder and the Holder shall have all rights as a holder of the Note until such time, if any, as the Holder receives full payment pursuant to this Section 5(b). No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 6. Waiver of Claims Against Trust. Reference is made to the final prospectus of the Company, dated as of February 17, 2022, and filed with the SEC on February 22, 2022 (the “IPO Prospectus”). Holder hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of the Company’s IPO and the overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders (including overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters) (the “Public Stockholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their shares of Company common stock in connection with the consummation of its initial business combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus) (“Business Combination”) or in connection with an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents to extend the Company’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within fifteen (15) months after the closing of the IPO, subject to extension by amendment to the Company’s Organizational Documents, (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, amounts necessary to pay for any taxes and up to $100,000 in dissolution expenses, and (d) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of the Company entering into this Note and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Holder hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its affiliates that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, neither Holder nor any of its affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Note or any proposed or actual business relationship between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and Holder or any of its representatives, on the other hand, or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (collectively, the “Released Claims”). Holder and its affiliates hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that any such party or any of its affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Note or any other agreement with the Company or its affiliates). Holder agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Note and specifically relied upon by the Company and its affiliates to induce the Company to enter in this Note, and Holder further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against it and each of its affiliates under applicable law. To the extent that Holder or any of its affiliates commences any action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against the Company or its representatives, Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that its and its affiliates’ sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such party or any of its affiliates (or any person claiming on behalf or in lieu of any of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. In the event Holder or any of its affiliates commences action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, relief against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or the Public Stockholders, whether in the form of money damages or injunctive relief, the Company and its representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover from Holder and its affiliates, as applicable, the associated legal fees and costs in connection with any such action, in the event the Company or its representatives, as applicable, prevails in such action.

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

a) Notices. All notices, offers, acceptance and any other acts under this Note (except payment) shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if delivered to the addresses in person, by Federal Express or similar overnight next business day delivery or by email delivery followed by overnight next business day delivery, as follows:

 

To the Company:

 

PowerUp Acquisition Corp.

188 Grand Street, Unite #195

New York, NY 10013

Attention: Suren Ajjarapu

Email: suren@sriramaassociatesllc.onmicrosoft.com

 

To Holder:

 

Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.

25 N Market Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Attention: Lance Friedman

Email: lfriedman@aspire-biopharma.com

 

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b) Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Note shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, liquidated damages and accrued interest, as applicable, on this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. This Note is a direct debt obligation of the Company. This Note ranks pari passu with all other Notes now or hereafter issued under the terms set forth herein.

 

c) Lost or Mutilated Note. If this Note shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated Note, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed Note, a new Note for the principal amount of this Note so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Note, and of the ownership hereof, reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware to effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

 

e) Venue. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the city of New York and County of New York, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of process, summons, notice or other document by certified or registered mail to such party’s address set forth herein shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or any proceeding in such courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

f) Jury Trial Waiver. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

g) Attorneys’ Fees. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Note, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

h) Waiver. Any waiver by the Company or the Holder of a breach of any provision of this Note shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Note. The failure of the Company or the Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Note on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Note. Any waiver by the Company or the Holder must be in writing.

 

i) Severability. If any provision of this Note is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Note shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on this Note as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this indenture, and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Holder, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such as though no such law has been enacted.

 

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j) Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

k) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Note and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

l) Remedies, Characterizations, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any such breach or any such threatened breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note

 

* * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above indicated.

 

 

POWERUP ACQUISITION CORP.

     
  By: /s/ Suren Ajjarapu
  Name: Suren Ajjarapu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Promissory Note]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of December 13, 2024 among PowerUp Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Island corporation (the “Company”), and the Person named on Schedule 1 as the Holder (the “Holder”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to those certain Subscription Agreements each dated effective as of December 13, 2024, by and among the Company and the Holder (collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”), the Holder purchased the shares issued as additional consideration (the “Commitment Shares”) to be registered pursuant to the Securities Act along with all other Registerable Securities; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto hereby desire to set forth the Holder’s rights and the Company’s obligations to cause the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Securities Act;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by the Holder of the Notes pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions and Usage.

 

As used in this Agreement:

 

1.1. Definitions.

 

“Agent” means the principal placement agent on an agented placement of Registrable Securities.

 

“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Commitment Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Common Stock” shall mean (i) the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and (ii) shares of capital stock of the Company issued by the Company in respect of or in exchange for shares of such common stock in connection with any stock dividend or distribution, stock split, recapitalization, recombination or exchange by the Company generally of shares of such common stock.

 

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“Continuously Effective,” with respect to a specified registration statement, shall mean that it shall not cease to be effective and available for Transfers of Registrable Securities thereunder for longer than either (i) any ten (10) consecutive business days, or (ii) an aggregate of fifteen (15) business days during the period specified in the relevant provision of this Agreement.

 

“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

“Holder” shall mean the Persons named on Schedule 1 as Holders of Registrable Securities and Transferees of such Persons’ Registrable Securities with respect to the rights that such Transferees shall have acquired in accordance with Section 7, at such times as such Persons shall own Registrable Securities.

 

“Initiating Substantial Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

“Majority Selling Holders” means those Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities included in such registration represent a majority of the Registrable Securities of all Selling Holders included therein.

 

“Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

“Register”, “registered”, and “registration” shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering by the Commission of effectiveness of such registration statement or document.

 

“Registrable Securities” shall mean, subject to Section 7 and Section 9.3: (i) any shares of Commitment Shares beneficially owned by Holders, (ii) any shares of Common Stock or other securities issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange by the Company generally for, or in replacement by the Company generally of, such shares; and (iii) any securities issued in exchange for Commitment Shares in any merger or reorganization of the Company; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall not include any Securities which have theretofore been registered and sold pursuant to the Securities Act or which have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 or any similar rule promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, and, provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation under Sections 2 and 3 to register any Registrable Securities of a Holder if the Company shall deliver to the Holders requesting such registration an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Holders and its counsel to the effect that the proposed sale or disposition of all of the Registrable Securities for which registration was requested does not require registration under the Securities Act for a sale or disposition in a single public sale, and offers to remove any and all legends restricting transfer from the certificates evidencing such Registrable Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person will be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person has the then-existing right to acquire such Registrable Securities (by conversion, purchase or otherwise), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected.

 

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

 

“Registrable Securities then outstanding” shall mean, with respect to a specified determination date, the Registrable Securities owned by all Holders on such date.

 

“Registration Expenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Selling Holders” shall mean, with respect to a specified registration pursuant to this Agreement, Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such registration.

 

“Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

“Subscription Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Substantial Holder” shall mean any Holder that owned on the date of this Agreement 25% or more of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and such Transferee, if any, to whom such Person Transfers Registrable Securities and assigns such Substantial Holder’s rights as a Substantial Holder as permitted by Section 7.

 

“Transfer” shall mean and include the act of selling, giving, transferring, creating a trust (voting or otherwise), assigning or otherwise disposing of (other than pledging, hypothecating or otherwise transferring as security) (and correlative words shall have correlative meanings); provided however, that any transfer or other disposition upon foreclosure or other exercise of remedies of a secured creditor after an event of default under or with respect to a pledge, hypothecation or other transfer as security shall constitute a “Transfer.”

 

“Underwriters’ Representative” shall mean the managing underwriter, or, in the case of a co-managed underwriting, the managing underwriter designated as the Underwriters’ Representative by the co-managers.

 

“Violation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

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1.2. Usage.

 

References to a Person are also references to its assigns and successors in interest (by means of merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of such Person or otherwise, as the case may be).

 

References to Registrable Securities “owned” by a Holder shall include Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Person but which are held of record in the name of a nominee, trustee, custodian, or other agent, but shall exclude Commitment Shares held by a Holder in a fiduciary capacity for customers of such Person.

 

References to a document are to it as amended, waived and otherwise modified from time to time and references to a statute or other governmental rule are to it as amended and otherwise modified from time to time (and references to any provision thereof shall include references to any successor provision).

 

References to Sections or to Schedules or Exhibits are to sections hereof or schedules or exhibits hereto, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

The definitions set forth herein are equally applicable both to the singular and plural forms and the feminine, masculine and neuter forms of the terms defined.

 

The term “including” and correlative terms shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation” whether or not followed by such words or words of like import.

 

The term “hereof” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole.

 

The “date of” any notice or request given pursuant to this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with Section 12.3.

 

2. Registration Rights.

 

2.1. Registration in Connection with Qualified Offering. If the Company files a registration statement in connection with the Qualified Offering, as defined in the Subscription Agreement, the Company will include the Registerable Securities in such registration statement.

 

2.2. Demand Registration. At any time after the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with the Qualified Offering or more than 6 months from the date hereof, if one or more Holders that own an aggregate of 40% or more of the Registrable Securities then outstanding shall make a written request to the Company (the “Demanding Holders”), the Company shall cause there to be filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 or other applicable form meeting the requirements of the Securities Act (a “Demand Registration”), and each Demanding Holder shall be entitled to have included therein (subject to Section 2.10) all or such number of such Demanding Holder’s Registered Shares, as the Demanding Holder shall report in writing. Any request made pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall be addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company, and shall specify the number of Registrable Securities to be registered, the intended methods of disposition thereof and that the request is for a Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2.

 

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2.3. The Company shall be entitled to postpone for up to 60 days the filing of any Demand Registration statement otherwise required to be prepared and filed pursuant to Section 2.2, if the Board determines, in its good faith reasonable judgment (with the concurrence of the managing underwriter, if any), that such registration and the Transfer of Registrable Securities contemplated thereby would materially interfere with, or require premature disclosure of, any financing, acquisition or reorganization involving the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries and the Company promptly gives the Demanding Holders notice of such determination; provided, however, that the Company shall not have postponed pursuant to this Section 2.3 the filing of any other Demand Registration statement otherwise required to be prepared and filed pursuant to this Section 2.3 during the 12 month period ended on the date of the relevant request pursuant to Section 2.2.

 

2.4. Whenever the Company shall have received a demand pursuant to Section 2.2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall within ten (10) business days of the receipt of such written request, give written notice of such proposed registration to all Holders. Any such Holder may, within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, request in writing that all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, or any portion thereof designated by such Holder, be included in the registration.

 

2.5. On or after the date of this Agreement each Substantial Holder that shall make a written request to the Company (the “Initiating Substantial Holder”), shall be entitled to have all or any number of such Initiating Substantial Holder’s Registrable Securities included in a registration with the Commission in accordance with the Securities Act for an offering on a delayed or continuous basis on Form S-3 or other applicable form pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”). Any request made pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company, and shall specify the number of Registrable Securities to be registered, the intended methods of disposition thereof and that the request is for a Shelf Registration pursuant to this Section 2.5.

 

2.6. Following receipt of a request for a Demand Registration or a Shelf Registration, the Company shall:

 

(i) File the registration statement with the Commission as promptly as practicable, and shall use the Company’s best efforts to have the registration declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as reasonably practicable, in each instance giving due regard to the need to prepare current financial statements, conduct due diligence and complete other actions that are reasonably necessary to effect a registered public offering.

 

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(ii) Use the Company’s best efforts to keep the relevant registration statement Continuously Effective (x) if a Demand Registration, for up to 180 days or until such earlier date as of which all the Registrable Securities under the Demand Registration statement shall have been disposed of in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and (y) if a Shelf Registration, for three years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if for any reason the effectiveness of a registration pursuant to this Section 2 is suspended or, in the case of a Demand Registration, postponed as permitted by Section 2.3, the foregoing period shall be extended by the aggregate number of days of such suspension or postponement.

 

2.7. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations on Form S-1 and two (2) Demand Registrations on Form S-3 once the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. For purposes of the preceding sentence, registration shall not be deemed to have been effected (i) unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become effective, (ii) if after such registration statement has become effective, such registration or the related offer, sale or distribution of Registrable Securities thereunder is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other governmental agency or court for any reason not attributable to the Selling Holders and such interference is not thereafter eliminated, or (iii) if the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied or waived, other than by reason of a failure on the part of the Selling Holders. If the Company shall have complied with its obligations under this Agreement, a right to demand a registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall be deemed to have been satisfied (i) if a Demand Registration, upon the earlier of (x) the date as of which all of the Registrable Securities included therein shall have been disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, and (y) the date as of which such Demand Registration shall have been Continuously Effective for a period of 180 days, and (ii) if a Shelf Registration, upon the effective date of a Shelf Registration, provided no stop order or similar order, or proceedings for such an order, is thereafter entered or initiated.

 

2.8. A registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall (i) be selected by the Company and be reasonably acceptable to the Majority Selling Holders, or by the Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case may be, and (ii) permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the request pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, respectively.

 

2.9. If any registration pursuant to Section 2 involves an underwritten offering (whether on a “firm,” “best efforts” or “all reasonable efforts” basis or otherwise), or an agented offering, the Majority Selling Holders, or the Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case may be, shall have the right to select the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers to administer such underwritten offering or the placement agent or agents for such agented offering; provided, however, that each Person so selected shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

2.10. Whenever the Company shall effect a registration pursuant to this Section 2 in connection with an underwritten offering by one or more Selling Holders of Registrable Securities: if the Underwriters’ Representative or Agent advises each such Selling Holder in writing that, in its opinion, the amount of securities requested to be included in such offering (whether by Selling Holders or others) exceeds the amount which can be sold in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Majority Selling Holders, securities shall be included in such offering and the related registration, to the extent of the amount which can be sold within such price range, and on a pro rata basis among all Selling Holders; first for the account of the Substantial Holders, and second by all other Selling Holders.

 

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3. Registration Procedures. Whenever required under Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable:

 

3.1. Prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use the Company’s best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; provided, however, that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, including documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of the registration statement and prior to effectiveness thereof, the Company shall furnish to one firm of counsel for the Selling Holders (selected by Majority Selling Holders or the Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case may be) copies of all such documents in the form substantially as proposed to be filed with the Commission at least four (4) business days prior to filing for review and comment by such counsel, which opportunity to comment shall include an absolute right to control or contest disclosure if the applicable Selling Holder reasonably believes that it may be subject to controlling person liability under applicable securities laws with respect thereto. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Investors of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than 10 days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) 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, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Investors of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Investors may request in writing within five days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”)

 

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3.2. Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and rules thereunder with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement. If the registration is for an underwritten offering, the Company shall amend the registration statement or supplement the prospectus whenever required by the terms of the underwriting agreement entered into pursuant to Section 4.2. Subject to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, if the registration statement is a Shelf Registration, the Company shall amend the registration statement or supplement the prospectus so that it will remain current and in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act for three years after its effective date, and if during such period any event or development occurs as a result of which the registration statement or prospectus contains a misstatement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify each Selling Holder, amend the registration statement or supplement the prospectus so that each will thereafter comply with the Securities Act and furnish to each Selling Holder of Registerable Shares such amended or supplemented prospectus, which each such Holder shall thereafter use in the Transfer of Registerable Shares covered by such registration statement. Pending such amendment or supplement each such Holder shall cease making offers or Transfers of Registerable Shares pursuant to the prior prospectus. In the event that any Registrable Securities included in a registration statement subject to, or required by, this Agreement remain unsold at the end of the period during which the Company is obligated to use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, the Company may file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement for the purpose of removing such Securities from registered status.

 

3.3. Furnish to each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, such numbers of copies of the registration statement, any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto, the prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, in each case in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules thereunder, and such other related documents as any such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Holder.

 

3.4. Use the Company’s best efforts (i) to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such states or jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Underwriters’ Representative or Agent (as applicable, or if inapplicable, the Majority Selling Holders), and (ii) to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of the offer and transfer of any of the Registrable Securities in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible moment; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

 

3.5. In the event of any underwritten or agented offering, enter into and perform the Company’s obligations under an underwriting or agency agreement (including indemnification and contribution obligations of underwriters or agents), in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter or underwriters of or agents for such offering. The Company shall also cooperate with the Majority Selling Holders or Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case may be, and the Underwriters’ Representative or Agent for such offering in the marketing of the Registerable Shares, including making available the Company’s officers, accountants, counsel, premises, books and records for such purpose, but the Company shall not be required to incur any material out-of-pocket expense pursuant to this sentence.

 

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3.6. Promptly notify each Selling Holder and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) of the occurrence of any event or development that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any such document so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (v) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

 

3.7. Use the Company’s best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible moment.

 

3.8. Cooperate with the Selling Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Selling Holders or managing underwriters, if any, shall request at least two business days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters or third parties.

 

3.9. Make generally available to the Company’s security holders copies of all periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information referred to in Section 9.1.

 

3.10. Make available for inspection by any Selling Holder, any underwriter participating in such offering and the representatives of such Selling Holder and Underwriter (but not more than one firm of counsel to such Selling Holders), all financial and other information as shall be reasonably requested by them, and provide the Selling Holder, any underwriter participating in such offering and the representatives of such Selling Holder and Underwriter the opportunity to discuss the business affairs of the Company with its principal executives and independent public accountants who have certified the audited financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case all as necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility under the Securities Act; provided, however, that information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which the Company advises such Person in writing, is confidential shall not be disclosed unless such Person signs a confidentiality agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Company or the related Selling Holder of Registrable Securities agrees to be responsible for such Person’s breach of confidentiality on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

3.11. Use the Company’s best efforts to obtain a so-called “comfort letter” from its independent public accountants, and legal opinions of counsel to the Company addressed to the Selling Holders, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such letters, and in a form that shall be reasonably satisfactory to Majority Selling Holders or the Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case be. The Company shall furnish to each Selling Holder a signed counterpart of any such comfort letter or legal opinion. Delivery of any such opinion or comfort letter shall be subject to the recipient furnishing such written representations or acknowledgements as are customarily provided by selling shareholders who receive such comfort letters or opinions.

 

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3.12. Use all reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement (i) if the Common Stock is then listed on a securities exchange or included for quotation in a recognized trading market, to continue to be so listed or included for a reasonable period of time after the offering, and (ii) to be registered with or approved by such other United States or state governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to enable the Selling Holders of Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

3.13. As needed, (i) engage an appropriate transfer agent and provide the transfer agent with printed certificates and/or authorize electronic notations/statements for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities prior to the effective date of the first registration statement including Registrable Securities.

 

3.14. Take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities included in each such registration.

 

4. Holders’ Obligations. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of any Selling Holder of Registrable Securities that such Selling Holder shall:

 

4.1. Furnish to the Company such information regarding such Selling Holder, the number of the Registrable Securities owned by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities, and to cooperate with the Company in preparing such registration;

 

4.2. Agree to sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters at the same price and on substantially the same terms and conditions as the Company or the other Persons on whose behalf the registration statement was being filed have agreed to sell their securities, and to execute the underwriting agreement agreed to by the Majority Selling Holders (in the case of a registration under Section 2) or the Company.

 

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5. Expenses of Registration. Expenses in connection with registrations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated and paid as follows:

 

5.1. With respect to each Demand Registration and Shelf Registration, the Company shall bear and pay all expenses incurred in connection with any registration, filing, or qualification of Registrable Securities with respect to such Demand Registration and/or Shelf Registration for each Selling Holder (which right may be assigned to any Person to whom Registrable Securities are Transferred as permitted by Section 8), including all registration, filing and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fees, all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and of the Company’s independent public accountants, including the expenses of “comfort letters” required by or incident to such performance and compliance, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel for the Selling Holders of Registrable Securities (selected by Demanding Holders owning a majority of the Registrable Securities owned by Demanding Holders to be included in a Demand Registration or by the Initiating Substantial Holder, as the case may be) (the “Registration Expenses”), transfer taxes and fees of transfer agents and registrars. In addition, the Company will pay internal expenses (including without limitation all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which securities of the same class issued by the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. In no event, however, will the Company be responsible for any underwriting discounts or selling commissions with respect to any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement (which shall be paid on a pro rata basis by the Selling Holders) or any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2 if the registration is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Majority Selling Holders (in which case all Selling Holders shall bear such expense), unless Holders whose Registrable Securities constitute a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding agree that such withdrawn registration shall constitute one of the demand registrations under Section 2 hereof.

 

5.2. Any failure of the Company to pay any Registration Expenses as required by this Section 5 shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

6. Indemnification; Contribution. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Agreement:

 

6.1. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder, each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act, and each officer, director, partner, employee and affiliate of such Selling Holder and such controlling Person, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (joint or several), including attorneys’ fees and disbursements and expenses of investigation, incurred by such party pursuant to any actual or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation, or to which any of the foregoing Persons may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state laws, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “Violation”):

 

6.1.1. Any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendments or supplements thereto or any documents filed under state securities or “blue sky” laws in connection therewith;

 

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6.1.2. The omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or

 

6.1.3. Any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any applicable state securities law arising from or relating to or in connection with the offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the indemnification required by this Section 6.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the indemnified party expressly for use in connection with such registration; provided, further, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6 shall not apply to any underwriter to the extent that any such loss is based on or arises out of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or an omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, contained in or omitted from any preliminary prospectus if the final prospectus shall correct such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or such omission or alleged omission, and a copy of the final prospectus has not been sent or given to such person at or prior to the confirmation of sale to such person if such underwriter was under an obligation to deliver such final prospectus and failed to do so.

 

6.1.4. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Selling Holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who shall have signed the registration statement, each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any other Selling Holder, any controlling Person of any such other Selling Holder and each officer, director, partner, and employee of such other Selling Holder and such controlling Person, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (joint and several), including attorneys’ fees and disbursements and expenses of investigation, incurred by such party pursuant to any actual or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation, or to which any of the foregoing Persons may otherwise become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state laws, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Selling Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; provided, however, that (x) the indemnification required by this Section 6.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense if settlement is effected without the consent of the relevant Selling Holder of Registrable Securities, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and (y) in no event shall the amount of any indemnity under this Section 6.1 exceed the gross proceeds from the applicable offering received by such Selling Holder.

 

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6.2. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, suit, proceeding, investigation or threat thereof made in writing for which such indemnified party may make a claim under this Section 6, such indemnified party shall deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties, acting reasonably; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and disbursements and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time following the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 6 but shall not relieve the indemnifying party of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than pursuant to this Section 6. Any fees and expenses incurred by the indemnified party (including any fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such action or proceeding) shall be paid to the indemnified party, as incurred, within thirty (30) days of written notice thereof to the indemnifying party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). Any such indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action, claim or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be the expenses of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees and expenses or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to promptly assume the defense of such action, claim or proceeding or (iii) the named parties to any such action, claim or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party and that the assertion of such defenses would create a conflict of interest such that counsel employed by the indemnifying party could not faithfully represent the indemnified party (in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, claim or proceeding on behalf of such indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action, claim or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, claims or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all such indemnified parties, unless in the reasonable judgment of such indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such action, claim or proceeding, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels). No indemnifying party shall be liable to an indemnified party for any settlement of any action, proceeding or claim without the written consent of the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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6.3. If the indemnification required by this Section 6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable to an indemnified party hereunder in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Section 6:

 

6.3.1. The 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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified parties in connection with the actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any Violation has been committed by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such Violation. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding.

 

6.3.2. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6.3 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in Section 6.3.1. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.3, an indemnifying party that is a Selling Holder will not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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.

 

6.4. If indemnification is available under this Section 6, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in this Section 6 without regard to the relative fault of such indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration referred to in Section 6.3.

 

6.5. The obligations of the Company and the Selling Holders of Registrable Securities under this Section 6 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement under this Agreement, and otherwise.

 

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7. Transfer of Registration Rights. Rights with respect to Registrable Securities may be Transferred as follows: (i) the rights of a Substantial Holder to require a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 2.5 may be Transferred to any Person in connection with the Transfer to such Person by such Substantial Holder of a number of Registrable Securities equal to 25% or more of the Registrable Securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement, and (ii) all other rights of a Holder with respect to Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement may be Transferred by such Holder to any Person in connection with the Transfer of Registrable Securities to such Person, in all cases, if (x) any such Transferee that is not a party to this Agreement shall have executed and delivered to the Secretary of the Company a properly completed agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A, and (y) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Secretary of the Company, no later than 15 days following the date of the Transfer, written notification of such Transfer setting forth the name of the Transferor, name and address of the Transferee, and the number of Registrable Securities which shall have been so Transferred.

 

8. Intentionally Omitted.

 

9. Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants as follows:

 

9.1. The Company shall file as and when applicable, on a timely basis, all reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act. If the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company shall make publicly available the information specified in subparagraph (c)(2) of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, and take such further action as may be reasonably required from time to time and as may be within the reasonable control of the Company, to enable the Holders to Transfer Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. In addition, the Company agrees to furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (at any time after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company) and the Securities Act and Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company; and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the Commission which permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to such form.

 

9.2. [Reserved].

 

9.3. Any agreement entered into after the date of this Agreement pursuant to which the Company or any of its majority owned subsidiaries issues or agrees to issue any privately placed securities similar to any issue of the Registrable Securities (other than (x) shares of Common Stock pursuant to a stock incentive, stock option, stock bonus, stock purchase or other employee benefit plan of the Company approved by its Board of Directors, and (y) securities issued to Persons in exchange for ownership interests in any Person in connection with a business combination in which the Company or any of its majority owned subsidiaries is a party) shall contain a provision whereby holders of such securities agree not to effect any public sale or distribution of any such securities during the periods described in the first sentence of Section 9.1(i), in each case including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (unless such Person is prevented by applicable statute or regulation from entering into such an agreement).

 

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9.4. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, (x) enter into any merger, consolidation or reorganization in which the Company shall not be the surviving corporation or (y) Transfer or agree to Transfer all or substantially all the Company’s assets, unless prior to such merger, consolidation, reorganization or asset Transfer, the surviving corporation or the Transferee, respectively, shall have agreed in writing to assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and for that purpose references hereunder to “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to include the securities which the Holders of Registrable Securities would be entitled to receive in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to any such merger, consolidation or reorganization.

 

10. Amendment, Modification and Waivers; Further Assurances.

 

10.1. This Agreement may be amended with the consent of the Company and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent of Holders owning Registrable Securities possessing a majority in number of the Registrable Securities then outstanding to such amendment, action or omission to act.

 

10.2. No waiver of any terms or conditions of this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any other breach of such terms and conditions or any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof. No written waiver hereunder, unless it by its own terms explicitly provides to the contrary, shall be construed to effect a continuing waiver of the provisions being waived and no such waiver in any instance shall constitute a waiver in any other instance or for any other purpose or impair the right of the party against whom such waiver is claimed in all other instances or for all other purposes to require full compliance with such provision.

 

11. Assignment; Benefit. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, assigns, executors, administrators or successors; provided, however, that except as specifically provided herein with respect to certain matters, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by the Company without the prior written consent of Holders owning Registrable Securities possessing a majority in number of the Registrable Securities outstanding on the date as of which such delegation or assignment is to become effective. A Holder may Transfer its rights hereunder to a successor in interest to the Registrable Securities owned by such assignor only as permitted by Section 11.

 

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12. Miscellaneous.

 

12.1. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

12.2. Venue. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in federal courts of the United States of America or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the city of New York and County of New York.

 

12.3. Notices. All notices and requests given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be made by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), confirmed facsimile, confirmed electronic mail or overnight air courier guaranteeing next business day delivery to the relevant address specified on Schedule 1 to this Agreement or in the relevant agreement in the form of Exhibit A whereby such party became bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the date of each such notice and request shall be deemed to be, and the date on which each such notice and request shall be deemed given shall be: at the time delivered, if personally delivered or mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by facsimile; and the next business day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next business day delivery.

 

12.4. Entire Agreement; Integration. This Agreement, together with all the Exhibits hereto, constitutes and contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties or obligations between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof.

 

12.5. Injunctive Relief. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that in the event of a breach by any of them of any material provision of this Agreement, the aggrieved party may be without an adequate remedy at law. Each of the parties therefore agrees that in the event of such a breach hereof the aggrieved party may elect to institute and prosecute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance or to enjoin the continuing breach hereof. By seeking or obtaining any such relief, the aggrieved party shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which it may be entitled.

 

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12.6. Section Headings. Section headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

 

12.7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. All signatures need not be on the same counterpart.

 

12.8. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement, unless the result thereof would be unreasonable, in which case the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith as to appropriate amendments hereto.

 

12.9. Filing. A copy of this Agreement and of all amendments thereto shall be filed at the principal executive office of the Company with the Secretary of the Company.

 

12.10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with the preceding sentence, this Agreement (other than Section 6 hereof) shall terminate in its entirety on such date as there shall be no Registrable Securities outstanding, provided that any shares of Common Stock previously subject to this Agreement shall not be Registrable Securities following the sale of any such shares in an offering registered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

12.11. Costs and Attorneys’ Fees. In the event that any action, suit or other proceeding is instituted concerning or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereunder, the prevailing party shall recover all of such party’s costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in each such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals or petitions therefrom.

 

12.12. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto or their respective permitted assigns, successors, heirs and legal representatives, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

12.13. Regulated Financial Institutions Compliance Obligation. Nothing in this Agreement shall diminish the continuing obligations of any financial institution to comply with applicable requirements of law that it maintain responsibility for the disposition of, and control over its admitted assets, investments and property.

 

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12.14. Waiver of Claims Against Trust. Reference is made to the final prospectus of the Company, dated as of February 17, 2022, and filed with the SEC on February 22, 2022 (the “IPO Prospectus”). Holder hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of the Company’s IPO and the overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders (including overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters) (the “Public Stockholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their shares of Company common stock in connection with the consummation of its initial business combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus) (“Business Combination”) or in connection with an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents to extend the Company’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within fifteen (15) months after the closing of the IPO, subject to extension by amendment to the Company’s Organizational Documents, (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, amounts necessary to pay for any taxes and up to $100,000 in dissolution expenses, and (d) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of the Company entering into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Holder hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its affiliates that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither Holder nor any of its affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any proposed or actual business relationship between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and Holder or any of its representatives, on the other hand, or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (collectively, the “Released Claims”). Holder and its affiliates hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that any such party or any of its affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or its affiliates). Holder agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by the Company and its affiliates to induce the Company to enter in this Agreement, and Holder further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against it and each of its affiliates under applicable law. To the extent that Holder or any of its affiliates commences any action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against the Company or its representatives, Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that its and its affiliates’ sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such party or any of its affiliates (or any person claiming on behalf or in lieu of any of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. In the event Holder or any of its affiliates commences action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, relief against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or the Public Stockholders, whether in the form of money damages or injunctive relief, the Company and its representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover from Holder and its affiliates, as applicable, the associated legal fees and costs in connection with any such action, in the event the Company or its representatives, as applicable, prevails in such action.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first written above.

 

  Powerup acquisition corp.
     
  By: /s/ Suren Ajjarapu
     
  Name: Suren Ajjarapu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Counterpart Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first written above.

 

Entity or Name:   Blackstone Capital Advisors, Inc.
       
    By: /s/ Lance Friedman
       
    Name: Lance Friedman
       
    Title:  
     

 

[Counterpart Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]