As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2025.

 

Registration No. 333-                 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   3721   88-0812695

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

(505) 338-2434

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Captain Joseph D. Burns

Chief Executive Officer

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

(505) 338-2434

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

Christina T. Roupas

Yvan-Claude Pierre

Courtney M.W. Tygesson

Grady Chang

Cooley LLP

110 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4200

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(312) 881-6500

 

Dr. Mariya Pylypiv

Chief Financial Officer

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

(505) 338-2434

 

Christopher Lueking

Jonathan Sarna

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, Illinois 60611

(312) 876-7700

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☐

 

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
    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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 
 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is declared effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED             , 2025

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

Shares

 

 

Common Stock

 

This is the initial public offering of our common stock, par value $0.000001 per share. We are offering              shares of our common stock. We currently expect that the initial public offering price will be between $              and $              per share of our common stock. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “AIRO,” and this offering is contingent upon obtaining approval of such listing.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements in future reports after the closing of this offering. See the section titled “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.”

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of this prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

   Per Share   Total 
Initial public offering price  $         $          
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)  $   $ 
Proceeds, before expenses, to us(2)  $   $ 

 

(1)We have also agreed to issue to certain of the underwriters warrants exercisable for the number of shares of our common stock equal to 5% of the total number of shares of common stock sold in this offering (which we refer to as the “Underwriters’ Warrants”). See the section titled “Underwriting” for additional information regarding underwriting discounts and commissions, expenses, and other compensation payable to the underwriters.
   
(2)The proceeds, before expenses, to us presented in this table do not give effect to any exercise by the underwriters of (i) the option we have granted to the underwriters to purchase additional shares of our common stock from us as described below or (ii) the Underwriters’ Warrants.

 

 

 

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to                 additional shares of our common stock from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

Delivery of the shares of our common stock is expected on or about                  , 2025.

 

Cantor   BTIG   Mizuho
         
Bancroft Capital, LLC

 

Prospectus dated            , 2025

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 1
RISK FACTORS 16
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 60
MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA 62
DIVIDEND POLICY 63
USE OF PROCEEDS 64
CAPITALIZATION 65
DILUTION 67

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

71
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 77
BUSINESS 100
MANAGEMENT 129
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 137
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 150
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS 153
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 155
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE 159
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS 162
UNDERWRITING 167
LEGAL MATTERS 180
EXPERTS 180
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 180
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1

 

 

 

We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses by or on behalf of us. Neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for, and cannot provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide you. The information contained in this prospectus or in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such free writing prospectus, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any such free writing prospectus or of any sale of the securities offered hereby. Our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. Neither we nor any of the underwriters have taken any action that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons who have come into possession of this prospectus in a jurisdiction outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

 

i
 

 

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

 

AAV means Autonomous Aerial Vehicles.

 

Acquired Companies means, collectively, Aspen Avionics, Agile Defense, CDI, AIRO Drone, Sky-Watch, and Jaunt.

 

AIRO Drone means AIRO Drone LLC, a subsidiary entity we acquired on February 25, 2022, which makes up a portion of our Drones reportable segment.

 

Agile Defense means Agile Defense, LLC, a subsidiary entity we acquired on February 25, 2022, which makes up a portion of our Training reportable segment.

 

Aspen Avionics means Aspen Avionics, Inc., a subsidiary entity we acquired on April 1, 2022, which makes up our Avionics reportable segment.

 

BCA Transactions means a series of transactions that would have occurred pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and resulted in us becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of AIRO Group, Inc. with AIRO Group, Inc. becoming a publicly listed company.

 

Business Combination Agreement means the Business Combination Agreement, as amended, between Kernel Group Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company, AIRO Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Kernel Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of AIRO Group, Inc., VKSS Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in the capacity as the representative for the stockholders of Kernel Group Holdings, Inc. and AIRO Group, Inc. and also in the capacity as Kernel Group Holdings, Inc.’s sponsor, and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, in the capacity as the representative for our stockholders.

 

BVLOS means Beyond Visual Line of Sight, which refers to drone operations where the drone is not visible to the pilot.

 

CDI means Coastal Defense Inc., a subsidiary entity we acquired on April 26, 2022, which makes up a portion of our Training reportable segment.

 

Civil Aviation Authorities means the TCCA, the FAA, and the EASA.

 

DaaS means Drone as a Service, including but not limited to, surveillance services for businesses interested in monitoring, surveying, and evaluating their properties.

 

DFARS means the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.

 

DHS means the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

 

DoD means the U.S. Department of Defense.

 

EASA means the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

 

ENAC means the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil.

 

EU means the European Union.

 

eVTOL means electric vertical take-off and landing.

 

FAA means the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

FAR means the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

 

GNSS means the Global Navigation Satellite System, a term that refers to the global satellite positioning systems.

 

GPS means the Global Positioning System, a form of GNSS using DoD-developed satellites.

 

IDIQ contract means a DoD Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract.

 

ISR means intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

 

Jaunt means Jaunt Air Mobility LLC, a subsidiary entity we acquired on March 10, 2022, which makes up our Electric Air Mobility reportable segment.

 

JTAC means Joint Terminal Attack Controller training.

 

mUAS means mini unmanned aircraft systems.

 

NAS means the U.S. National Airspace System.

 

NASA means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

 

NATO means the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

 

OEM means original equipment manufacturer.

 

Put-Together Transaction means the acquisition of the Acquired Companies which are now organized into our four reportable segments, each with a diverse set of partners and customers: (i) Drones, through our subsidiaries, AIRO Drone and Sky-Watch; (ii) Avionics, through our subsidiary, Aspen Avionics; (iii) Training, through our subsidiaries, Agile Defense and CDI; and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, through our subsidiary, Jaunt.

 

Put-Together Transaction Notes means the convertible promissory notes, as amended, that we entered into with equity holders of AIRO Drone, Agile Defense and CDI in connection with the Put-Together Transaction.

 

SEAL teams means the U.S. Navy Sea, Air, and Land teams.

 

Sky-Watch means Sky-Watch A/S, a subsidiary entity we acquired on March 28, 2022, which makes up a portion of our Drones reportable segment.

 

sUAS means small unmanned aircraft systems.

 

TCCA means Transport Canada Civil Aviation.

 

UAM means urban air mobility.

 

UAS means unmanned aircraft systems.

 

USAF means the U.S. Air Force.

 

ii
 

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “AIRO,” “AIRO Group,” “AIRO Group Holdings” and similar references refer to AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. together with its subsidiaries.

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Our fiscal year ends on December 31 of each year. References to fiscal 2023 and 2024 are references to the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Our most recent fiscal year ended on December 31, 2024.

 

Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this prospectus have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this prospectus may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain other amounts that appear in this prospectus may not sum due to rounding.

 

TRADEMARKS

 

This prospectus contains references to our trademarks and to trademarks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus, including logos, artwork and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

iii
 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. Before investing in our common stock, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, especially the sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

We are a technologically differentiated aerospace, autonomy, and air mobility platform targeting 21st century aerospace and defense opportunities. We leverage decades of industry expertise and connections across the drone, aviation, and avionics markets to provide leading solutions to the aerospace and defense market. We offer connected and diversified solutions providing operational synergies across our segments and are powered by an international footprint as well as supplier and public sector relationships. Supported by complementary and innovative technologies, we believe we bring a unique value proposition to the market and are well-positioned to become a differentiated leader in the industry.

 

Our business is organized into four operating segments, each of which represents a critical growth vector in the aerospace and defense market: Drones, Avionics, Training, and Electric Air Mobility. These four segments collectively target a combined total addressable market estimated to be over $315.4 billion by 2030.

 

 

Drones. The Drones segment develops, manufactures, and sells drones and will provide drone services, such as DaaS, for military and commercial end users. Our military drones are sold through our Sky-Watch brand, which is a key supplier to European NATO countries. A critical point of differentiation lies in our drones’ ability to perform in a GPS-denied environment, which is a technology application relevant for both military and commercial end markets.

 

Avionics. The Avionics segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics for military and general aviation aircraft, drones, and eVTOLs. Our advanced avionics products include flight displays, Connected Panels, and GPS/GNSS sensors, all of which have been installed on legacy military aircraft and general aviation platforms. We sell our advanced avionics through our Aspen Avionics brand, which is well-recognized in the general aviation aftermarket sector with over 20 years of operating history and long-term customer loyalty for our value proposition. We also serve as an avionics supplier for OEMs, including Robinson Helicopters, Pilatus, and Honeywell. We believe our avionics solutions have a considerable market opportunity as general aviation fleets continue to age, with owners and operators seeking to upgrade the avionics technology on their aircraft.

 

 

1

 

 

 

Training. The Training segment currently provides military pilot training and will provide commercial pilot training in the future. We offer professional training and consulting services to the U.S. military, select NATO countries, and other U.S. allies under our CDI brand. These offerings include adversary air, close air support, ISR aircraft leasing, pilot training ground liaison services, and JTAC, as well as full joint theatre ISR and simulated ground strike training. We work closely with special military forces such as SEAL teams, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, and USAF Air Combat Command, and are a mandated recipient on a $5.7 billion IDIQ contract. Our personnel’s top security clearances and established relationships at the Pentagon provide us with a differentiated ability to bid on mandates. We also plan to offer commercial pilot training and plan to expand our non-military capabilities in response to the global pilot shortage.

 

Electric Air Mobility. The Electric Air Mobility segment is developing a rotorcraft eVTOL for cargo and passenger use through our Jaunt brand for fixed route flights, on-demand trips, and cargo operations. Our research and development (“R&D”) efforts are focused on developing a cargo eVTOL platform, which will be a scaled-down version of our passenger eVTOL platform, and will target the attractive middle mile delivery cargo market. Meanwhile, our long-term R&D efforts are focused on developing a full-scale multi-role eVTOL platform, which will be able to serve both the cargo and passenger markets. We plan to certify our eVTOLs through existing CAR 529 Rotorcraft standards, with our platform including the best attributes of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Our patented compound rotorcraft technology, a core point of technological differentiation that will underpin our cargo eVTOL’s commercial capability, has over 300 piloted flight hours on multiple Jaunt demonstrator aircraft. We believe the range and payload capabilities driven by this technology uniquely position us to provide a compelling commercial solution for the eVTOL cargo market. Once developed and certified, we expect our cargo eVTOL program will serve as the foundation of our commercialization efforts, with passenger applications serving as a longer-term secondary initiative.

 

Our Platform

 

Our business is thoughtfully interconnected as we seek to leverage each segment’s full capabilities and drive synergies, creating a significant competitive advantage. We are synergistically leveraging our field-proven product track record – particularly through our Drones and Avionics brands – to drive opportunities across our platform. The manufacturing capabilities of our Avionics segment enable us to supply most of our own components for our drone and aircraft systems, including our eVTOL aircraft, which enhances our product quality and reduces production costs. Our deep, long-term relationships with the U.S. government and NATO countries that underpin our Training and Drones segments provide us with access to key decisionmakers, which provides us with new business opportunities. Our Electric Air Mobility platform represents a significant future growth opportunity to expand into cargo and passenger eVTOLs while also providing an original equipment (“OE”) platform for new products and services across our other segments.

 

In addition, we are able to utilize our certification capabilities to improve time to market for the introduction of products and services. These offerings leverage our U.S. and international sales and manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and expand our market footprint. This capability also helps us swiftly integrate new avionics, electronics, and artificial intelligence (“AI”) into our products, all while sharing the intra-segment R&D insights that drive our high-quality, interconnected products and services.

 

 

2

 

 

 

Our Competitive Strengths

 

We are an at scale, integrated aerospace and defense platform with multiple solutions and services in the high-growth aerospace and defense categories. Our competitive advantages include:

 

Cross-Platform Strategy Generates Operational and Product Synergies

 

Our business is thoughtfully interconnected to leverage each segment’s full capabilities, with synergies driving growth in new customer categories, geographies, and product lines that would not be attainable as standalone entities. Each of our segments benefits from operational synergies in certification, economies of scale, shared R&D insights and integration of products and services across a global platform with operations in the United States, Canada and Denmark. Accordingly, our platform generates a considerable positive network effect, with shared access to commercial, technological, and public sector relationship resources, including the United States, EU members, NATO countries and other international allies of the United States, which drive growth and innovation to meet customer needs.

 

Fulsome Product Assortment Targeting Actionable Market Opportunities

 

We offer differentiated technologies and diversified product offerings across the Drones, Avionics, Training, and Electric Air Mobility segments for both military and commercial end users. Our product lineup is competitively designed to take advantage of key opportunities in the aerospace and defense sector, focusing on areas with potential for future growth. Additionally, the collaboration between our R&D and commercial teams ensures that our products are both market-relevant and commercially available. With offerings ranging from training to drones to services to avionics, we address the marketplace of tomorrow.

 

Talented Management Team Possesses Robust Operational Experience and Deep Private and Public Sector Relationships

 

Our robust leadership team possesses over 150 years of combined operating experience and industry success in the aerospace and defense market. We maintain strong relationships with key contacts within the U.S. government and NATO, as well as regulatory agencies, such as the FAA, DHS, and NASA, which has provided us with access to key decisionmakers to secure new business and enable us to build the trust necessary to offer additional functions and features for our products and services. For example, certain members of our management team currently serve on various boards for several government agencies and have held military leadership positions in the past. These relationships are critical to this industry and have enabled us to initiate discussions with key government officials, which is a significant barrier to entry. We believe our established relationships are a core point of differentiation that will support our future success.

 

 

3

 

 

 

Exceptional R&D that Supports the Potential for Industry-Leading Products

 

We have a history of developing and launching innovative products, with our product advantage rooted in our exceptional R&D capabilities. From prototyping to certification to commercialization, our ability to launch solutions with strongly differentiated technology and direct product market fit is core to our platform. Our innovative, technology-additive solutions are underpinned by a robust new product development pipeline supported by our platform. Moreover, critical human capital interdependencies between our various segments have provided a positive network effect, increasing the quality and efficiency of our development process. This has been proven out particularly in our Drones and Avionics segments, where the RQ-35 Heidrun and Connected Panel solutions, respectively, have proven to be compelling value propositions in their end markets.

 

Market Opportunity

 

The defense industry is affected by geopolitical and security issues. Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and heightened geopolitical tension in the Pacific region have elevated global security concerns. This has caused many governments to increase their focus on defense and security, leading to a rise in defense spending and a growing willingness to adopt new technologies and solutions. Specifically, beginning in 2014 in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and amid broader instability in the Middle East, NATO countries agreed to commit 2% of their national gross domestic product (“GDP”) to defense spending to help ensure the continued military readiness of NATO allies. According to NATO, 23 NATO countries are expected to meet or exceed the target of investing at least 2% of GDP in defense in 2024, compared to only three NATO countries in 2014. Over the past decade, European allies of the United States and Canada have steadily increased their collective investment in defense by 41.3%, and are investing a combined total of more than $430 billion in defense spending in 2024. Moreover, NATO has recently signaled it will increase its defense spending benchmark from its current 2% of GDP target. Current NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has acknowledged the “goal of 2%, set a decade ago, will not be enough to meet the challenges of tomorrow” and that NATO members will have to increase spending by “considerably more than 3%.” In order to ensure that these funds are spent in the most effective and efficient way to acquire and deploy modern capabilities, NATO countries have also agreed that at least 20% of defense expenditure should be devoted to major new equipment, including associated R&D perceived as a crucial indicator for the scale and pace of modernization. These tailwinds support the development of a new market leader in the aerospace and defense market, with the emergence of new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and advanced autonomous vehicles creating new commercial opportunities.

 

Drones. Global conflicts, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have led to an increase in military spending and investment in new technologies solutions such as drones. According to the Precedence Military Drones Report, the military drone market size is expected to reach approximately $24.75 billion by 2030. Key demand drivers include the rise of asymmetrical warfare, new avionics, and the inherent user safety advantages of drones over manned systems. We believe that our products will continue to play a role in the arsenals of the future, including through NATO countries. In addition, we believe that the U.S. military’s transformation into a smaller, more agile force that operates via a network of observation, communication, and precision targeting technologies will continue to accelerate the acceptance and use of small drone military operations around the world.

 

 

4

 

 

 

In addition, commercial drone use is gaining momentum as multiple industries are incorporating drones into their daily business functions, given the wide range of applications, including monitoring, inspection and surveillance. According to the Grand View Drone Report, it is anticipated that worldwide drone revenues will reach $163.5 billion by 2030. For example, farmers are using drones to inspect and spray their crops, which improves yields, construction sites are adopting drones to survey and monitor land, which improves workplace safety, and companies are using drones to inventory product in factories and warehouses, which improves efficiency. Additionally, drones are being used increasingly to transport and deliver goods. For example, hospitals are deploying drones to deliver critical medicine and other medical supplies to remote and underserved regions, while logistics companies are using drones to transport cargo between locations, expediting deliveries. As the commercial drone industry matures, we believe that aircraft and their components subsystems will become more commoditized, with additional pockets of growth expected in services and service-derivative revenues. The trajectory of commercial drone applications is well-aligned with our business strategy, which includes a focus on commercializing multiple types of value-added drone solutions to meet various end user and industry needs.

 

Avionics. New aircraft production and upgrades to existing aircraft are driving demand for our avionics solutions. We believe the market places a premium on avionics solutions like ours that have capabilities such as improved flight controls, communications and navigation capabilities, and flight monitoring. Continued technological advances in avionics and aging general aviation fleets are expected to drive growth for the general aviation avionics aftermarket.

 

Training. Overall demand for military flight training is expected to grow as countries around the world increase defense spending and outsource flight training to the private sector. Key market drivers include outsourcing of military training, technological advancement, and the ongoing pilot shortage. Additionally, the DoD has awarded over $13.7 billion in military aviation training contracts since 2015, representing a new public-private sector market norm. In the commercial market, the same shortage of trained pilots serves as the main driver of demand. According to the Fortune U.S. Pilot Training Report, the commercial training market is projected to grow from $1.8 billion in 2023 to over $4.9 billion in 2030, representing a CAGR of 15.4%.

 

Electric Air Mobility. According to the Morgan Stanley Report, it is estimated that the global electric air mobility market may grow to approximately $55 billion by 2030 and to approximately $1 trillion by 2040. We believe that autonomous aerial cargo is one of the largest unaddressed segments within the EAM market, with an additional actionable opportunity in passenger transportation. We expect both of these segments will provide a substantial market opportunity. While the electric air mobility market is in its nascent stage, we believe that the growing prevalence of e-commerce, rising labor costs in traditional ground transportation, traffic congestion and the continued advancement in AAV technology will lead to growing demand for cargo solutions based on AAVs. In addition, the implementation of government regulations and creation of federal and state incentives has started to meaningfully influence consumer behavior by increasing the focus on emissions standards and targets and leading to greater interest in aircraft electrification. Ultimately, cargo represents the most actionable near-term end market owing to its large commercial opportunity and reduced technological hurdles.

 

Our Growth Strategies

 

We are a growing platform built off a successful mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) strategy, with a robust pipeline of future commercial opportunities. Our growth strategies are rooted in a bold and focused vision for the future, with a mix of organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Within each of our segments, there are several opportunities to increase market share and penetrate new business areas.

 

 

5

 

 

 

Organically grow existing business line capabilities

 

We intend to make substantial investments in our sales and marketing, analytics, and communications functions to support our expansion within current markets and into future and specialized markets within each of our segments. We have identified specific opportunities to invest in organic growth, including procuring additional aircraft to expand the capabilities of the Training segment, launching larger screen form factor avionics with increased functionality, and iteratively developing our existing drone technology to enter new commercial end markets. With strong customer relationships and a focus on loyalty and satisfaction, we will continue to upsell and cross-sell across our portfolio, which in conjunction with investments in marketing and brand positioning will bolster our brand awareness. Finally, we are planning on both measured geographic expansion and targeting new customer end markets, which will further expand our addressable market.

 

Develop and commercialize new products and services and expand certification of new and future products and services.

 

Our segment specific initiatives are as follows:

 

Drones. We intend to launch U.S. production of our military drones and subsequently seek DoD Blue UAS drone certification, which we currently estimate will take approximately six months to achieve and will allow us to sell drones to the DoD. This certification process involves sponsors in various U.S. military branches supporting our product, with full certification essentially contingent on U.S.-domiciled production. In addition, we intend to expand our drone and DaaS offerings into new verticals, including agricultural, security, and industrial applications, leveraging our GPS denied technology proposition as the leading edge of our value proposition owing to its inherent product-market fit.

 

Avionics. We intend to focus our R&D activities on integrated avionics for our cargo eVTOL platform, the Jaunt Journey, and other eVTOLs as well as training aircraft in current markets. We believe focusing on in-flight controls, navigation, and communications will lead us to experience strong growth through organic expansion opportunities designed to expedite the development of integrated systems for both internal platforms and external OEM initiatives. With a history of providing innovative avionics for over 20 years, Aspen Avionics is primed to launch products for the aircraft of tomorrow.

 

Training. We intend to expand our current training capabilities through the acquisition of a flight school for commercial flight training and the launch of a fixed wing military simulation service offering. Our training capabilities will be further enhanced by the acquisition of additional training aircraft through our acquisition of a flight school or otherwise. Additionally, we plan to offer drone and electric air mobility flight training to take advantage of these rapidly growing markets.

 

Electric Air Mobility. We intend to develop, certify, and commercialize our eVTOL aircraft. We anticipate certification of our 33% downscaled cargo eVTOL under drone rules as early as 2027 and expect our first passenger production aircraft to be certified by the TCCA under existing CAR 529 Transport Category Rotorcraft airworthiness rules as early as 2031.

 

 

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Leverage Public Sector Relationships and Security Clearances to Drive Business.

 

Our deep public sector relationships and security clearances enable us to bid on government requests for proposals (“RFPs”) and drive brand awareness of our drone, eVTOL, avionics, and training solutions with key military decision makers. For example, members of our management team maintain close relationships with the highest levels of government around the world, including military leaders, ambassadors, and defense attachés from NATO and its allies. Our senior leadership team has also held and/or currently holds positions on various government committees across the FAA, Pentagon, and White House. Key employees also possess extensive military leadership experience having served in U.S. special forces units. This competitive moat grants us enviable access to key growth end markets and unlocks commercial synergies between our various segments.

 

Partnering with other firms on commercial ventures to drive technology convergence.

 

Partnerships allow us to expedite development of customer solutions by bringing together critical technologies across the aerospace and defense marketplace. For example, our Sky-Watch brand has critical partnerships with companies such as Palantir and Helsing that have boosted our drone’s capabilities. For our Electric Air Mobility segment, partnerships have been and will be at the forefront of our eVTOL platform’s integrated and convergent technology advantage - not only for the end-product but also in the areas of manufacturing, engineering and supply chain. New partnerships in AI and machine learning are also being explored in the Drones segment as well as virtual training system partnerships in the Training segment.

 

Strategically acquire businesses and technologies to enhance our offerings.

 

We were formed in August 2021 for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies engaged in the aerospace and defense industry. Since our founding, including the Put-Together Transaction, we have gained experience in successfully integrating businesses, and will continue to focus on thoughtful strategic acquisitions as a key component of our business growth strategy. For example, the drone and avionics markets are primed for consolidation due to the lack of scale, capital, and resources necessary for expansion by many drone and avionics companies, and we have identified and are actively evaluating a wide range of strategic opportunities for expansion. We believe our acquisition strategy will enable us to expand our footprint and opportunities in new and existing areas, strengthen our customer base and market share and improve overall brand recognition.

 

Continual investment in software, AI, and machine learning to expand solutions capabilities and increase operational efficiencies.

 

We plan on building out our software, AI, and machine learning capabilities to help our customers solve more complex problems and bring additional capabilities to the marketplace. In addition, we intend to offer new product and service lines to ensure our customers are equipped with the proper tools for their evolving needs. These investments are expected to further bolster our cross-platform network effort to help support future R&D and new product development. These initiatives will also help us streamline our internal processes and optimize our supply chain, which will support further growth.

 

 

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Risk Factors Summary

 

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those highlighted in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. The following is a summary of the principal risks we face:

 

We have a limited operating history in new and evolving markets, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects and increase the risk of your investment.
   
We are an early-stage company with a history of losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.
   
Our failure to comply with covenants under debt instruments could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
   
We have made and may in the future make acquisitions and investments, which involve numerous risks.
   
We may not be able to successfully integrate the businesses and personnel of acquired companies and businesses, including those acquired in the Put-Together Transaction, and may not realize the anticipated synergies and benefits of such acquisitions.
   
We face significant competition from other companies, many of which have substantially greater resources than we do.

 

We may not be able to keep pace with technological advances and we depend on advances in technology by other companies.
   
 We may not be able to produce aircraft in the volumes or on the timelines that we anticipate.
   
 In order to reach production for our aircraft, we need to develop complex software and technology systems in coordination with our partners and suppliers, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed.
   
We may be unable to acquire additional aircraft to support our Training segment on acceptable terms or at all.
   
Due to the nature of our products and services, a product safety failure, quality issue or other failure affecting our or our customers’ or suppliers’ products or systems could seriously harm our business.
   
Our future success depends on the continuing efforts of our key personnel and on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel and senior management.

 

 

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  We rely on a limited number of suppliers in Canada and Europe for critical components and raw materials used to manufacture and develop our products.
     
  We rely on independent dealers and distributors to sell our Avionics products, and disruption to these channels would harm our business.
     
  We currently, and may in the future, use and develop generative AI technologies throughout our business, which may expose us to certain regulatory and other risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
     
  If our information technology systems or data, or the third parties with whom we work, are or were compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse consequences, risks which are amplified by our work for world governments.
     
  Our commercial aviation products, systems and services businesses are affected by global demand and economic factors that could negatively impact our financial results.
     
  The market for eVTOL aircraft and electric air mobility has not been clearly defined, is still emerging and may not achieve the growth potential we expect or may grow more slowly than expected, which may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
     
  We are still developing our eVTOL aircraft, have not yet obtained FAA certification of our eVTOL aircraft under development and we have yet to manufacture or deliver any aircraft to customers, which makes evaluating our business and future prospects difficult and increases the risk of investment.
     
  There may be reluctance by consumers to adopt a new form of mobility, or an unwillingness to pay aircraft operators’ projected prices.
     
  We are subject to extensive government regulation, and our failure to comply with applicable regulations may subject us to significant financial liability, penalties, and other government actions that restrict our ability to conduct our business.
     
  U.S. government contracts are subject to a competitive bidding process, are generally not fully funded at inception, and contain certain terms that may be unfavorable to us, which could result in contracts and opportunities consuming significant resources without generating revenue or profit.
     
  We rely to a significant degree on sales to the U.S. government, particularly to agencies of the Department of Defense, and a decline in government budgets, funding, changes in spending or budgetary priorities, or delays in contract awards may materially adversely affect our future revenue, business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and equity.
     
  The U.S. government may modify, curtail or terminate one or more of our contracts.
     
  Our business may benefit in part from government funding, and our inability to receive such financial support could harm our business.
     
  Many of our products and services are subject to local, state, federal and international regulatory frameworks that are costly to comply with, are subject to interpretation, may be dependent on political pressures and factors and/or are subject to change.
     
  Our business is highly regulated and our ability to generate revenues and profit may be limited by regulatory restrictions and/or changes and the speed with which such restrictions and/or changes occur.
     
  We are subject to the risks associated with conducting international business operations.
     
  If we fail to protect, or incur significant costs in defending or enforcing, our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed.

 

 

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We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to effectively remediate these material weaknesses, identify additional material weaknesses in the future, or otherwise fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, then we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect our business.

 

Our Corporate Information

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on August 30, 2021, for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies engaged in the aerospace and defense industry. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we completed our Put-Together Transaction to acquire six companies which are now organized into our four reportable segments, each with a diverse set of partners and customers: (i) Drones, through our subsidiaries AIRO Drone and Sky-Watch; (ii) Avionics, through our subsidiary Aspen Avionics; (iii) Training, through our subsidiaries Agile Defense and CDI; and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, through our subsidiary Jaunt.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 and our telephone number is (505) 338-2434. Our website address is www.theairogroup.com. The information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or in deciding whether to purchase our common stock.

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements and other requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this prospectus;

 

 

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not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”);
   
not being required to comply with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements;
   
the ability to elect to defer compliance with new or revised accounting standards until such standards would apply to private companies;
   
reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and
   
exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

We may use these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.

 

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

 

We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.

 

 

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The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us                   shares.
     
Option to purchase additional shares of our common stock offered by us   We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to                 additional shares of common stock from us at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus.
     
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering               shares (or              shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).
     
Use of proceeds  

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $         million (or approximately $             million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) from the sale of the shares of our common stock offered by us in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $              per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows: (i) approximately $                     to scale operations of our Avionics segment and to support the production and design of Avionics products; (ii) approximately $                     to support our Electric Air Mobility segment’s business operations and to fund the eVTOL aircraft development program over the next 12 months; (iii) approximately $                     to fund acquisitions in the areas of drone vehicles, AI and networking service in our Drones segment; (iv) approximately $                     to acquire the aircraft and support equipment that is necessary to meet the additional demand under the IDIQ contracts for our Training segment and to fund acquisitions for the Training segment in the areas of training and aircraft maintenance; (v) to repay an aggregate of $10.8 million in Fixed Conversion Obligations (as defined below) that are not being converted into shares of our common stock in connection with this offering, which are payable at the closing of this offering; (vi) to repay an aggregate of $11.7 million of principal, cash premiums and interest under the Investor Notes (as defined below), which bear interest at rates ranging from 10.5% to 15% and are payable on dates ranging from the closing of this offering to 190 days following the closing of this offering; and (vii) the remainder to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have any binding agreements or commitments to enter into any material acquisitions. See the section titled “Use of Proceeds.”

     
Underwriters’ warrants   We have agreed to issue to certain of the underwriters, upon the closing of this offering, warrants exercisable for the number of shares of our common stock equal to 5% of the total number of shares of our common stock sold in this offering (which we refer to as the “Underwriters’ Warrants”). The Underwriters’ Warrants will be exercisable at an exercise price equal to 110% of the initial public offering price of our common stock sold in this offering, will be exercisable, in whole or in part, from time to time after six months following the date of this prospectus, and will expire on the date that is five years following the date of this prospectus. See the section titled “Underwriting—Underwriters’ Warrants.”
     
Risk factors   See the section titled “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our common stock.
     
Proposed Nasdaq symbol   “AIRO”

 

 

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The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on           shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to (i) the conversion of approximately $11.9 million of aggregate principal amount of the Put-Together Transaction Notes, which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 510,588 shares of our common stock, (ii) the conversion of approximately $17.5 million of aggregate principal amount of notes issued pursuant to (a) that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of March 9, 2018, as amended on July 11, 2024, (b) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 18, 2019, as amended on July 11, 2024, and (c) that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of January 31, 2022, as amended on July 11, 2024, each among Aspen Avionics and the respective holders of convertible notes (collectively, the “Aspen Notes”), which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 749,007 shares of our common stock, (iii) the conversion of $44.6 million of the obligations owed to Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC (“Carter Aviation”) in partial satisfaction of the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 1,908,143 shares of our common stock, (iv) the conversion of $1.7 million of the principal owed to the former Aspen Avionics shareholders (the “Aspen Contingent Debt”), which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 73,971 shares of our common stock, (v) the conversion of $0.8 million of the principal owed to certain former Aspen Avionics shareholders pursuant to the Aspen Merger Agreement (as defined herein), which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 34,018 shares of our common stock (the “Aspen Carveout Contingency”), (vi) an aggregate of 87,226 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to a one-time stock payment of $2.0 million pursuant to the 2021 Management Carveout Plan that we adopted in December 2021 (as defined below and as described in “Executive and Director Compensation—Management Carveout Plan”), which establishes a benefit pool for designated employees and consultants payable upon the occurrence of certain change in control events (the “Aspen Carveout Stock Obligation”), (vii) the conversion of $1.4 million of the principal owed to New Generation Aerospace, Inc. (“NGA”) under that certain Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement (as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Success Fee Arrangement”), which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 57,792 shares of our common stock, (viii) the conversion of $7.8 million of the principal amounts owed to various holders under deferred salary arrangements, which we intend to convert upon the completion of this offering into an aggregate of 332,499 shares of our common stock (the obligations described in (i) through (viii), collectively, the “Fixed Conversion Obligations”), (ix)                    shares of our common stock issuable to Dangroup ApS (“Dangroup”) pursuant to the Incentive Agreement, dated June 28, 2024, as amended (the “Dangroup Incentive Agreement” and as described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dangroup Incentive Agreement”), assuming                   shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (x)                     shares of our common stock issuable upon a one-time interest payment of $11.5 million for contingent interest payable pursuant to the notes issued to certain investors (the “Investor Notes”), assuming an initial public offering price of $                   per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and excludes:

 

  519,131 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2024, under the Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC 2021 Option Plan, which was renamed the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. Option Plan (the “Legacy Plan”), with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.05 per share;
     
  431,818 shares of contingent restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024;
     
  112,246 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024 at a weighted average exercise price of $9.90 per share;
     
                shares of our common stock, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock issued after December 31, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.01 per share;
     
                 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of the Underwriters’ Warrants;
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Legacy Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares of our common stock reserved under the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2025 Plan”) upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under the Legacy Plan;
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, as well as any future increases, including annual automatic evergreen increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering (as more fully described in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans”); and
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

 

  3,753,244 shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the Fixed Conversion Obligations;
     
                      shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the Investor Notes;
     
                      shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement;
     
  no exercise of the outstanding options described above;
     
  no vesting or settlement of the contingent restricted stock awards described above;
     
  no exercise by the underwriters of (i) their option to purchase up to a total of                 additional shares of our common stock or (ii) the Underwriters’ Warrants;
     
  the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation immediately prior to the closing of this offering and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws to become effective immediately prior to the closing of the offering; and
     
  a 1-for-                 reverse stock split of our common stock to be effected prior to the closing of this offering.

 

 

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Summary Consolidated Financial Data

 

The following tables summarize our consolidated financial data as of and for the periods indicated. We have derived the summary consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. The following summary consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

   Year Ended December 31 
   2024   2023 
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)        
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:          
Revenue  $86,935   $43,254 
Cost of revenue   28,618    18,340 
Gross profit   58,317    24,914 
Operating expenses:          
Research and development   13,133    11,871 
Sales and marketing   6,422    5,374 
General and administrative   18,201    17,601 
Goodwill impairment   37,994    - 
Total operating expenses   75,750    34,846 
Loss from operations   (17,433)   (9,932)
Other income (expense):          
Interest expense, net   (14,225)   (2,137)
Other income (expense), net   2,173    (18,093)
Total other expense   (12,052)   (20,230)
Loss before income tax expense    (29,485)   (30,162)
Income tax expense    (9,209)   (2,294)
Net loss  $(38,694)  $(32,456)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)  $(1.39)  $(1.17)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted   27,858,276    27,858,276 
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited)(2)  $   $  
Pro forma weighted-average shares of common stock, basic and diluted (unaudited)(2)          

 

 

(1) See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the method used to calculate historical net loss per share, basic and diluted.

(2) Pro forma net loss per share and the pro forma weighted-average number of shares used in computation of the per share amounts for the year ended December 31, 2024 have been computed to give effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                  shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of                  shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming          shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering. Pro forma net loss per share and the pro forma weighted-average number of shares used in computation of the per share amounts for the year ended December 31, 2024 do not include the shares of common stock expected to be sold in this offering.

 

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   As of December 31, 2024 
   Actual  

Pro Forma(1)

  

Pro Forma

As Adjusted(2)

 
(in thousands)       
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:                      
Total current assets  $42,594           
Working capital(3)   (54,013)          
Total assets   700,999           
Total liabilities   152,270           
Accumulated deficit   (206,453)          
Total stockholders’ equity   548,729           

 

 

(1) The pro forma consolidated balance sheet data gives pro forma effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                     shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $                    per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of                  shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming             shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering. For more detailed information with respect to the pro forma adjustments, please see the section titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” elsewhere in this prospectus.

(2) The pro forma as adjusted consolidated balance sheet data gives pro forma effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth in footnote (1) above, (ii) our receipt of $             million in estimated net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $              per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and (iii) the use of approximately $22.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay (1) an aggregate of $10.8 million in Fixed Conversion Obligations that are not being converted into shares of our common stock in connection with this offering and (2) an aggregate of $11.7 million of principal, cash premiums and interest under the Investor Notes.

(3) We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities. See our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus for further details regarding our current assets and current liabilities.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, and the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before making an investment decision. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. The occurrence of any of the following risks, or of additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose part or all of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

 

We have a limited operating history in new and evolving markets, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects and increase the risk of your investment.

 

We were organized in August 2021 for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies in the aerospace and defense industry and the history of operating each of our businesses together is relatively short. Our limited operating history and rapidly evolving business make it difficult to evaluate our current business, future prospects and plan for growth. In addition, our drones, eVTOL aircraft and other products are sold or will be sold in new and rapidly evolving markets. Accordingly, our business and future prospects may be difficult to evaluate, the extent to which demand for our products and services will increase, if at all, could be impacted by our ability to do the following:

 

attract new customers to our products or services;

 

develop, renew and expand contracts;

 

acquire and maintain market share;

 

attract, integrate, train and retain leadership and other highly qualified personnel;

 

achieve or manage growth in our operations;

 

acquire new technologies;

 

adapt to required redirection or changes in services or direction caused by geopolitical crises;

 

successfully develop and commercially market new products and services;

 

keep pace with technological developments;

 

timely address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers, including as a result of changes in government regulation related to our products and services;

 

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secure sufficient quantities or cost-effective production of our products due to supply chain challenges;

 

adapt to new or changing policies and spending priorities of governments and government agencies;

 

generate sufficient revenue to achieve or maintain profitability; and

 

access initial and additional capital when required and on reasonable terms.

 

If we fail to address these and other challenges, risks and uncertainties successfully, our business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition would be materially harmed.

 

We are an early-stage company with a history of losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.

 

We have incurred significant net losses to date, and we expect that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. We have incurred net losses in each period since our inception, including $38.7 million and $32.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $206.5 million.

 

Developing products and services in the defense and broader aerospace industry is very time-consuming, and expensive and, to date, we have devoted a significant amount of our resources to our R&D programs. These programs may not produce successful results, and our new products and services may not achieve market acceptance, create additional revenue or become profitable. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we aim to significantly increase our headcount in the near-term, advance the development of our aircraft and other products, seek regulatory approvals, and launch and commercialize our products at scale.

 

In addition to the expected costs to grow our business, we also expect to incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses as a newly public company. If we fail to increase our revenue to offset the increases in our operating expenses, we may not achieve or sustain profitability in the future. We will need to generate substantial additional revenue to achieve and then sustain profitability, and even if we achieve profitability, we cannot be sure that we will remain profitable for any period of time. Even if this offering is successful, we will require substantial additional capital to finance our operations and fund our R&D programs. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, then we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our R&D activities as well as our commercialization efforts, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, growth prospects and financial condition.

 

Our failure to comply with covenants under our debt instruments could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

We have incurred significant indebtedness, including in connection with the Put-Together Transaction, and may incur additional debt for acquisitions, operations, R&D and capital expenditures, or for other reasons related to our overall capital deployment strategy. As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding indebtedness of $105.7 million. The agreements governing our indebtedness contain restrictive covenants, including but not limited to, our ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens and pay any dividends or make distributions, as well as financial maintenance covenants, including debt service coverage ratios, that will limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in activities that may be in our and their long-term best interests. Any additional debt, to the extent we are able to incur it, may further restrict the manner in which we conduct business. Such restrictions, prohibitions and limitations could impact our ability to implement elements of our strategy, including in the following ways:

 

our flexibility to plan for, or react to, competitive challenges in our business and the pharmaceutical and in the aerospace and defense industry may be compromised;

 

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we may be put at a competitive disadvantage relative to competitors that do not have as much debt as we have, and competitors that may be in a more favorable position to access additional capital resources;

 

our ability to make acquisitions and execute business development activities through acquisitions will be limited and may, in future years, continue to be limited; and

 

our ability to resolve regulatory and litigation matters may be limited.

 

Furthermore, the creditors who hold our debt have in the past, and may in the future, accelerate amounts due in the event that we default on these covenants, which has in the past, and may in the future, trigger a default or acceleration of the maturity of our other debt. For example, civil actions were filed against CDI and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, First Citizens Community Bank (“FCCB”), alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and FCCB seeks recovery of the outstanding amounts. FCCB obtained judgments against all named defendants and we intend to negotiate a resolution with FCCB and, in the meantime, have negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent FCCB from enforcing the judgments. The acceleration of significant indebtedness may cause us to renegotiate, repay, or refinance the affected obligations, and there is no assurance that such efforts would be successful or on terms we deem attractive. In addition, any acceleration could result in a downgrade of any credit ratings then applicable to us, which could result in additional events of default or limit our ability to obtain additional financing.

 

In addition, we entered into the Put-Together Transaction Notes with the equity holders of certain of the businesses we acquired as part of the Put-Together Transaction. The Put-Together Transaction Notes with AIRO Drone, Agile Defense and CDI were amended to be convertible, in part, into shares of our common stock upon the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal owed to such holders to be paid upon the closing of the BCA Transactions. We also agreed to assume other Fixed Conversion Obligations, which were also amended to be convertible, in part, into shares of our common stock upon the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal owed to such holders to be paid upon the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, we intend to issue approximately 3,753,244 shares and use proceeds of $10.8 million from this offering to satisfy the Fixed Conversion Obligations. As of December 31, 2024, we have third party obligations of $3.0 million of Investor Notes as described within Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, $4.2 million of Investor Notes as described in Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, and $13.8 million of certain Investor Notes by which we determined it appropriate to choose the fair value option going forward due to the significant modification, which was determined to be an extinguishment of such Investor Notes in the fourth quarter of 2024 in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and as further described in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, collectively which total $21.0 million. The Investor Notes are in the form of unsecured promissory notes with no collateral and no guarantees. See the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investor Notes” for additional information regarding the promissory notes. If we are unable to satisfy our existing obligations, our business and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

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Risks Related to Our Business

 

We have made and may in the future make acquisitions and investments, which involve numerous risks.

 

We have made certain acquisitions, including our acquisitions of the Acquired Companies in connection with the Put-Together Transaction, and continue to routinely evaluate potential acquisitions, investments and strategic alliances involving complementary technologies, teams, products and companies. We expect to continue to pursue such transactions if appropriate opportunities arise. and a portion of the proceeds of this offering may be used to fund acquisitions. See “Use Of Proceeds” For example, in November 2023, we signed non-binding letters of intent to acquire two businesses for the Training segment, including a flight training school. The parties have undertaken due diligence to determine whether a binding purchase agreement will be negotiated. The total anticipated purchase price for the acquisitions is expected to range from $5.1 million to $7.7 million, which would be paid in a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, and if consummated on the terms anticipated, would result in dilution to the investors in this offering. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have any binding agreements or commitments to enter into any material acquisitions.

 

Moreover, we may not be able to identify other potentially suitable transactions in the future or if we do identify such transactions, we may not be able to complete them on commercially acceptable terms or at all and may face intense competition for such opportunities. In pursuing transactions, we have and will continue to face numerous risks, including diverting management’s attention from normal daily operations of our business; difficulties in integrating the financial reporting capabilities and operating systems of any acquired operations to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; potential loss of key personnel of the acquired company as well as their know-how, relationships and expertise; challenges successfully integrating acquired personnel, operations and businesses; failing to realize the anticipated synergies and benefits of an acquisition; maintaining favorable business relationships of acquired operations; generating insufficient revenue from completed transactions to offset expenses associated with our efforts; acquiring material or unknown liabilities associated with any acquired operations; litigation associated with merger and acquisition transactions; and increasing expense associated with amortization or depreciation of intangible and tangible assets we acquire.

 

Our acquisitions, including the Put-Together Transaction, have required and continue to require significant management time and attention relating to the transactions. Past transactions, whether completed or abandoned by us, have resulted, and in the future may result, in significant time and attention, costs, expenses, liabilities and charges to earnings. The accounting treatment for any future transaction may result in significant amortizable intangible assets which, when amortized, will negatively affect our consolidated results of operations. The accounting treatment may also result in significant goodwill, which, if impaired, will negatively affect our consolidated results of operations. Furthermore, we may incur additional debt or issue equity securities to pay for transactions. The incurrence of additional debt could limit our operating flexibility and be detrimental to our profitability, and the issuance of equity securities would be dilutive to our existing stockholders. Any or all of the above factors may differ from the investment community’s expectations in a given quarter, which could negatively affect our stock price. In the event we make future investments, the investments may decline in value, we may lose all or part of our investment.

 

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We may not be able to successfully integrate the businesses and personnel of acquired companies and businesses, including those acquired in the Put-Together Transaction, and may not realize the anticipated synergies and benefits of such acquisitions.

 

We may not be able to realize the expected benefits from acquisitions, including the Put-Together Transaction, because of integration difficulties or other challenges. The success of our acquisitions will depend, in part, on our ability to realize all or some of the anticipated synergies and other benefits from integrating the acquired businesses with our existing businesses. Integration activities can be costly, complex and time consuming. The potential difficulties we may face in integrating the operations of our acquisitions include, among others: the failure to implement our business plans for the combined businesses and consolidation or expansion of production capacity as planned and where applicable; unexpected losses of key employees, customers or suppliers of our acquired companies and businesses; unanticipated issues in conforming our acquired companies’ and businesses’ standards, processes, procedures and controls with our operations; coordinating new product and process development; increasing the scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our operations; diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; adverse effects on our or our acquired companies’ and businesses’ existing business relationships; unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations; operating risks inherent in our acquired companies’ and businesses’ business and operations; unanticipated expenses and liabilities; potential unfamiliarity with our acquired companies and businesses technology, products and markets, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage; and other difficulties in the assimilation of our acquired companies and businesses operations, technologies, products and systems.

 

Any acquired companies and businesses may have unanticipated or larger than anticipated liabilities for patent and trademark infringement claims, violations of applicable laws, rules and regulations, commercial disputes, taxes and other known and unknown types of liabilities. There may be liabilities that we underestimated or did not discover in the course of performing our due diligence investigation of our acquired companies and businesses. We may have no recourse or limited recourse under the applicable acquisition-related agreement to recover damages relating to the liabilities of our acquired companies and businesses.

 

We may not be able to maintain or increase the levels of revenue, earnings or operating efficiency that we, and each of our acquired companies and businesses, had historically achieved or might achieve separately. In addition, we may not accomplish the integration smoothly, successfully or within the anticipated costs or timeframe. If we experience difficulties with the integration process or if the business of our acquired companies or businesses deteriorates, the anticipated cost savings, growth opportunities and other synergies of our acquired companies and businesses may not be realized fully or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected. If any of the above risks occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely impacted, we may fail to meet the expectations of investors or analysts, and our stock price may decline as a result.

 

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We face significant competition from other companies, many of which have substantially greater resources than we do.

 

The defense and broader aerospace industry is highly competitive and generally characterized by intense competition to win contracts. While we expect to be one of the pioneering companies to market eVTOL aircraft, we expect this industry to be increasingly competitive, and it is possible that our competitors could get to market before us, either generally or in specific markets. Our current principal competitors include the following: (i) for our Drones segment: Da Jiang Innovations, Elbit Systems Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3Harris Technologies, Inc.’s FVR-90, L3 Technologies, Inc., Martin UAV, LLC, Northrop Grumman Corporation’s V-Bat, Teledyne Technologies, Inc., and Textron Inc.’s Aerosonde; (ii) for our Training segment: Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, LLC, Draken International, Inc., Tactical Air Defense Services Inc. and Top Aces Inc.; (iii) for our Avionics segment: Avidyne Corporation, Collins Aerospace, Dynon Avionics, Inc., Garmin Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., L3Harris Technologies, Inc., and uAvionix Corporation; and (iv) for our Electric Air Mobility segment: Archer Aviation Inc., BETA Technologies, Inc., Eve Holding Inc., Joby Aviation, Inc., Lilium N.V., Vertical Aerospace Ltd., Volocopter GmbH, and Wisk Aero LLC, in addition to ground transportation services, such as Lyft, Inc. and Uber Technologies, Inc., and incumbent aircraft carrier services, such as Blade Air Mobility, Inc. and NetJets Inc.

 

Many of these companies have substantially greater financial, management, research and marketing resources than we do. Our competitors may be able to provide customers with different or greater capabilities or benefits than we can provide in areas such as technical qualifications, past contract performance, geographic presence, price and the availability of key professional personnel, including those with security clearances. Furthermore, many of our competitors may be able to utilize their substantially greater resources and economies of scale to develop competing products and technologies, manufacture in high volumes more efficiently, divert sales away from us by winning broader contracts or hire away our employees by offering more lucrative compensation packages. In particular, our competitors may be able to obtain the relevant certification and approvals for their aircraft before us. Small business competitors may be able to offer more cost competitive products and services, due to their lower overhead costs, and take advantage of small business incentives and set-aside programs for which we are ineligible. In order to secure contracts successfully when competing with larger, well-financed companies, we may be forced to agree to contractual terms that provide for lower aggregate payments to us over the life of the contract, which could adversely affect our margins.

 

We may not be able to keep pace with technological advances and we depend on advances in technology by other companies.

 

The defense and broader aerospace industry continues to undergo significant changes, primarily due to technological developments. Because of the rapid growth and advancement of technology, shifting consumer tastes and the popularity and availability of other forms of activities, it is impossible to predict the overall effect these factors could have on potential revenue from, and profitability of, the defense and broader aerospace industry. The development of specialized software and hardware is a costly, complex and time-consuming process, and investments in product development often involve a long wait until a return, if any, can be achieved on such investment. We might face difficulties or delays in the development process that will result in our inability to timely offer products that satisfy the market, which might allow competing products to emerge during the development and certification process. We anticipate making significant investments in R&D relating to our products and technology, but such investments are inherently speculative and require substantial capital expenditures. Any unforeseen technical obstacles and challenges that we encounter in the R&D process could result in delays in or the abandonment of product commercialization, may substantially increase development costs, and may negatively affect our results of operations. In the time it takes to develop or improve upon a product, that product may become obsolete.

 

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It is impossible to predict the overall effect these factors could have on our ability to compete effectively in a changing market, and if we are not able to keep pace with these technological advances, then our revenues, profitability and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. However, if we struggle to adapt to an industry-shifting technological advancement or competitor offerings that render our products relatively less attractive or obsolete, including due to competitive pressures we face relative to other drone companies, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Further, we rely on and will continue to rely on components of our products that are developed and produced by other companies over which we have limited control. The commercial success of certain of our planned future products will depend in part on advances in these and other technologies by other companies, and our ability to procure them from such third parties in a timely manner and on economically feasible terms. We may, from time-to-time, contract with and support companies developing key technologies in order to accelerate the development of such products for our specific uses. Such activities might not result in useful technologies or components for us.

 

We may be unable to acquire additional aircraft to support our Training segment on acceptable terms or at all.

 

The success of our Training segment, including our ability to bid and complete future task orders under certain multiple awards and IDIQ contracts issued by the U.S. military, is dependent on our financing or leasing additional aircraft that meet our customers’ needs. To date, a lack of funding has inhibited our ability to independently finance or lease potential aircraft. Even if we receive sufficient funding, there are a limited number of aircraft available that meet our customers’ needs and potential seller countries have been retaining aircraft in light of the Ukrainian conflict and instability in other areas of the world as well as delayed deliveries from manufacturers of new aircraft, creating more limited supply. In addition, as a result of policy changes regarding aircraft transfers to the United States, purchased aircraft often need to be disassembled, imported into the United States, and appropriately modified to meet customer needs. This requires significant capital and lead time to put an aircraft into operation. Delays or failure in obtaining suitable aircraft could adversely impact financial results and growth plans due to missed task order bidding opportunities.

 

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Due to the nature of our products and services, a product safety failure, quality issue or other failure affecting our or our customers’ or suppliers’ products or systems could seriously harm our business.

 

Our products and services are highly sophisticated and specialized, involve complex advanced technologies, are often integrated with third-party products and services, and are utilized for specific purposes that require precision, reliability, and durability. Many of our products and services include both hardware and software that involve industrial machinery and intricate aviation and defense systems, including commercial and military jet engines, power and control systems, and other aircraft parts, and military sensors and command and control systems. Technical, mechanical, quality, electronic, and other failures may occur from time to time, whether as a result of manufacturing or design defect, operational process, or production issue attributable to us, our customers, suppliers, partners, third party integrators, or others. Product design changes and updates could also have associated cost and schedule impacts. In addition, our products could fail as a result of cyber-attacks, such as those that seize control and result in misuse or unintended use of our products, or other intentional acts. The impact of a catastrophic product or system failure or similar event affecting our or our customers’ or suppliers’ products or services could be significant, and could result in injuries or death, property damage, loss of strategic capabilities, loss of intellectual property, loss of reputation, and other significant negative effects. A product or system failure, or perceived failure, could lead to negative publicity, a diversion of management attention, and damage to our reputation that could reduce demand for our products and services. It could also result in product recalls and product liability and warranty claims (including claims related to the safety or reliability of our products) and related expenses, other service, repair and maintenance costs, labor and material costs, customer support costs, significant damages, and other costs, including fines and other remedies, and regulatory and environmental liabilities. We may also incur increased costs, delayed payments, reputational harm, or lost equipment or services revenue in connection with a significant issue with a third party’s product with which our products are integrated. Further, our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all related costs and we may not otherwise be fully indemnified for them. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

 

Our customers may experience service failures or interruptions due to defects in the software, infrastructure, components or engineering system that compromise our products and services, or due to errors in product installation, any of which could harm our business.

 

Our products and services may contain undetected defects in the software, infrastructure, components or engineering system. Sophisticated software and applications, such as those adopted and offered by us in connection with or as a part of our eVTOL, drone, and avionics offerings, may contain “bugs” that can unexpectedly interfere with the software and applications’ intended operations. Our communication services may from time to time experience outages, service slowdowns or errors. Defects may also occur in components or processes used in our products or for our services.

 

There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix all defects in the hardware, software and services we offer. Failure to do so could result in decreases in sales of our products and services, lost revenues, significant warranty and other expenses, decreases in customer confidence and loyalty, losing market share to our competitors, and harm to our reputation.

 

Our future success depends on the continuing efforts of our key personnel and on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel and senior management.

 

Due to the specialized nature of our business, our future performance is highly dependent upon the continued services of our key technical personnel and executive officers, including the contributions of Captain Joseph D. Burns, our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, our Executive Chairman, and John Uczekaj, our President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as other members of our management team, and the hiring, development, and retention of qualified technical, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and management personnel for our operations. The loss of services of any of these individuals could make it more difficult to achieve our business plans. Although we have executed employment agreements or offer letters with each member of our senior management team, these agreements are terminable at will with or without notice and, therefore, we may not be able to retain their services. We do not currently maintain “key person” life insurance on the lives of our executives. This lack of insurance means that we may not have adequate compensation for the loss of the services of these individuals.

 

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We aim to significantly increase our headcount in the near-term, but have experienced, and continue to experience, challenges hiring highly qualified personnel including engineers, pilots, skilled laborers, and security clearance holders. Currently, there is a shortage of pilots that could exacerbate over time as more pilots in the industry approach mandatory retirement age which will affect our Training segment. We expect these difficulties to continue in the future. In addition, the cost of labor remains high. Some candidates and new personnel may have job-related expectations that differ from our current workforce and are inconsistent with our corporate culture. With respect to existing personnel, some may become required to receive various security clearances and substantial training in order to work on certain programs or perform certain tasks. Necessary security clearances may be delayed, which may impact our ability to perform on our U.S. government contracts. We also may not be successful in training or developing qualified personnel with the requisite relevant skills or security clearances. Moreover, some of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. If we have additional challenges renegotiating agreements or if our employees pursue new collective representation, then we could experience additional costs and/or be subject to work stoppages. Any of the above factors could seriously harm our business.

 

We rely on a limited number of suppliers in Canada and Europe for critical components and raw materials used to manufacture and develop our products. If we are forced to use suppliers outside these jurisdictions and, as a result, such materials become scarce or unavailable, or such suppliers fail, then we may incur delays in development, manufacture and delivery of our products, which could damage our business.

 

We obtain hardware components, raw materials, and various systems and subsystems from a limited group of suppliers located in Canada and Europe, some of which are sole source suppliers. We do not have long-term agreements with any of these suppliers that obligate them to continue to sell such components, materials, systems or subsystems to us. Our reliance on these suppliers involves significant risk and uncertainty, including whether such suppliers will provide an adequate supply of products of sufficient quality, will increase prices for the products and will perform their obligations on a timely basis. Changes in business conditions, wars, governmental changes, political intervention, and other factors beyond our control or which we do not presently anticipate, could also affect our suppliers’ ability to deliver components to us on a timely basis. For instance, global supply chain disruptions in 2021 and 2022 impacted our ability to procure raw materials, microelectronics, and certain commodities. These disruptions were driven by supply chain market constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and geopolitical conditions. In addition, current high inflation levels have increased material and component prices, labor rates, and supplier costs, and put pressure on our margins. Credit market conditions, including higher interest rates and the availability of credit, have impacted some of our suppliers and subcontractors as well. As a result of these procurement issues, the production flow in our factories has been negatively impacted, which has, in turn, hindered our ability to perform on our commitments to customers and negatively affected our results of operations.

 

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The timing of the impacts of these supply chain risks and issues and our ability to mitigate them are uncertain and difficult to predict. However, we expect the current supply chain, inflation, price issues and potential tariffs and their negative impacts on our business to continue into 2025. While we saw some easing of these issues in late 2024, we expect to experience intermittent delays throughout 2025. Furthermore, the existing supply chain issues could be compounded by other events, such as an economic downturn; supplier capacity constraints for other reasons; supplier quality issues (for example, defects or fraudulent parts); supplier closing, bankruptcy, or financial difficulties; price increases for various reasons; and worsening shortages of raw materials or commodities, including as a result of war or other geopolitical actions, natural disaster (including the effects of climate change), health pandemic or other business continuity events, or transport and distribution issues, any of which could further negatively impact our ability to meet our commitments to customers or increase our operating costs and therefore incrementally affect our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

 

Furthermore, if we experience significant increased demand, or need to replace our existing suppliers, there can be no assurance that additional supplies of component parts will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, or that any supplier would allocate sufficient supplies to us in order to meet our requirements or fill our orders in a timely manner. In addition, certain components and raw materials used in the development and manufacture of our products are periodically at risk of supply shortages, and our business is subject to the risk of price increases and periodic delays in delivery. If shortages occur and we are unable to obtain components from third party suppliers in the quantities and of the quality we require, on a timely basis and at acceptable prices, then we may not be able to timely complete development of or deliver our products on a timely or cost effective basis to our customers, which could cause customers to terminate their contracts with us, increase our costs and seriously harm our business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition. Moreover, if any of our suppliers become financially unstable, or otherwise unable or unwilling to provide us with raw materials or components, then we may have to find new suppliers. It may take several months to locate alternative suppliers, if required, or to redesign our products to accommodate components from different suppliers. Even if we are successful at locating alternative suppliers the costs of the components may be higher than the original supplier’s components or we may be required to purchase in larger quantities than we normally would, which may result in higher inventory levels than desired. We may experience significant delays in manufacturing and shipping our products to customers and incur additional development, manufacturing and other costs to establish alternative sources of supply if we lose any of these sources or are required to redesign our products. We cannot predict if we will be able to obtain replacement components within the time frames that we require at an affordable cost, if at all.

 

We do not control our suppliers’ labor or other compliance practices, including environmental, health and safety practices. If our current suppliers, or any other suppliers we may use in the future, violate U.S. or foreign laws or regulations, we may be subjected to extra duties, significant monetary penalties, adverse publicity, the seizure and forfeiture of products that we are attempting to import or the loss of our import privileges. The effects of these factors could render the conduct of our business in a particular country undesirable or impractical and have a negative impact on our operating results.

 

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We rely on independent dealers and distributors to sell our Avionics products, and disruption to these channels would harm our business.

 

A significant portion of aftermarket sales in our Avionics segment are made through a worldwide network of independent dealers and distributors, which subjects us to many risks, including risks related to their inventory levels and support for our products. If dealers and distributors attempt to reduce their levels of inventory or if they do not maintain sufficient levels to meet customer demand, our sales could be negatively impacted.

 

Many of our dealers and distributors also sell products offered by our competitors. If our competitors offer our dealers and distributors more favorable terms, those dealers and distributors may de-emphasize or decline to carry our products. In the future, we may not be able to retain or attract a sufficient number of qualified dealers and distributors. If we are unable to maintain successful relationships with dealers and distributors or to expand our distribution channels, our business will suffer.

 

We currently, and may in the future, use and develop generative AI technologies throughout our business, which may expose us to certain regulatory and other risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

We use AI, machine learning and automated decision-making technologies, including proprietary AI and machine learning algorithms and models (“AI Technologies”) in our business. For example, AIRO Drone expects to operate drones in an AI-based commercial inspection service known as DaaS and build and operate a worldwide drone datacom network known as “AIRO-NET.” As with many technological innovations, there are significant risks involved in developing, maintaining and deploying these technologies and there can be no assurance that the usage of, or our investments in, such technologies will always enhance our products or services or be beneficial to our business, including our efficiency or profitability. In particular, if the models underlying our AI Technologies are incorrectly designed or implemented; trained or reliant on incomplete, inadequate, inaccurate, biased or otherwise poor quality data or on data to which we do not have sufficient rights or in relation to which we and/or the providers of such data have not implemented sufficient legal compliance measures; used without sufficient oversight and governance to ensure their responsible use; and/or adversely impacted by unforeseen defects, technical challenges, cybersecurity threats or material performance issues, the performance of our products, services and business, as well as our reputation, and the reputations of our customers, could suffer or we could incur liability resulting from the violation of laws or contracts to which we are party or civil claims. Finally, the overall regulatory framework for AI Technologies is rapidly evolving as many federal, state and foreign government bodies and agencies have introduced, or are currently considering, additional laws and regulations. Additionally, existing laws and regulations may be interpreted in ways that would affect the operation of our AI Technologies. As a result, implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future.

 

If our information technology systems or data, or the third parties with whom we work, are or were compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse consequences, risks which are amplified by our work for world governments.

 

In the ordinary course of our business, we and the third parties with whom we work may process proprietary, confidential, and sensitive data, including personal data, and third-party intellectual property.

 

In conjunction with defense procurements, some international customers require contractors to comply with industrial cooperation regulations, including entering into industrial participation, industrial development or localization agreements, sometimes referred to as offset agreements or offset contracts, as a condition to obtaining orders for our products and services. These offset agreements generally extend over several years and obligate the contractor to perform certain commitments, which may include in-country purchases, technology transfers, local manufacturing support, consulting support to in-country projects, investments in joint ventures and financial support projects, and preference for local suppliers or subcontractors. The customer’s expectations in respect of the scope of offset commitments can be substantial, including high-value content, and may exceed existing local technical capability. Failure to meet these commitments, which can be subjective and outside of our control, may result in significant penalties, and could lead to a reduction in sales to a country. Furthermore, some of our existing offset agreements are dependent upon the successful operation of joint ventures that we do not control and involve products and services that are outside of our core business, which may increase the risk of breaching our obligations, exposing us to compliance risks of the joint venture, and impairing our ability to recover our investment. For more information on our industrial development obligations, including the notional value of our remaining industrial development obligations and potential penalties for non-compliance, see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Commitments”.

 

Cyberattacks, malicious internet-based activity, and online and offline fraud are prevalent and continue to increase. These threats are becoming increasingly difficult to detect and as a government contractor, these security threats are amplified. These threats come from a variety of sources, including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, personnel (such as through theft or misuse), “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, sophisticated nation-states, and nation-state-supported actors. Some actors now engage and are expected to continue to engage in cyberattacks, including without limitation nation-state actors for geopolitical reasons and in conjunction with military conflicts and defense activities. During times of war and other major conflicts, we and the third parties with whom we work may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of these attacks, including retaliatory cyberattacks that could materially disrupt our systems and operations, supply chain, and ability to produce, sell and distribute our products. We and the third parties with whom we work may be subject to a variety of other evolving threats, including, but not limited to, social-engineering attacks (including through deep fakes, which may be increasingly more difficult to identify as fake, and phishing attacks), malicious code (such as viruses and worms), malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), denial-of-service attacks, credential stuffing, credential harvesting, personnel misconduct or error, ransomware attacks, supply chain attacks, software bugs, server malfunctions, software or hardware failures, loss of data or other information technology assets, adware, telecommunications failures, attacks enhanced or facilitated by artificial intelligence, and other similar threats. In particular, ransomware attacks, including those from organized criminal threat actors, nation-states and nation-state supported actors, are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe and can lead to significant interruptions, delays, or outages in our operations, ability to provide our products and services, loss of data, loss of income, significant extra expenses to restore data or systems, reputational loss and the diversion of funds. To alleviate the financial, operational and reputational impact of a ransomware attack, it may be preferable to make extortion payments, but we may be unwilling or unable to do so (including, for example, if applicable laws prohibit such payments).

 

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Additionally, hybrid and remote work has become more common and has increased risks to our information technology systems and data, as more of our employees utilize network connections, computers, and devices outside our premises or network, including working at home, while in transit, and in public locations. Future or past business transactions (such as acquisitions or integrations) could also expose us to additional cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, as our systems could be negatively affected by vulnerabilities present in acquired or integrated entities’ systems and technologies. Furthermore, we may discover security issues that were not found during due diligence of such acquired or integrated entities, and it may be difficult to integrate companies into our information technology environment and security program.

 

We rely upon third parties and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts, including, without limitation, cloud-based infrastructure, encryption and authentication technology, employee email, and other functions. Our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place. While we may be entitled to damages if the third parties with whom we work fail to satisfy their privacy or security-related obligations to us, any award may be insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award. In addition, supply chain attacks have increased in frequency and severity, and we cannot guarantee that third parties’ infrastructure in our supply chain or that of the third parties with whom we work have not been compromised. We may share or receive sensitive information with or from third parties.

 

While we have implemented security measures designed to protect against security incidents, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective. We take steps designed to detect, mitigate and remediate vulnerabilities in our information security systems (such as our hardware and/or software, including that of third parties with whom we work), but we may not be able to detect, mitigate, and remediate all such vulnerabilities including on a timely basis. It may also be difficult and/or costly to detect, investigate, mitigate, contain, and remediate a security incident. Further, we may experience delays in developing and deploying remedial measures and patches designed to address identified vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities could be exploited and result in a security incident. Actions taken by us or the third parties with whom we work to detect, investigate, mitigate, contain, and remediate a security incident could result in outages, data losses, and disruptions of our business. Threat actors may also gain access to other networks and systems after a compromise of our networks and systems.

 

Any of the previously identified or similar threats could cause a security incident or other interruption that could result in unauthorized, unlawful, or accidental acquisition, modification, destruction, loss, alteration, encryption, disclosure of, or access to our sensitive information or our information technology systems, or those of the third parties with whom we work. A security incident or other interruption could disrupt our ability (and that of third parties with whom we work) to provide our products and services. We may expend significant resources or modify our business activities to try to protect against security incidents. Certain data privacy and security obligations require us to implement and maintain specific industry-standard or otherwise reasonable security measures to protect our information technology systems and sensitive information.

 

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Applicable data security and public company disclosure obligations may require us, or we may voluntarily choose, to notify relevant stakeholders of certain security incidents, including affected individuals, customers, regulators and investors, or to take other actions, such as providing credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. Such disclosures and related actions can be costly, and the disclosures or the failure to comply with such applicable requirements, could lead to adverse consequences. If we (or a third party with whom we work) experience a security incident or are perceived to have experienced a security incident, we may experience adverse consequences. These consequences may include: government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal data); litigation (including class claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; reputational harm; monetary fund diversions; diversion of management attention; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss and other similar harms.

 

Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations. In addition, our insurance coverage may not be adequate or sufficient to protect us from or to mitigate liabilities arising out of our privacy and security practices or that such coverage will continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that such coverage will pay future claims.

 

In addition to experiencing a security incident, third parties may gather, collect, or infer sensitive information about us from public sources, data brokers, or other means that reveals competitively sensitive details about our organization and could be used to undermine our competitive advantage or market position. Sensitive information of us or our customers could also be leaked, disclosed, or revealed as a result of or in connection with our employee’s, personnel’s, or vendor’s with whom we work use of generative AI Technologies.

 

Our commercial aviation products, systems and services businesses are affected by global demand and economic factors that could negatively impact our financial results.

 

The operating results of our commercial aviation products, systems and services businesses – particularly our Electric Air Mobility and Avionics segments – have been and may in the future be adversely affected by downturns in the global demand for air travel, which impacts new aircraft production and orders, and global flying hours, which impacts air transport, regional and business aircraft utilization rates and pilot training needs. The aviation industry is highly cyclical, and the level of demand for air travel is correlated to the strength of the U.S. and international economies and is impacted by long-term trends in airline passenger and cargo traffic. The results of our commercial aviation businesses also depend on other factors, including general economic growth, political stability in both developed and emerging markets, pricing pressures, trends in capital goods markets and changes in OEM production rates.

 

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Extreme weather, natural disasters and other adverse events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, winter snowstorms or earthquakes, can cause flight cancellations or significant delays. Cancellations or delays due to adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, air traffic control problems or inefficiencies, breaches in security or other factors may affect us to a greater degree than our competitors who may be able to recover more quickly from these events, and therefore could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition to a greater degree than other air carriers.

 

The sizes of the markets for our current and future solutions may be smaller than we estimate.

 

Our estimates of the total addressable market for our current products and services are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates. While we believe our assumptions and the data underlying our estimates are reasonable, these assumptions and estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates may change at any time, thereby reducing the predictive accuracy of these underlying factors. As a result, our estimates of the total addressable market for our current or future products and services may prove to be incorrect. If the actual number of customers who will use our products and services, the price at which we can sell our products and services or the total addressable market for our products and services is smaller than we have estimated, it may impair our sales growth and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The market for eVTOL aircraft and electric air mobility has not been clearly defined, is still emerging and may not achieve the growth potential we expect or may grow more slowly than expected, which may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The electric air mobility market is still emerging and has not been clearly defined. We are uncertain as to what extent market acceptance will grow, if at all. Our customers will likely initially launch operations in a limited number of metropolitan areas. The success of these markets, if any, and the opportunity for future growth in these and other markets may not be representative of the potential market for electric air mobility in other metropolitan areas. Our success will depend to a substantial extent on regulatory approval and availability of eVTOL technology, as well as the willingness of commuters and travelers to widely adopt air mobility as an alternative for ground transportation. If the public does not perceive electric air mobility as beneficial, or chooses not to adopt electric air mobility as a result of concerns regarding safety, affordability, value proposition or for other reasons, then the market for our aircraft may not develop, may develop more slowly than we expect or may not achieve the growth potential we expect. Any of the foregoing could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, prospects, and results of operations.

 

We are still developing our eVTOL aircraft, have not yet obtained FAA certification of our eVTOL aircraft under development and we have yet to manufacture or deliver any aircraft to customers, which makes evaluating our business and future prospects difficult and increases the risk of investment.

 

We have a limited operating history in designing, developing, and working to certify an eVTOL aircraft. Our eVTOL aircraft is in the development stage, and we do not expect our first passenger production aircraft to be certified by the TCCA under existing CAR 529 Transport Category Rotorcraft airworthiness rules until 2031 or later and certification of our 33% scaled cargo version to be certified under drone rules until 2027 or later. As a result, we have no experience as an organization in volume manufacturing of aircraft. Many of our current and potential competitors are larger and have substantially greater resources than we currently have or expect to have in the future. As a result, those competitors may be able to allocate greater resources to the development of their current and future technologies, the promotion and sale of their offerings, and/or offer their technologies at lower prices. Notably, our competitors may be able to receive Type, Airworthiness or Production certification from the FAA covering their eVTOL aircraft prior to us receiving such certifications. Our current and potential competitors may also establish cooperative or strategic relationships amongst themselves or with third parties that may further enhance their resources and offerings. Further, it is possible that domestic or foreign companies or governments, some with greater experience in the aerospace industry or greater financial resources than we possess, will seek to provide products or services that compete directly or indirectly with ours in the future. Any such foreign competitor, for example, could benefit from subsidies from, or other protective measures by, its home country.

 

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We cannot assure you that we or our partners will successfully develop manufacturing and supply chain capabilities that will enable us to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and production standards, as well as the production volumes, required to successfully commercialize our aircraft.

 

There may be reluctance by consumers to adopt a new form of mobility, or an unwillingness to pay aircraft operators’ projected prices.

 

Our growth is highly dependent upon the adoption by consumers of an entirely new form of mobility offered by eVTOL aircraft and the electric air mobility market. If consumers do not adopt this new form of mobility or are not willing to pay the projected prices for the aerial ridesharing services provided by our customers, our prospects, financial condition and operating results will be harmed. This market is new, rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, additional competitors, evolving government regulation and industry standards, new aircraft announcements and changing consumer demands and behaviors. There may be heightened public skepticism of this nascent technology and its adopters. In particular, there could be negative public perception surrounding eVTOL aircraft, including the overall safety and the potential for injuries or death occurring as a result of accidents involving eVTOL aircraft, regardless of whether any such safety incidents involve our aircraft. Any of the foregoing risks and challenges could adversely affect our prospects, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Our success in a given market will depend on our customers’ ability to develop a network of passengers and accurately assess and predict passenger demand and price sensitivity. Demand and price sensitivity may fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including macroeconomic factors, quality of service, negative publicity, safety incidents, corporate reporting related to safety, quality of customer support, perceived political or geopolitical affiliations, or dissatisfaction with our products and offerings in general. If the operators of our aircraft fail to attract passengers or fail to accurately predict demand and price sensitivity, it could reduce demand for our aircraft and harm our financial performance.

 

In addition, while our aircraft will be operating within the existing aviation airspace and infrastructure, long-term continued adoption of electric air mobility will depend on operators’ ability to develop and operate vertiports in desirable locations in metropolitan locations. Developing and operating vertiport locations will require permits and approvals from federal, state, and local regulatory authorities and government bodies, and operation of our aircraft will depend on such permits and approvals. If our operators are prohibited, restricted, or delayed from developing and operating desirable vertiport locations, then demand for our aircraft could decline and our business could be adversely affected.

 

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We expect that a large driver of passenger demand for electric air mobility will be time savings when compared with alternative modes of transportation. Should operators of our aircraft be unable to deliver a sufficient level of time savings for passengers, or if expected time savings are impacted by delays or cancellations, it could reduce consumer demand and, in turn, demand for our aircraft. If demand does not materialize or falls, our business, financial conditions, prospects, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Operators of our aircraft may be unable to reduce end-user pricing over time at rates sufficient to stimulate demand for our aircraft, drive expected growth and accomplish planned production.

 

Operators of our aircraft may not be able to successfully reduce end-user pricing over time to increase demand, address new market segments and develop a significantly broader customer base. We expect that initial end-user pricing may be most applicable to relatively affluent consumers, and operators will need to address additional markets and expand their customer demographic in order to further grow their electric air mobility business. If operators are unable to meet their end-user pricing projections, then demand for our aircraft will decline and we will be unable to meet our production plans, resulting in an increase in our per-unit costs, adversely affecting our results of operations.

 

Our aircraft may not perform at the level we expect, and may have design or manufacturing deficiencies, such as higher than expected noise profiles, lower payloads than initially estimated, shorter ranges and/or shorter useful lives than we anticipate.

 

Our aircraft may contain defects in design or manufacture that may cause them not to perform as expected or that may require repair. For example, our aircraft may have a higher noise profile than we expect or carry a lower payload or have a shorter maximum battery range than we estimate. Our aircraft also use a substantial amount of software code to operate. Software products are inherently complex and often contain defects and errors when first introduced. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any such defects in these products prior to their use. While we have performed extensive testing, in some instances we are still relying on projections and models to validate the projected performance of our aircraft. To date, we have been unable to validate the performance of our aircraft over the expected lifetime of the aircraft.

 

Accidents or safety incidents involving eVTOL aircraft, us or our competitors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Test flying prototype aircraft is inherently risky, and accidents or incidents involving our aircraft are possible. Urban environments may present particular challenges to the operators of UAS, such as an increased risk of collisions resulting in property damage, injury or death. As the usage of UAS has increased, the danger of such collisions has increased. Any such occurrence would negatively impact our development, testing and certification efforts, and could result in re-design, certification delay and/or postponements or delays to the sales of our aircraft. In addition, such occurrences could significantly damage the reputation of and support for UAS in general.

 

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The operation of aircraft is subject to various risks, and we expect demand for our aircraft to be impacted by accidents or other safety issues regardless of whether such accidents or issues involve our aircraft. Such accidents or incidents could also have a material impact on our ability to obtain certification from the Civil Aviation Authorities for our aircraft, or to obtain such certification in a timely manner. Such events could impact confidence in a particular aircraft type or the air transportation services industry as a whole, particularly if such accidents or disasters were due to a safety fault. We believe that regulators and the general public are still forming their opinions about the safety and utility of aircraft that are highly reliant on lithium-ion batteries and/or advanced flight control software capabilities. An accident or other safety incident involving either our aircraft or a competitor’s aircraft during these early stages of opinion formation could have a disproportionate impact on the longer-term view of the emerging electric air mobility market.

 

Further, if our personnel, our aircraft or other types of aircraft are involved in a public incident, accident, catastrophe or regulatory enforcement action, we could be exposed to significant reputational harm and potential legal liability. The insurance we carry may be inapplicable or inadequate to cover any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action. In the event that our insurance is inapplicable or inadequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an incident or accident, which would adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

If we experience harm to our reputation and brand by customers, employees or operators, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Continuing to increase the strength of our reputation and brand for high-performing, sustainable, safe and cost-effective electric air mobility is critical to our ability to attract and retain customers and partners. In addition, our growth strategy includes international expansion through joint ventures or other partnerships with local companies that would benefit from our reputation and brand recognition. The successful development of our reputation and brand will depend on several factors, many of which are outside of our control. Negative perception of our aircraft or company may harm our reputation and brand, including as a result of:

 

complaints or negative publicity or reviews about us, independent third-party aircraft operators, passengers, or other brands or events that we associate with, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents;

 

our involvement during times of war and other major conflicts, including the current conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas;

 

changes to our operations, safety and security or other policies that customers, end-users or others perceive as overly restrictive, unclear or inconsistent with our values;

 

illegal, negligent, reckless or otherwise inappropriate behavior by operators or independent third parties involved in the operation of our business or by our management team or other employees;

 

actual or perceived disruptions or defects in our aircraft;

 

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litigation over, or investigations by regulators into, our operations or those of our independent third-party aircraft operators;

 

a failure to operate our business in a way that is consistent with our values;

 

negative responses by independent third-party aircraft operators to new mobility offerings; or

 

any of the foregoing with respect to our competitors, to the extent such resulting negative perception affects the public’s perception of us or our industry as a whole.

 

Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

In order to reach production for our aircraft, we need to develop complex software and technology systems in coordination with our partners and suppliers, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed.

 

We anticipate that our aircraft will use a substantial amount of sophisticated software and hardware to operate. The development of such advanced technologies is inherently complex, and we will need to coordinate with our partners and suppliers in order to reach production for our aircraft. Defects and errors may be revealed over time and our control over the performance of third-party services and systems may be limited. If any of our partners and suppliers fail to adequately fulfill their obligations towards us or experience interruptions or disruptions in production or provision of services due to, for example, bankruptcy, natural disasters, labor strikes or disruption of its supply chain, we may experience a significant delay in the delivery of or fail to receive previously ordered systems and parts, which would adversely affect our revenue and profitability and could jeopardize our ability to meet the demands of our program participants or develop the necessary software and technology systems may harm our competitive position.

 

We are relying on third-party partners to develop a number of emerging technologies for use in our products. These technologies are not currently, and may not ever be, commercially viable. There can be no assurances that our partners will be able to meet the technological requirements, production timing, and volume requirements to support our business plan. In addition, the technology may not comply with the cost, performance, useful life, and warranty characteristics that we anticipate in our business plan or may have performance problems related to mechanical or software defects. As a result, our business plan could be significantly adversely impacted, and we may incur significant liabilities under warranty claims, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, and results of operations.

 

We may not be able to produce aircraft in the volumes or on the timelines that we anticipate.

 

There are significant challenges associated with mass producing aircraft in the volumes that we are anticipating. The aerospace industry has traditionally been characterized by significant barriers to entry, including large capital requirements, investment costs of designing and manufacturing aircraft, long lead times to bring aircraft to market from the concept and design stage, the need for specialized design and development expertise, extensive regulatory requirements, difficulty establishing a brand name and image, and the need to establish maintenance and service locations. As a manufacturer of electric aircraft, we face a variety of added challenges to entry that a traditional aircraft manufacturer would not encounter, including additional costs of developing and producing an electric powertrain, regulations associated with the transport of lithium-ion batteries and unproven high-volume consumer demand for a fully electric aerial mobility service. Additionally, we are developing production lines for components and at volumes for which there is little precedent within the traditional aerospace industry. If we are not able to overcome these barriers, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition will be negatively impacted, and our ability to grow our business will be harmed.

 

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There can also be no assurance that our operator customers will not experience operational or process failures and other problems, including pilot error, cyberattacks or other intentional acts, that could result in potential safety risks. Any actual or perceived safety issues may result in significant reputational harm to the electric air mobility industry and, accordingly, our business, in addition to tort liability, increased safety infrastructure and other costs that may arise. Such issues could result in increased regulation or other systemic consequences. Adverse publicity affecting the industry and our reputation as a result of accidents, operational failures, or other safety incidents could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects, and results of operation. In addition, our aircraft may be grounded by regulatory authorities due to safety concerns that could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

 

We will also need to do extensive testing to ensure that the aircraft is in compliance with applicable TCCA safety regulations and other relevant regulations prior to beginning mass production. In addition to certification of the aircraft, we will be required to obtain TCCA approval to manufacture completed aircraft pursuant to a TCCA-approved type design (e.g., type certificate). Production approval involves initial TCCA manufacturing approval and extensive ongoing oversight of mass-produced aircraft. If we are unable to obtain production approval for the aircraft, or if TCCA imposes unanticipated restrictions as a condition of approval, our projected costs of production could increase substantially.

 

The timing of our production ramp is dependent upon finalizing certain aspects of the design, engineering, component procurement, testing, build out, and manufacturing plans in a timely manner and upon our ability to execute these plans within the current timeline. It is also dependent on being able to timely obtain TCCA certification. If we experience any delays in the execution of these plans or in obtaining TCCA certification, our business, prospectus, operating results and financial condition will be negatively impacted.

 

Risks Related to Our U.S. Government Contracts

 

We are subject to extensive government regulation, and our failure to comply with applicable regulations may subject us to significant financial liability, penalties, and other government actions that restrict our ability to conduct our business.

 

As a contractor to the U.S. government and provider of various technologies, we are subject to and must comply with various government regulations that impact our revenue, operating costs, profit margins and the internal organization and operation of our business. We also need special security clearances and regulatory approvals to continue working on certain projects with the U.S. government. Our failure to comply with applicable regulations, rules and approvals, changes in the government’s interpretation of such regulations, rules and approvals as have been and are applied to our contracts, proposals or business or misconduct by any of our employees could result in financial liability, the imposition of fines and penalties, the loss of security clearances, a decrease in profitability, the loss of our government contracts or our suspension or debarment from contracting with the U.S. government generally, any of which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We are also subject to certain regulations of comparable government agencies in other countries, and our failure to comply with these non-U.S. regulations could also harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

U.S. government agencies, including the FAA, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the Defense Contract Management Agency and various agency Inspectors General, routinely audit and investigate government contractors. These agencies review a contractor’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contract terms, regarding, among other things, contract pricing, contract performance, cost structure and business systems. U.S. government audits and investigations often take years to complete, and many result in no adverse action against us. Like many U.S. government contractors, we have received audit and investigative reports recommending the reduction of certain contract prices or that certain payments be repaid, delayed, or withheld, and may involve substantial amounts. Similarly, like other U.S. government contractors, audits and investigations also occur related to cost reimbursements that are based upon our final allowable incurred costs for each year. We have unaudited or unsettled incurred cost claims related to past years, which limits our ability to issue final billings on contracts for which authorized and appropriated funds may be expiring or can result in delays in final billings and our ability to close out a contract.

 

If an audit or investigation uncovers improper or illegal activities, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including reductions of the value of contracts, contract modifications or terminations, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, penalties, fines or suspension or debarment from doing business with the U.S. government. Suspension or debarment could have a material adverse effect on us because of our dependence on contracts with the U.S. government. In addition, we could suffer serious reputational harm if allegations of impropriety were made against us. Similar government oversight and risks to our business and reputation exist in most other countries where we conduct business.

 

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U.S. government contracts are frequently awarded only after formal, protracted competitive proposal processes and, in many cases, unsuccessful offerors for U.S. government contracts are provided the opportunity to protest contract awards through various agency, administrative and judicial channels. Competing for U.S. government contracts presents a number of risks, including the following:

 

  the need to bid on programs in advance of the completion of their design, which may result in unforeseen technological difficulties and cost overruns;

 

  the substantial cost and managerial time and effort that must be spent to prepare bids and proposals for contracts that may not be awarded to us;

 

  the need to estimate accurately the resources and cost structure that will be required to service any contract we are awarded; and

 

  the expense and delay that may arise if our competitors protest or challenge contract awards made to us pursuant to competitive bidding.

 

The U.S. military chooses winning proposals based on such factors as cost, certainty of fulfilling the needs of a specific task order, safety records, and other criteria stated in solicitations. For example, while our Training segment is an approved provider under U.S. military contracts with a limited number of competitors, the U.S. military periodically releases task order solicitations requesting specific services pursuant to a competitive process.

 

U.S. government contracts are subject to a competitive bidding process, are generally not fully funded at inception, and contain certain terms that may be unfavorable to us, which could result in contracts and opportunities consuming significant resources without generating revenue or profit.

 

U.S. government contracts typically involve long lead times for design and development, and are subject to significant changes in scheduling. Congress generally appropriates funds on a fiscal year basis even though a program may continue for several years. Consequently, programs are often only partially funded initially, and additional funds are committed only as Congress makes further appropriations. The termination or reduction of funding for a government program would result in a loss of anticipated future revenue attributable to that program. In addition, U.S. government contracts generally contain provisions permitting termination, in whole or in part, at the government’s convenience. Because a substantial majority of our revenue is dependent on the procurement, performance and payment under our U.S. government contracts, the termination of one or more critical government contracts could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

We rely to a significant degree on sales to the U.S. government, particularly to agencies of the DoD and a decline in government budgets, funding, changes in spending or budgetary priorities, or delays in contract awards may materially adversely affect our future revenue, business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and equity.

 

We derive a significant portion of our total sales from the U.S. government and its agencies, either as a prime contractor or subcontractor, particularly in connection with our Drones and Training segments. The DoD is our principal U.S. government customer. We believe that the success and growth of our business for the foreseeable future will continue to depend to a significant degree on our ability to win government contracts, in particular from the DoD. Additionally, the military and defense market is significantly dependent upon government budget trends, particularly the DoD budget. In addition to normal business risks, our supply of products to the U.S. government is subject to unique risks largely beyond our control. DoD budgets could be negatively impacted by several factors, including, but not limited to, a change in defense spending policy as a result of the presidential election or otherwise, the U.S. government’s budget deficits, spending priorities (for example, shifting funds to efforts to combat the impact of the pandemic or efforts to assist Ukraine in the Russia and Ukraine conflict), the cost of sustaining the U.S. military presence internationally, possible political pressure to reduce U.S. government military spending and the ability of the U.S. government to enact appropriations bills and other relevant legislation, each of which could cause the DoD budget to remain unchanged or to decline. In recent years, the U.S. government has been unable to complete its budget process before the end of its fiscal year, resulting in both governmental shutdowns and continuing resolutions providing only enough funds for U.S. government agencies to continue operating at prior- year levels. Further, if the U.S. government debt ceiling is not raised and the national debt reaches the statutory debt ceiling, the U.S. government could default on its debts. A significant decline in U.S. military expenditures could result in a reduction in the amount of our products sold to the various agencies and buying organizations of the U.S. government.

 

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The U.S. government may modify, curtail or terminate one or more of our contracts.

 

The U.S. government contracting party may modify, curtail or terminate its contracts with us, without prior notice and either at its convenience or for default based on performance. In addition, funding pursuant to our U.S. government contracts may be reduced or withheld as part of the U.S. Congressional appropriations process due to fiscal constraints, changes in U.S. national security strategy and/or priorities or other reasons. Historically, our Training segment has received some U.S. government contract funding under programs designed to benefit “small businesses” as defined under certain provisions of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) regulations. The SBA regulations address multiple different programs that have varying eligibility requirements. Moreover, the SBA regulations are subject to different interpretations, and the U.S. government may determine, under a changed interpretation, that we should no longer be classified as small. If the U.S. government made such a determination, it could terminate, cancel, or decide not to award options on existing agreements.

 

Any loss or anticipated loss or reduction of expected funding and/or modification, curtailment, or termination of one or more of our U.S. government contracts could have a material adverse effect on our earnings, cash flow and/or financial position, as well as our access to government testing facilities and/or our ability to secure pre-certification operating experience and/or revenues.

 

Our business may benefit in part from government funding, and our inability to receive such financial support could harm our business.

 

We may receive subsidies and grants from governments in some countries. These programs are subject to periodic review by the relevant governments, and if any of these programs are curtailed or discontinued, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. As the availability of government funding is outside our control, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to benefit from government support or that sufficient alternative funding will be available if we lose such support. For example, we previously entered into discussions with the federal and the provincial government of Quebec to provide funding for our aircraft development program and Quebec’s Minister of Economy and Innovation has conditionally agreed to financially support the program. The funding mechanisms have not yet been determined but it is anticipated that they would include grants and/or tax rebates. If we do not receive this funding, our aircraft development program could be adversely affected.

 

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Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Requirements

 

Many of our products and services are subject to local, state, federal and international regulatory frameworks that are costly to comply with, are subject to interpretation, may be dependent on political pressures and factors and/or are subject to change.

 

Many of the products we develop and manufacture are highly dependent on our ability to meet local, state, federal and international regulations. In particular, our ability to meet the certification requirements for our products in the United States and abroad could determine the ability to sell, deliver, and manufacture our products, and therefore, could impact our operating results. These regulations include design and manufacture of products and components. While a common framework exists among many regulatory authorities allowing for recognition of different regulatory approvals by other regulatory entities, often times there are differences that require additional validation to meet the requirements of a specific entity. The risk not only lies in the viability of a particular product but also the time to market. Delays in the process are not unusual and can lead to delays in bringing product to market. These delays could result in financial and competitive impacts on AIRO’s operations. For a description of the regulatory frameworks that apply to our products and services, see the section titled “Business— Government Regulation.”

 

Our business is highly regulated and our ability to generate revenues and profit may be limited by regulatory restrictions and/or changes and the speed with which such restrictions and/or changes occur.

 

Aerospace manufacturers and aircraft operators are subject to extensive regulatory and legal requirements that involve significant compliance costs. The Civil Aviation Authorities may issue regulations relating to the operation of aircraft that could require significant expenditures. Implementation of the requirements created by such regulations may result in increased costs for our electric air mobility passengers and us. Additional laws, regulations, taxes and airport rates and charges have been proposed from time to time that could significantly increase the cost of our operations or reduce the demand for air travel. If adopted, these measures could have the effect of raising fares, reducing revenue and increasing costs. Moreover, the nature of and the speed with which these regulations are completed and implemented pose a risk for our financial performance and condition, timing of growth and overall potential. As a result, we cannot ensure that these and other laws or regulations enacted in the future will not have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Governments and regulatory agencies in the markets where we manufacture and sell drone products may enact additional regulations relating to product safety and consumer protection in the future, and may also increase the penalties for failure to comply with product safety and consumer protection regulations. In addition, one or more of our customers might require changes in our products, such as the non-use of certain materials, in the future. Complying with any such additional regulations or requirements could impose increased costs on our business. Similarly, increased penalties for non-compliance could subject us to greater expenses in the event any of our products were found to not comply with such regulations. Such increased costs or penalties could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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We are subject to the risks associated with conducting international business operations.

 

In addition to our U.S. operations, we also have international operations in Canada and Denmark, sell our products and services to international dealers and customers, including foreign governments and engage in sales and marketing efforts in many foreign jurisdictions. In international sales, we face substantial competition from both U.S. manufacturers and international manufacturers whose governments sometimes provide R&D assistance, marketing subsidies and other assistance for their products and services. International sales present risks that are different and potentially greater than those encountered in our U.S. business. In 2023, a majority of our total net sales were from international customers. International sales are subject to numerous political and economic factors, including changes in foreign national priorities, foreign government budgets, global economic conditions, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the possibility of trade sanctions and other government actions, regulatory requirements, significant competition, taxation, and other risks associated with doing business outside the United States. Sales of military products and services and any associated industrial development (offset) agreements are subject to U.S. export regulations and foreign policy, and there could be significant delays or other issues in reaching definitive agreements for announced programs. See “—We cannot predict the consequences of future macroeconomic conditions or geopolitical events, but they may adversely affect market and economic conditions, the markets in which we operate, our ability to insure against risks, our operations or our profitability.”

 

Our international business is conducted through foreign military sales (“FMS”) contracted through the U.S. government and by direct commercial sales (“DCS”) to international customers. FMS contracts with the U.S. government are subject to the FAR and the DFARS. Because the U.S. government functions as an intermediary in FMS sales, we are reliant on the capacity and speed of the DoD’s administration of requests from non-U.S. countries to convert requests to sales. In contrast, DCS transactions represent sales directly to international customers and are subject to U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, including product testing, import-export control, economic sanctions, technology transfer restrictions, investments, taxation, repatriation of earnings, exchange controls, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws and regulations, and the anti-boycott provisions of the U.S. Export Control Reform Act of 2018. While we have extensive policies in place to comply with such laws and regulations, failure by us, our employees or others working on our behalf to comply with these laws and regulations could result in administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities, including suspension, debarment from bidding for or performing government contracts, or suspension of our export privileges, which could have a material adverse effect on us. We frequently team with international subcontractors and suppliers who also are exposed to similar risks.

 

We believe DCS transactions present a higher level of potential risks because they involve direct commercial relationships with parties with which we typically have less familiarity. Additionally, international procurement and local country rules and regulations, contract laws and judicial systems differ from those in the United States and, in some cases, may be less predictable than those in the United States, which could impair our ability to enforce contracts and increase the risk of adverse or unpredictable outcomes, including the possibility that certain matters that would be considered civil matters in the United States are treated as criminal matters in other countries.

 

Additionally, changes in regulatory, geopolitical, social, economic, or monetary policies and other factors, including those which may result from the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, if any, may have a material adverse effect on our business in the future, or may require us to exit a particular market or significantly modify our current business practices. Abrupt political change, terrorist activity and armed conflict pose a risk of general economic disruption in affected countries, including economic sanctions and export license requirements, which could also result in an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

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We and the third parties with whom we work are subject to stringent and evolving U.S. and foreign laws, regulations, and rules, contractual obligations, industry standards, policies and other obligations related to data privacy and security. Our (or the third parties with whom we work) actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could lead to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation (including class claims) and mass arbitration demands; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse business consequences.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, process) personal data and other sensitive information, including proprietary and confidential business data, intellectual property, and sensitive third-party data. Our data processing activities subject us to numerous data privacy and security obligations, such as various laws, regulations, guidance, industry standards, external and internal privacy and security policies, contractual requirements, and other obligations relating to data privacy and security.

 

In conjunction with defense procurements, some international customers require contractors to comply with industrial cooperation regulations, including entering into industrial participation, industrial development or localization agreements, sometimes referred to as offset agreements or offset contracts, as a condition to obtaining orders for our products and services. These offset agreements generally extend over several years and obligate the contractor to perform certain commitments, which may include in-country purchases, technology transfers, local manufacturing support, consulting support to in-country projects, investments in joint ventures and financial support projects, and preference for local suppliers or subcontractors. The customer’s expectations in respect of the scope of offset commitments can be substantial, including high-value content, and may exceed existing local technical capability. Failure to meet these commitments, which can be subjective and outside of our control, may result in significant penalties, and could lead to a reduction in sales to a country. Furthermore, some of our existing offset agreements are dependent upon the successful operation of joint ventures that we do not control and involve products and services that are outside of our core business, which may increase the risk of breaching our obligations, exposing us to compliance risks of the joint venture, and impairing our ability to recover our investment. For more information on our industrial development obligations, including the notional value of our remaining industrial development obligations and potential penalties for non-compliance, see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations.”

 

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In the United States, federal, state, and local governments have enacted numerous data privacy and security laws, including data breach notification laws, personal data privacy laws, consumer protection laws (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act), and other similar laws (e.g., wiretapping laws). In the past few years, numerous U.S. states—including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah—have enacted comprehensive privacy laws that impose certain obligations on covered businesses, including providing specific disclosures in privacy notices and affording residents with certain rights concerning their personal data. As applicable, such rights may include the right to access, correct, or delete certain personal data, and to opt-out of certain data processing activities, such as targeted advertising, profiling, and automated decision-making. The exercise of these rights may impact our business and ability to provide our products and services. Certain states also impose stricter requirements for processing certain personal data, including sensitive information, such as conducting data privacy impact assessments. These state laws allow for statutory fines for noncompliance. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) applies to personal data of consumers, business representatives, and employees who are California residents, and requires businesses to provide specific disclosures in privacy notices and honor requests of such individuals to exercise certain privacy rights. The CCPA provides for fines of up to $7,500 per intentional violation and allows private litigants affected by certain data breaches to recover significant statutory damages. Similar laws are being considered in several other states, as well as at the federal and local levels, and we expect more states to pass similar laws in the future.

 

Outside the United States, an increasing number of laws, regulations, and industry standards govern data privacy and security. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, the United Kingdom’s General Data Protection Regulation (collectively, the “GDPR”), and Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais) (Law No. 13,709/2018) impose strict requirements for processing personal data. In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and various related provincial laws, as well as Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, may apply to our operations.

 

Our employees and personnel use generative AI technologies to perform their work, and the disclosure and use of personal data in generative AI technologies is subject to various privacy laws and other privacy obligations. Governments have passed and are likely to pass additional laws regulating generative AI. Our use of this technology could result in additional compliance costs, regulatory investigations and actions, and lawsuits. If we are unable to use generative AI, it could make our business less efficient and result in competitive disadvantages. We use AI/machine learning to assist us in making certain decisions, which is regulated by certain privacy laws. Due to inaccuracies or flaws in the inputs, outputs, or logic of the AI/machine learning, the model could be biased and could lead us to make decisions that could bias certain individuals (or classes of individuals), and adversely impact their rights, employment, and ability to obtain certain pricing, products, services, or benefits.

 

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In the ordinary course of business, we may transfer personal data from Europe and other jurisdictions to the United States or other countries. Europe and other jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring data to be localized or limiting the transfer of personal data to other countries. In particular, the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) and the United Kingdom (the “UK”) have significantly restricted the transfer of personal data to the United States and other countries whose privacy laws it generally believes are inadequate. Other jurisdictions may adopt similarly stringent interpretations of their data localization and cross-border data transfer laws. Although there are currently various mechanisms that may be used to transfer personal data from the EEA and the United Kingdom to the United States in compliance with law, such as the EEA standard contractual clauses, the UK’s International Data Transfer Agreement / Addendum, and the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and the UK extension thereto (which allows for transfers to relevant U.S.-based organizations who self-certify compliance and participate in the Framework), these mechanisms are subject to legal challenges, and there is no assurance that we can satisfy or rely on these measures to lawfully transfer personal data to the United States. If there is no lawful manner for us to transfer personal data from the EEA, the United Kingdom or other jurisdictions to the United States, or if the requirements for a legally-compliant transfer are too onerous, we could face significant adverse consequences, including the interruption or degradation of our operations, the need to relocate part of or all of our business or data processing activities to other jurisdictions (such as Europe) at significant expense, increased exposure to regulatory actions, substantial fines and penalties, the inability to transfer data and work with partners, vendors and other third parties, and injunctions against our processing or transferring of personal data necessary to operate our business. Additionally, companies that transfer personal data out of the EEA and the United Kingdom to other jurisdictions, particularly to the United States, are subject to increased scrutiny from regulators, individual litigants, and activist groups. Some European regulators have ordered certain companies to suspend or permanently cease certain transfers out of Europe for allegedly violating the GDPR’s cross-border data transfer limitations.

 

In addition to data privacy and security laws, we are contractually subject to industry standards adopted by industry groups and, we are, or may become subject to such obligations in the future. We are also bound by contractual obligations related to data privacy and security, and our efforts to comply with such obligations may not be successful. We publish privacy policies, marketing materials and other statements regarding data privacy and security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair, or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators or other adverse consequences.

 

Obligations related to data privacy and security (and consumers’ data privacy expectations) are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating uncertainty. Additionally, these obligations may be subject to differing applications and interpretations, which may be inconsistent or conflict among jurisdictions. Preparing for and complying with these obligations requires us to devote significant resources, which may necessitate changes to our services, information technologies, systems, and practices and to those of any third parties that process personal data on our behalf. We may at times fail (or be perceived to have failed) in our efforts to comply with our data privacy and security obligations. Moreover, despite our efforts, our personnel or third parties with whom we work may fail to comply with such obligations, which could negatively impact our business operations.

 

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If we or the third parties with whom we work fail, or are perceived to have failed, to address or comply with applicable data privacy and security obligations, we could face significant consequences, including but not limited to: government enforcement actions (e.g., investigations, fines, penalties, audits, inspections, and similar); litigation (including class-action claims) and mass arbitration demands; additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; bans or restrictions on processing personal data; and orders to destroy or not use personal data. In particular, plaintiffs have become increasingly active in bringing privacy-related claims against companies, including class claims and mass arbitration demands. Some of these claims allow for the recovery of statutory damages on a per violation basis, and, if viable, carry the potential for monumental statutory damages, depending on the volume of data and the number of violations. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, or financial condition, including but not limited to, loss of customers; inability to process personal data or to operate in certain jurisdictions; limited ability to develop or commercialize our products; expenditure of time and resources to defend any claim or inquiry; adverse publicity; or substantial changes to our business model or operations.

 

Our international operations require us to comply with U.S. and certain foreign anti-corruption laws and regulations, export and import controls, economic sanctions and embargoes. We could face liability and other serious consequences for violations, which could materially adversely affect our business and reputation.

 

We are subject to anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act and other state and national anti-bribery laws in the countries in which we currently conduct activities, as well as those of any countries in which we may conduct activities in the future. Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and generally prohibit companies and their employees, agents, contractors and other third-party collaborators from offering, promising, giving, soliciting, receiving, or authorizing others to give, solicit, or receive anything of value, either directly or indirectly through third parties, to any person in the public or private sector to obtain or retain business. The FCPA also requires public companies to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. We may engage third parties to sell our products or to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations, and other regulatory approvals outside the United States. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our employees, agents, contractors, and other partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have actual knowledge of such activities. Any violation of the laws and regulations described above may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties, imprisonment, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm, and other consequences.

 

We are also subject to export control and import laws and regulations and economic and financial sanctions and trade embargoes, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Customs regulations, and various economic and financial trade sanctions regulations administered and enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the EU and other relevant export controls and sanctions authorities.

 

Pursuant to these laws and regulations, we are required, among other things, to (i) maintain a registration under the ITAR (which controls the export of defense-related items and services), (ii) determine the proper licensing jurisdiction and export classification of products, software, and technology under U.S., EU and other applicable laws, and (iii) obtain licenses or other forms of government authorization to engage in the conduct of our business. Furthermore, U.S. export control laws and economic sanctions prohibit the provision of certain products and services to countries, governments and persons targeted by U.S. sanctions. EU sanctions and export controls operate in a similar manner. Changes in U.S., EU or foreign trade control laws and regulations, or reclassifications of our products or technologies, may restrict our operations. Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements regarding the export of our products may create delays in the introduction of our products in international markets or, in some cases, prevent the export of our products to some countries altogether. The inability to secure and maintain necessary licenses and other authorizations could negatively impact our ability to compete successfully or to operate our business as planned. Any changes in export control laws and regulations or U.S., EU and other government licensing policy may restrict our operations. For example, given the great discretion the government has in issuing or denying such authorizations to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, there can be no assurance we will be successful in our future efforts to secure and maintain necessary licenses, registrations, or other U.S. government regulatory approvals.

 

Although we maintain written policies, and have implemented procedures and safeguards, that are reasonably designed to maintain compliance with export controls, import laws, and economic and financial sanctions, there is no certainty that all of our employees or agents for which we may be held responsible, suppliers, manufacturers, contractors or collaborators, or those of our affiliates, will comply with all applicable anti-corruption, export and import control, and sanctions laws and regulations. Our global operations expose us to the risk of violating, or being accused of violating, economic and trade sanctions laws and regulations. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in significant penalties, including: civil fines; criminal sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees; imprisonment; the closing down of facilities, including those of our suppliers and manufacturers; disgorgement of profits; injunctions and debarment from government contracts; requirements to obtain export licenses; cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries; implementation of compliance programs; and prohibitions on the conduct of our business. Any such violations could include prohibitions on our ability to offer our products in one or more countries, as well as difficulties in manufacturing or continuing to develop our products, and could materially adversely affect our reputation, our brand, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, and our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.

 

We may be unable to source and sell our products profitably or at all if new trade protections are imposed or existing protections become more burdensome.

 

The United States and the countries in which our products are produced or sold have imposed and may impose additional quotas, duties, tariffs, or other measures, or may adversely adjust prevailing quota, duty, or tariff levels. Such actions could have an adverse effect on our financial statements for the period or periods for which the applicable final determinations are made. Countries impose, modify, and remove tariffs and other trade measures in response to a diverse array of factors, including global and national economic and political conditions, which make it impossible for us to predict future developments regarding tariffs, customs, and other trade measures. Trade protections, including tariffs, quotas, safeguards, duties, and customs restrictions, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of products available to us, could increase shipping times, or may require us to modify our supply chain organization or other current business practices, any of which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

 

If we fail to protect, or incur significant costs in defending or enforcing, our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed.

 

Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights. We rely primarily on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition laws, as well as license agreements and other contractual provisions, to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights. In addition, a portion of our technology is not patented, and we may be unable or may not seek to obtain patent protection for this technology. In addition, the U.S. government has licenses for certain of our patents and certain other intellectual property that are developed or used in performance of government contracts, and it may use or authorize others to use such patents and intellectual property for government and other purposes. We co-own, with Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali Spca, US patents 9,983,023; 10,782,146; and 11,639,858, which describe technology related to determining angle of attack of an aircraft without a dedicated angle of attack sensor. As co-owner, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali Spca may make, use, sell, offer for sale, or import the technology protected by these patents or authorize others to do so. If Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali Spca chooses to compete with us or sells any or all of these patents and/or grants licenses to any or all of such patents to our competitors, we would not be able to enforce our rights to the technology protected by these patents against such lawful owners or licensees. A subset of our patents are co-owned, and our co-owner may use or authorize others to use technology protected by such patents. Moreover, existing U.S. legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights offer only limited protection, may not provide us with any competitive advantages, and our rights may be challenged by third parties. The laws of countries other than the United States may be even less protective of our intellectual property rights. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may be unable to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating our intellectual property or otherwise gaining access to our technology. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer our products or portions of our products or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property. Moreover, many of our employees have access to our trade secrets and other intellectual property. If one or more of these employees leave our employment to work for one of our competitors, then they may disseminate this proprietary information despite our established procedures and policies to prevent such dissemination, which may as a result damage our competitive position. If we fail to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, then our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially harmed.

 

In addition, affirmatively defending our intellectual property rights and investigating whether any of our products or services violate the rights of others may entail significant expense. Our intellectual property rights may be challenged by others or invalidated through administrative processes or litigation. If we resort to legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the intellectual property or other proprietary rights of others, then the proceedings could result in significant expense to us and divert the attention and efforts of our management and technical employees, even if we prevail.

 

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We may be sued by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights, which could be costly, time-consuming and limit our ability to use certain technologies in the future.

 

We may become subject to claims that our technologies infringe upon the intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties. Defending against, or otherwise addressing, any such claims, whether they are with or without merit, could be time-consuming and expensive, and could divert our management’s attention away from the execution of our business plan. Moreover, any settlement or adverse judgment resulting from these claims could require us to pay substantial amounts or obtain a license to continue to use the disputed technology, or otherwise restrict or prohibit our use of the technology. We cannot ensure that we would be able to: obtain from the third party asserting the claim a license on commercially reasonable terms, if at all; develop alternative technology on a timely basis, if at all; or obtain a license to use a suitable alternative technology to permit us to continue offering, and our customers to continue using, our affected product. An adverse determination also could prevent us from offering our products to others. Infringement claims asserted against us may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Tax and Accounting Matters

 

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain tax credit carryforwards may be subject to limitation.

 

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had aggregate U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $79.0 million and $67.3 million, respectively, which may be available to offset future taxable income for U.S. income tax purposes. If not utilized, a portion of the net operating loss carryforwards may expire. Under Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) an “ownership change” may limit the amount of our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and certain other pre-change tax attributes that could be utilized annually to offset our future taxable income, if any. This limitation would generally apply in the event of a cumulative change in the equity ownership of certain stockholders of our company of more than 50 percentage points within a rolling three-year period. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, ownership changes as a result of shifts in our stock ownership. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change U.S. net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes to offset U.S. taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us. Sales of our common stock by our existing stockholders or additional sales of our common stock by us could further limit our ability to use our U.S. net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in future years. Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply to limit our use of accumulated state tax net operating losses. Net operating losses arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 are not subject to expiration, but may not be carried back to prior taxable years, except that net operating losses generated in 2018, 2019 and 2020 may be carried back five taxable years. Additionally, the deductibility of such U.S. federal net operating losses is limited to no more than 80% of our taxable income (with certain adjustments) in any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2020.

 

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We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to effectively remediate these material weaknesses, identify additional material weaknesses in the future, or otherwise fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, then we may not be able to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect our business.

 

Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Any failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could cause us to fail to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations to meet our reporting obligations. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

In 2024, we identified a material weakness due to ineffective information and communication controls, resulting in lack of timely identification and accounting for certain debt and other agreements. In 2023, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. As further discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” we acquired six subsidiaries during the first two fiscal quarters of 2022. Several of these subsidiaries did not have adequate personnel to manage their accounting functions and did not maintain a segregation of duties between different roles at their organizations. In addition, in the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements for the periods in which the acquisitions occurred, we did not have an effective risk assessment process that successfully identified and assessed risks of material misstatement to ensure controls were designed and implemented to respond to those risks, and we did not have an effective monitoring process to assess the consistent operation of internal control over financial reporting and remediate known control deficiencies. As a result of these deficiencies, we did not effectively implement and operate process-level control activities related to the accounting and reporting for the six acquisitions, including the fair value of our common stock issued in certain of the transactions, resulting in the restatement of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022, the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the six-month period ended June 30, 2023 and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. Due to the delays we have experienced in securing funding, we have not been able to hire and train sufficient staff at certain subsidiaries to remediate the previously identified material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

 

While we have made changes to our accounting processes and other internal controls and engaged additional accounting personnel in an effort to remediate the foregoing material weaknesses and in preparation for operating as a public company, we cannot assure that the measures we have taken to date, actions we continue to take, and actions we may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the control deficiencies that led to these material weaknesses and restatement of our consolidated financial statements or to avoid potential future material weaknesses. If the steps we take do not correct the material weaknesses in a timely manner, we will be unable to conclude that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, there could continue to be a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our consolidated financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

If we fail to remediate our existing material weaknesses or identify new material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner, if we are unable to conclude that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting when we are no longer an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our common stock could be negatively affected. As a result of such failures, we could also become subject to investigations by Nasdaq, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or other regulatory authorities, and become subject to litigation from investors and stockholders, which could harm our reputation and financial condition or divert financial and management resources from our regular business activities.

 

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A failure to establish and maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, could adversely affect our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations.

 

As a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations of the applicable listing standards of Nasdaq. We expect that the requirements of these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal, accounting, and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time consuming, and costly, and place significant strain on our personnel, systems, and resources.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act, is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal controls over financial reporting. For example, as we have prepared to become a public company, we have worked to improve controls around our key accounting processes and quarterly close process. To maintain and enhance the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, we anticipate allocating significant resources, including accounting-related costs and investments, to strengthen our accounting systems.

 

Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in our business. In addition, changes in accounting principles or interpretations could also challenge our internal controls and require that we establish new business processes, systems, and controls to accommodate such changes. We have limited experience with implementing the systems and controls that will be necessary to operate as a public company, as well as adopting changes in accounting principles or interpretations mandated by the relevant regulatory bodies. Additionally, if these new systems, controls or standards and the associated process changes do not give rise to the benefits that we expect or do not operate as intended, it could adversely affect our financial reporting systems and processes, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial reports or the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Moreover, our business may be harmed if we experience problems with any new systems and controls that result in delays in their implementation or increased costs to correct any post-implementation issues that may arise.

 

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Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our consolidated financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting also could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we may not be able to remain listed on Nasdaq. We are not currently required to comply with the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. As a public company, we will be required to provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with our second annual report on Form 10-K.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our internal control over financial reporting is documented, designed or operating. Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition and could cause a decline in the trading price of our common stock.

 

Our corporate structure and intercompany arrangements are subject to the tax laws of various jurisdictions, which are subject to change, and we could be obligated to pay additional taxes, which would harm our results of operations.

 

We are or may be subject to income and non-income taxation in the United States under federal, state, and local jurisdictions and in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. The amount of taxes we pay in these jurisdictions could increase substantially as a result of changes in the applicable tax principles, including increased tax rates, new or revised tax laws or revised interpretations of existing tax laws (which may have retroactive effect), policies and precedents by taxing authorities and courts in various jurisdictions. The authorities in these jurisdictions could review our tax returns or require us to file tax returns in jurisdictions in which we are not currently filing and could impose additional tax, interest and penalties. In addition, the authorities could claim that various withholding requirements apply to us or our subsidiaries, assert that benefits of tax treaties are not available to us or our subsidiaries, or challenge our methodologies for valuing developed technology or intercompany arrangements, including our transfer pricing. The relevant taxing authorities may determine that the manner in which we operate our business does not achieve the intended tax consequences. If such a determination were to be made, we could be required to pay additional taxes and interest and penalties. Any increase in the amount of taxes we pay or that are imposed on us could increase our worldwide effective tax rate and harm our business and results of operations.

 

Future changes in financial accounting standards or practices may cause adverse and unexpected revenue fluctuations and adversely affect our reported results of operations.

 

Future changes in financial accounting standards may cause adverse, unexpected revenue fluctuations and affect our reported financial position or results of operations. Financial accounting standards in the United States are constantly under review and new pronouncements and varying interpretations of pronouncements have occurred with frequency in the past and are expected to occur again in the future. As a result, we may be required to make changes in our accounting policies. Those changes could affect our financial condition and results of operations or the way in which such financial condition and results of operations are reported. Compliance with new accounting standards may also result in additional expenses. As a result, we intend to invest all reasonably necessary resources to comply with evolving standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from business activities to compliance activities. See the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent Accounting Pronouncements.” As an emerging growth company, the JOBS Act allows us to delay adoption of new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are made applicable to private companies. We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards and as a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. However, we may elect to early adopt any new or revised accounting standards whenever such early adoption is permitted for non-public companies. We may take advantage of these exemptions up until the time that we are no longer an emerging growth company.

 

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Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

As a result of our history of losses and negative cash flows from operations, our audited consolidated financial statements contain a statement regarding a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our history of operating losses and negative cash flows from operations combined with our anticipated use of cash to fund operations raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the 12-month period from the date when our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus are issued. Our future viability as an ongoing business is dependent on our ability to generate cash from our operating activities or to raise additional capital to finance our operations.

 

If we are unable to raise additional capital as and when needed, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected, and we may be forced to delay our development efforts, limit our activities and reduce research and development costs. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate our assets, and the values we receive for our assets in liquidation or dissolution could be significantly lower than the values reflected in our financial statements. The inclusion of a going concern explanatory paragraph by our independent registered public accounting firm, our lack of cash resources and our potential inability to continue as a going concern may materially adversely affect our share price, following the completion of this offering and receiving approval for listing on Nasdaq, and our ability to raise new capital, enter into contractual relationships with third parties and otherwise execute our business strategy.

 

An active trading market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained.

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We have applied to list our common stock on Nasdaq under the symbol “AIRO.” An active trading market for our shares may never develop or be sustained after the closing of this offering. In addition, the initial price for our common stock in this offering was determined through negotiations with the underwriters and may vary from the market price of our common stock after the closing of this offering. The lack of an active market may impair the value of your shares, your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them and the prices that you may obtain for your shares. Further, an inactive trading market for our shares may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares of our common stock or enter into strategic partnerships and transactions by issuing our shares of common stock as consideration. If an active trading market for our common stock does not develop, or is not sustained, you may not be able to sell your shares quickly or at the market price, or at all, and it may be difficult for you to sell your shares without depressing the market price for our common stock.

 

The trading price of our common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

The trading price of our common stock after the closing of this offering is likely to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including limited trading volume. In addition to the factors discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus, these factors include:

 

announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors;

 

our ability to effectively manage our growth;

 

actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results;

 

our cash position;

 

our failure to meet the estimates and projections of the investment community or that we may otherwise provide to the public;

 

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changes in the market valuations of similar companies;

 

overall performance of the equity markets;

 

sales of our common stock by us or our stockholders in the future;

 

low trading volume of our common stock, which may impair our ability to raise capital or enter into strategic collaborations and acquisitions by using our common stock as consideration;

 

changes in accounting practices;

 

ineffectiveness of our internal controls;

 

disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies;

 

significant lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation;

 

general political and economic conditions; and

 

other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for aerospace and defense companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors, as well as local or global socio-economic and political factors, including the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. If the market price of our common stock after the closing of this offering does not exceed the price you paid for them, you may not realize any return on your investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. This type of litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.

 

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock so any returns will be limited to the value of our stock.

 

We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, future debt or other financing arrangements may contain terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our common stock. Any return to stockholders will therefore be limited to the appreciation of their stock. See the section titled “Dividend Policy” for additional information.

 

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Our principal stockholders and management will own a significant percentage of our stock after the closing of this offering and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.

 

Based on shares outstanding as of                 and immediately following the closing of this offering, our executive officers, directors, director nominees and their affiliates, as well as our principal stockholders will beneficially hold, in the aggregate, approximately                % of our outstanding voting stock, excluding any shares purchased in this offering. These stockholders, acting together, would be able to significantly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders would be able to significantly influence elections of directors, amendments of our governing documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.

 

Our management team has limited experience managing a public company.

 

Most of the members of our management team have limited to no experience managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team has not worked together at prior companies that were publicly traded. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage their new roles and responsibilities. Our transition to being a public company subjects it to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Future issuances of debt or equity securities may adversely affect us, including the market price of our common stock, and may be dilutive to existing stockholders.

 

In the future, we may incur debt or issue equity-ranking senior to our common stock. Those securities will generally have priority upon liquidation. Such securities also may be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. Because our decision to issue debt or equity in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, nature or success of our future capital raising efforts. As a result, future capital raising efforts may reduce the market price of our common stock and be dilutive to existing stockholders.

 

Any issuance of additional capital stock in connection with financings, acquisitions, investments, our stock incentive plan, employee stock purchase plan or otherwise will dilute all other stockholders.

 

We expect to issue additional capital stock in the future that will result in dilution to all other stockholders. We expect to grant equity awards to employees, directors, and consultants under our stock incentive plan and employee stock purchase plan. We may also raise capital through equity financings in the future. As part of our business strategy, we may acquire or make investments in complementary companies, products, or technologies and issue equity securities to pay for any such acquisition or investment. Any such issuances of additional capital stock, including as a result of the exercise of any warrants to purchase shares of common stock, may cause stockholders to experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per share value of our common stock to decline.

 

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A significant portion of our total outstanding shares are eligible to be sold into the market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

 

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of stockholders intend to sell shares of our common stock, could reduce the market price of our common stock. After the closing of this offering, we will have                shares of common stock outstanding. This includes the shares that we are selling in this offering, which may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction, unless purchased by our affiliates. Substantially all of the remaining               shares of common stock initially will be restricted as a result of securities laws, market standoff provisions or lock-up agreements, but will become eligible to be sold after the closing of this offering as described in the section titled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.”

 

Moreover, after the closing of this offering, holders of an aggregate of               shares of common stock will have rights, subject to specified conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders, until such shares can otherwise be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or until the rights terminate pursuant to the terms of the stockholders agreement between us and such holders. We also intend to register all shares of common stock subject to equity awards issued or reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans on a registration statement on Form S-8. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and the market standoff provisions and lock-up agreements described above. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a negative impact on the trading price of our common stock.

 

If you purchase common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.

 

The initial public offering price of our common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Net tangible book value represents the amount by which our total assets (net of goodwill, right-of-use operating lease assets and deferred offering costs) exceed our liabilities. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $              per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), you will experience immediate dilution of $                per share as of December 31, 2024 representing the difference between our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share, after giving effect to this offering and the assumed initial public offering price. This dilution is due to our investors who purchased shares prior to this offering having paid a price for their shares that is substantially less than the price offered to the public in this offering, as well as the exercise of stock options granted to our employees. To the extent any outstanding options are exercised, you will experience further dilution. As a result of this dilution, investors purchasing stock in this offering may receive significantly less than the full purchase price that they paid for the shares purchased in this offering in the event of a liquidation. See the section titled “Dilution” for additional information.

 

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Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our stockholders in the public market after this offering could cause the market price for our common stock to decline.

 

The sale of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

 

Pursuant to our 2025 Plan, which will become effective in connection with this offering, our management is authorized to grant stock options and other equity-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants. Additionally, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2025 Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year, beginning on January 1, 2026 and continuing through and including January 1, 2035, by               % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by our board of directors. In addition, pursuant to our ESPP, which will become effective in connection with this offering, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year, beginning on January 1, 2026 (through January 1, 2035), by the lesser of (i)                 % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last day of the calendar month before the date of the automatic increase, and (ii)                 shares; provided that before the date of any such increase, our board of directors may determine that such increase will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (i) and (ii). Unless our board of directors elects not to increase the number of shares available for future grant each year, our stockholders may experience additional dilution, which could cause our stock price to fall.

 

In addition, up to         shares of our common stock may be issued upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of the Underwriters’ Warrants (see “Underwriting—Underwriters’ Warrants”).

 

In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of our securities issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to our stockholders.

 

We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and may remain an emerging growth company until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of this offering. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include, but are not limited to:

 

being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this prospectus;

 

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not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

not being required to comply with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements;

 

the ability to elect to defer compliance with new or revised accounting standards until such standards would apply to private companies;

 

reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and

 

exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

We have taken advantage of the reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus and the information we provide to stockholders will be different than the information that is available with respect to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. For example, in this prospectus we have only included two years of audited financial statements and have not included all of the executive compensation-related information that would be required if we were not an emerging growth company. It is possible that this may cause investors to find our common stock less attractive. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our share price may be reduced or more volatile.

 

Even following the termination of our status as an emerging growth company, we may be able to take advantage of the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “smaller reporting companies,” as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and, in particular, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. To the extent that we are no longer eligible to use exemptions from various reporting requirements, we may be unable to realize our anticipated cost savings from these exemptions, which could have a material adverse impact on our operating results.

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. We expect that we will use the net proceeds of this offering as set forth in the section titled “Use of Proceeds.” However, our use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our current plans. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a negative impact on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

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Delaware law and provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect at the completion of this offering could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest difficult, thereby depressing the trading price of our common stock.

 

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, respectively, may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will:

 

permit our board of directors to issue up to          shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate (including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in our control);

 

provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;

 

provide that the board of directors or any individual director may only be removed with cause and the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding common stock;

 

provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;

 

divide our board of directors into three classes;

 

require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent;

 

provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;

 

do not provide for cumulative voting rights, therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose; and

 

provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the board, our Chief Executive Officer or by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors.

 

The amendment of any of these provisions, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, preferences and privileges thereto, would require approval by the holders of at least 66-2/3% of our then-outstanding common stock.

 

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In addition, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. These provisions may prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or combining with us for a certain period of time. A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision by express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out of this provision.

 

These and other provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult or costly for stockholders or potential acquirors to obtain control of our board of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by our then-current board of directors, including delay or impede a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving our company. The existence of these provisions could negatively affect the price of our common stock and limit opportunities for you to realize value in a corporate transaction.

 

For information regarding these and other provisions, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any appellate court therefrom will be the exclusive forums for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf; (ii) any claim or cause of action that is based upon a violation of a duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder, to us or our stockholders; (iii) any claim or cause of action against us or any current or former director, officer or other employee, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws; (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws (including any right, obligation, or remedy thereunder); (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action against us or any current or former director, officer or other employee, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine or otherwise related to our internal affairs, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendant; provided, however, that if the designation of such court as the sole and exclusive forum for a claim or action referred to in foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) would violate applicable law, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for such claim or cause of action. These provisions would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. Additionally, investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will further provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant named in such complaint. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there is uncertainty as to whether the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.

 

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These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees and may discourage these types of lawsuits and result in increased costs for investors to bring a claim. If a court were to find the choice of forum provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

 

If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they downgrade our common stock or our sector, our common stock price and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We will not control these analysts. In addition, some financial analysts may have limited expertise with our model and operations. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our common stock or industry, or the stock of any of our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our common stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to initiate coverage or publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our common stock price or trading volume to decline.

 

General Risk Factors

 

We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.

 

As a public company, and particularly after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Nasdaq listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, which in turn could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors.

 

We are evaluating these rules and regulations, and cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

 

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Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting beginning with our second filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC after we become a public company. However, while we remain an emerging growth company or smaller reporting company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act within the prescribed period, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants, adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing whether such controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we identify one or more material weaknesses as a result of this implementation and evaluation process, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

 

Our business and financial performance could be adversely affected by inflation.

 

Until recently, the inflation rate has generally been low in the geographies where we operate. However, recently, the inflation rate in the United States reached a 40-year high, primarily as a result of higher energy costs and global supply chain disruptions. In the event of a significant increase in consumer prices, particularly over an extended period of time, customer demand for our products and services could be adversely affected and we could experience lower than expected sales. In addition, if any of our suppliers implemented price increases in response to higher raw material, labor, and energy costs or otherwise, we may not be able to pass along such price increased to our customers and our profitability may be reduced. The occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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We cannot predict the consequences of future macroeconomic conditions or geopolitical events, but they may adversely affect market and economic conditions, the markets in which we operate, our ability to insure against risks, our operations or our profitability.

 

The global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions in the past several years, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rising inflation and monetary supply shifts, rising interest rates, supply chain constraints, labor shortages, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates, recession risks and uncertainty about economic stability. For instance, ongoing instability and current conflicts in global markets, including in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and the potential for other conflicts and future terrorist activities, as well as other recent geopolitical events throughout the world, including new or increased tariffs and potential trade wars, have created and may continue to create economic and political uncertainties and impacts that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, and profitability. We have not experienced, and do not anticipate, any disruption in our supply chain or other business operations due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the conflict expands or contracts, diminished sales would have little or no impact on our financial position, while increased sales would be reflected in increased revenue. Sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries in response to military conflicts, including the one in Ukraine, may also adversely impact the financial markets and the global economy, and any economic countermeasures by the affected countries or others could exacerbate market and economic instability. If credit in financial markets outside of the United States tightened, it could adversely affect the ability of our international customers and suppliers to obtain financing and could result in a decrease in or cancellation of orders for our products, systems and services or impact the ability of our customers to make payments. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread unemployment, economic slowdown and extreme volatility in the capital markets. However, notwithstanding our current and anticipated position, these types of matters can cause uncertainty in financial markets and may significantly increase the political, economic and social instability in geographic areas in which we operate now or may operate in the future. The extent of the impact of these conditions on our operational and financial performance, including our ability to execute our business strategies and initiatives in the expected timeframe, as well as that of third parties upon whom we rely, will depend on future developments which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn, volatile business environment or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our current suppliers or other partners may not survive an economic downturn, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.

 

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Our quarterly results of operations, revenues and cash flows may fluctuate from period to period due to a number of factors, which makes predicting financial results difficult.

 

We expect our quarterly results of operations to continue to fluctuate due to a number of factors, including as a result of supply chain issues, product introduction schedules, competitive products entering the market and the seasonality and uneven sales patterns of our OEM customers.

 

For example, a portion of sales in our Avionics segment is expected to be made to OEMs beginning in 2025, and we expect that a large portion of the Avionics segment’s OEM sales in the future will consist of sales of products to a customer operating in the eVTOL market. We are subject to changes in buying patterns among our OEM customers, including unpredictable circumstances such as failed certifications and delayed production schedules. Significant delays to the certification and production of the OEM aircraft could delay revenues to future years and may result in cancelled orders by the OEM’s customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. As a result of these and other factors, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations may not be reliable indicators of our future performance.

 

Conflicts of interest may arise because some members of our board of directors are representatives of our principal stockholders.

 

Certain of our principal stockholders or their affiliates are venture capital funds or other investment vehicles that could invest in entities that directly or indirectly compete with us. As a result of these relationships, when conflicts arise between the interests of the principal stockholders or their affiliates and the interests of other stockholders, members of our board of directors that are representatives of the principal stockholders may not be disinterested.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on estimates and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to markets, and business trends and other information contained in this prospectus are forward-looking statements, including statements about:

 

  our ability to grow and manage growth profitably;

 

  our financial and business performance and business metrics;

 

  our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans;

 

  the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model;

 

  our market opportunity and the potential growth of that market;

 

  our ability to compete effectively in a competitive industry;

 

  our ability to protect and enhance our corporate reputation and brand;

 

  the impact from future regulatory, judicial, and legislative changes in our industry;

 

  our ability to effect our growth strategies, acquisitions or investments successfully; and

 

  our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash.

 

These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:

 

  our failure to comply with covenants under debt instruments;
     
  our ability to successfully integrate the businesses and personnel of acquired companies and businesses, including those acquired in the Put-Together Transaction, and our ability to realize the anticipated synergies and benefits of such acquisitions;
     
  our ability to keep pace with technological advances and our dependance on advances in technology by other companies, many of which have substantially greater resources than we do;
     
  our inability to acquire additional aircraft to support our Training segment on acceptable terms or at all;
     
  the impact that our customers may experience from service failures or interruptions due to defects in the software, infrastructure, components or engineering system that comprise our products and services, or due to errors in product installation;
     
  our dependence on the continuing efforts of our key personnel and on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel and senior management;
     
  that we have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting which, if not corrected, could affect the reliability of our consolidated financial statements;

 

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  our failure to comply with applicable government regulations;

 

  any disruptions or threatened disruptions to our relationships with our distributors, suppliers, customers and employees, including shortages in components for our products;

 

  our significant reliance on sales to the U.S. government, particularly to agencies of the DoD and a decline in government budgets, funding, changes in spending or budgetary priorities, or delays in contract awards, and the effect of the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election;

 

  changes in the supply, demand and/or prices for our products and services and our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain new contracts;

 

  the complexities and uncertainty of obtaining and conducting international business, including export compliance and other reporting and compliance requirements;

 

the impact of potential security and cyber threats or the risk of unauthorized access to our, our customers’ and/or our suppliers’ information and systems;

 

our ability to respond and adapt to changes in economic, capital market, and political conditions in the U.S. and globally, such as from the global sanctions and export controls with respect to Russia, and any changes therein, and including changes related to financial market conditions, banking industry disruptions, fluctuations in commodity prices or supply (including energy supply), inflation, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, disruptions in global supply chain and labor markets, and geopolitical risks, including in the Middle East and Ukraine;

 

failure to develop new products or integrate new technology into current products;

 

unfavorable results in legal proceedings;

 

our anticipated use of the net proceeds from this offering;

 

the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and

 

our expectations regarding the period during which we qualify as an emerging growth company and smaller reporting company.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions intended to identify statements about the future. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

 

You should read the section titled “Risk Factors” for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

 

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus by these cautionary statements.

 

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MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA

 

This prospectus contains statistical data, estimates and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information, as well as other information based on our internal sources. While we believe the industry and market data included in this prospectus are reliable and are based on reasonable assumptions, these data involve many assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the data contained in these industry publications and other publicly available information. None of the industry publications referred to in this prospectus were prepared on our or on our affiliates’ behalf or at our expense. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

The sources of certain statistical data, estimates and forecasts contained in this prospectus are the following independent industry publications, reports and other publicly available information:

 

  Drone Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Component (Hardware, Software, Services), By Product, By Technology, By Payload Capacity, By Power Source, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024–2030, Grand View Research, 2024 (the “Grand View Drone Report”).

 

  U.S. Pilot Training Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Fixed-wing Pilot Training, Rotary-wing Pilot Training, and UAV Pilot Training), By Application (Civil and Military), and Regional Forecast, 2023–2030, Fortune Business Insights, updated December 30, 2024 (the “Fortune U.S. Pilot Training Report”).

 

  Military Drones Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis: 2024–2034, Precedence Research, updated November 5, 2024 (the “Precedence Military Drones Report”).

 

  Urban Air Mobility eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility TAM Update: A Slow Take-Off, But Sky’s the Limit, Morgan Stanley, May 6, 2021 (the “Morgan Stanley Report”).

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid, and do not anticipate declaring or paying, in the foreseeable future, any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support our operations and finance the growth and development of our business. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, business prospects and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $                  million (or approximately $                 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) from the sale of the shares of our common stock offered by us in this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $                  million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each one million share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $                  million, assuming that the assumed initial offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We do not expect that a change in the initial price to the public or the number of shares by these amounts would have a material effect on the uses of the proceeds from this offering, although it may accelerate the time at which we will need to seek additional capital.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows: (i) approximately $                     to scale operations of our Avionics segment and to support the production and design of Avionics products; (ii) approximately $                     to support our Electric Air Mobility segment’s business operations and to fund the eVTOL aircraft development program over the next 12 months; (iii) approximately $                     to fund acquisitions in the areas of drone vehicles, AI and networking service in our Drones segment; (iv) approximately $                     to acquire the aircraft and support equipment that is necessary to meet the additional demand under the IDIQ contracts for our Training segment and to fund acquisitions for the Training segment in the areas of training and aircraft maintenance; (v) to repay an aggregate of $10.8 million in Fixed Conversion Obligations that are not being converted into shares of our common stock in connection with this offering, which are payable at the closing of this offering; (vi) to repay an aggregate of $11.7 million of principal, cash premiums and interest under the Investor Notes, which bear interest at rates ranging from 10.5% to 15% and are payable on dates ranging from the closing of this offering to 190 days following the closing of this offering; and (vii) the remainder to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have any binding agreements or commitments to enter into any material acquisitions.

 

The amounts to be repaid pursuant to the Fixed Conversion Obligations consist of:

 

(i)approximately $0.6 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the AIRO Drone Promissory Note (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which do not accrue interest and mature at the closing of this offering;
(ii)$5.0 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the Jaunt Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which accrues interest at the prime interest rate and matures within five days of the closing of this offering;
(iii)$2.2 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the Aspen Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which does not accrue interest and matures at the closing of this offering;
(iv)$1.0 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the CDI Promissory Note (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which do not accrue interest and mature at the closing of this offering;
 (v)$1.0 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the Agile Promissory Note (as defined in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations”), which does not accrue interest and matures at the closing of this offering;
(vi)$0.1 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to the Amended and Restated Success Fee Arrangement (as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Success Fee Arrangement”), which does not accrue interest and is payable at the closing of this offering; and
(vii)$0.9 million to satisfy certain of our obligations pursuant to deferred salary arrangements, which do not accrue interest and are payable at the closing of this offering.

 

For more information, see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Combinations” and Notes 2, 4, 10 and 18 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The amounts to be repaid pursuant to the Investor Notes consist of:

 

  (i) $4.9 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 110% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering and mature 190 days after the closing of this offering;
  (ii) $2.0 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 100% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering and mature 190 days after the closing of this offering;
  (iii) $0.2 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 115% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrue interest at a rate of 15% per annum from the closing of this offering and mature 190 days after the closing of this offering;
  (iv) $0.6 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 100% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrue interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum and mature at the earlier of five days after the closing of this offering or the closing of one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $35 million;
  (v) $0.1 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to a certain Investor Note, which provides for 100% of the principal to be paid at maturity, which accrues an interest charge equal to $50,000, payable in                      shares of common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and is to be paid immediately prior to closing of this offering;
  (vi) $0.1 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to a certain Investor Note, which provides for 110% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrues interest at a rate of 12% per annum and matures 30 days after the closing of this offering;
  (vii) $1.7 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 100% of the principal to be paid at maturity (which is the earlier of thirty days after the closing of this offering or March 31, 2025), and accrue interest at a rate of 15% per annum; and
  (viii) $2.1 million to satisfy our obligations in full pursuant to certain Investor Notes, which provide for 100% of the principal to be paid at maturity, accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum commencing on March 7, 2024 or April 5, 2024 through the fifth day after the closing of this offering or a financing transaction of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025.

 

For more information, see the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investor Notes” and Notes 2 and 18 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Based on our current operating plan, we estimate that our existing cash and restricted cash as of the date of this prospectus, together with the estimated net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditures through                    . After this offering, we will require substantial capital in order to advance the development of our aircraft and other products, seek regulatory approvals, and launch and commercialize our products at scale. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we expect.

 

This expected use of existing cash and restricted cash and our net proceeds from this offering represent our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including our progress against certification and manufacturing milestones, the speed at which we grow our workforce, government grants and other incentives for which we may qualify, consumer demand, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We therefore cannot estimate with certainty the amount of net proceeds to be used for the purposes described above.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of those net proceeds. Pending these uses, we plan to invest these net proceeds in short-term, interest bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, medium term securities, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash and restricted cash and capitalization as December 31, 2024:

 

on an actual basis;

 

on a pro forma basis, giving effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                     shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $                    per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of                 shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming              shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering; and

 

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth above, (ii) our sale of                 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and (iii) the use of approximately $22.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay (1) an aggregate of $10.8 million in Fixed Conversion Obligations that are not being converted into shares of our common stock in connection with this offering and (2) an aggregate of $11.7 million of principal, cash premiums and interest under the Investor Notes.

 

The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted information below is illustrative only, and our cash and restricted cash and capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read the information in this table together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and other financial information contained in this prospectus.

 

   As of December 31, 2024 
   Actual   Pro Forma  

As Adjusted(1)

 
   (in thousands, except share and per share data) 
Cash and restricted cash  $20,911   $              $            
Current indebtedness(2)  $

51,057

   $   $ 
Long term indebtedness(3)   54,689           
Stockholders’ equity:              
Common stock, par value $0.000001 per share; 35,000,000 shares authorized, 27,858,276 shares issued and outstanding, actual;                 shares authorized,                 issued and outstanding, pro forma;                shares authorized,                shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted              
Additional paid-in capital   764,691           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (9,509)          
Accumulated deficit   (206,453)          
Total stockholders’ equity   548,729          
Total capitalization(4)  $654,475  $   $ 

 

 

(1) The pro forma as adjusted information set forth above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of our cash and restricted cash, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each one million share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us at the assumed initial public offering price per share of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of our cash and restricted cash, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ (deficit) equity and total capitalization by approximately $                million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(2) Actual column reflects $6.0 million of related party borrowings, $0.1 million of revolving lines of credit, $28.0 million of current maturities of debt, $13.8 million of investor notes at fair value and $3.1 million due to the sellers of Sky-Watch.

(3) Actual column reflects $0.7 million of long-term debt, $11.2 million of accrued deferred compensation and $42.8 million of contingent consideration.

(4) Includes current and long-term indebtedness and stockholders’ equity.

  

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The information in the table above excludes:

 

  519,131 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2024, under the Legacy Plan, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.05 per share;
     
  431,818 shares of contingent restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024;
     
  112,246 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024 at a weighted average exercise price of $9.90 per share;
     
               shares of our common stock, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $       per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock issued after December 31, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.01 per share;
     
                 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of the Underwriters’ Warrants;
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Legacy Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares of our common stock reserved under the 2025 Plan upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under the Legacy Plan;
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, as well as any future increases, including annual automatic evergreen increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering (as more fully described in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans”); and
     
                  shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

 

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DILUTION

 

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering.

 

As of December 31, 2024, our historical net tangible book deficit was $(103.4) million, or $(3.71) per share of our common stock. Our historical net tangible book deficit per share represents the amount of our total assets (net of goodwill, intangible assets, right-of-use operating lease assets and deferred offering costs) less our total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024.

 

As of December 31, 2024, our pro forma net tangible book deficit was $             million, or $               per share of our common stock. Our pro forma net tangible book deficit per share represents the amount of our total assets (net of goodwill, right-of-use operating lease assets and deferred offering costs) less our total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, after giving pro forma effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $           per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of                shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming              shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

 

Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of our common stock in this offering and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after closing of this offering. After giving further effect to the sale of                shares of our common stock that we are offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2024 would have been $                million, or approximately $                per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $                per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $                per share to new investors participating in this offering.

 

Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed initial public offering price per share paid by new investors. The following table illustrates this dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share        $ 
Historical net tangible book deficit per share as of December 31, 2024  $ (3.71)    
Pro forma increase in historical net tangible book deficit per share as of, December 31, 2024, attributable to the pro forma adjustments described above  $      
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2024 before this offering           
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to investors participating in this offering           
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering         
Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering        $

 

 

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The dilution information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                      per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by approximately $                      , and dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors by approximately $                      , assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase of one million shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by approximately $                   and decrease the dilution to investors participating in this offering by approximately $                  per share, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each decrease of one million shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by approximately $                   and increase the dilution to investors participating in this offering by approximately $                  per share, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $                  per share remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to                  additional shares of our common stock in full in this offering, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after the offering would be $                  per share, the increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be $                  per share and the dilution per share to new investors would be $                  per share, in each case, assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share.

 

To the extent that outstanding options with an exercise price per share that is less than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share are exercised, or if any restricted stock awards vest and settle, new investor will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2024, the number of shares of our common stock purchased or to be purchased from us, the total consideration paid or to be paid to us in cash and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders for shares issued prior to this offering and the price to be paid by new investors in this offering. The calculation below is based on the assumed initial public offering price of $                  per share, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. As the table below shows, investors participating in this offering will pay an average price per share substantially higher than our existing stockholders paid.

 

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   Shares Purchased   Total Consideration   Weighted- Average Price Per Share 
   Number   Percent   Amount   Percent     
Existing stockholders       %  $              %  $           
Investors participating in this offering                      $  
Total                 100.0%  $             100.0%     

 

Each $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $               per share would increase total consideration paid by new investors, total consideration paid by all stockholders and the weighted-average price per share paid by all stockholders by $               million, $               million and $               , respectively, while each $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $               per share, would decrease total consideration paid by new investors, total consideration paid by all stockholders and the average price per share paid by all stockholders by $               million, $               million and $               , respectively, and assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

Similarly, each one million share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by investors participating in this offering, total consideration paid by all stockholders and the weighted-average price per share paid by all stockholders by approximately $               million, $               million and $               , respectively, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $               per share remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

The above table assumes no exercise of (i) the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares or (ii) the Underwriters’ Warrants. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in full in this offering, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after the offering would be $               per share, the increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be $               per share, and the dilution per share to new investors would be $               per share, in each case assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $               per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the discussion and the tables above exclude:

 

519,131 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2024, under the Legacy Plan, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.05 per share;

 

431,818 shares of contingent restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024;
   
 112,246 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024 at a weighted average exercise price of $9.90 per share;

 

              shares of our common stock, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $               per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase our common stock issued after December 31, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.01 per share;
   
                 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of the Underwriters’ Warrants;

 

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               shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the Legacy Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares of our common stock under the 2025 Plan upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under the Legacy Plan;

 

               shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, as well as any future increases, including annual automatic evergreen increases in the number of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2025 Plan, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering (as more fully described in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans”); and

 

               shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, as well as any annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, which will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement for this offering.

 

We may choose to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that stock options are exercised, restricted stock awards are vested and settled or we issue additional shares of our common stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA Condensed Consolidated FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. We derived the following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information by applying pro forma adjustments to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. All defined terms used throughout this unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information have the meanings ascribed to such terms elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 have been presented:

 

  On a pro forma basis to reflect payments and issuances of our common stock that will occur in connection with the consummation of this offering, including:

 

the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering,
   
the issuance of an aggregate of          shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering,
   
the issuance of an aggregate of            shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming                 shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering,

 

the receipt of $                million in estimated net proceeds from the sale of            shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and
   
the use of approximately $22.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay (1) an aggregate of $10.8 million in Fixed Conversion Obligations that are not being converted into shares of our common stock in connection with this offering and (2) an aggregate of $11.7 million of principal, cash interest and interest under the Investor Notes.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet gives effect to the pro forma adjustments as if they occurred on December 31, 2024 and the and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations gives effect to the pro forma adjustments as if they occurred on January 1, 2024.

 

The pro forma adjustments set forth below were based on available information and certain assumptions made by our management and may be revised as additional information becomes available. The pro forma adjustments assume that this offering is completed on the terms described elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information also reflects a             for             reverse stock split of our common stock to be effected prior to the consummation of this offering.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is presented for informational purposes only, and does not purport to represent what our balance sheet and results of operations would actually have been if the offering and related transactions described above had occurred on the dates indicated, nor does it purport to project our results of operations or financial condition that we may achieve in the future.

 

You should read our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information and the accompanying notes in conjunction with all of the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the financial and other information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, including information contained in “Risk Factors,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Capitalization,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

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AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024

(in thousands)

 

   Actual  

Unaudited

Pro Forma

Adjustments 

      Unaudited
Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 
Assets                  
Current assets:                  
Cash  $20,741   $(13,391)  (1)  $            
         (19,555)  (2)     
             (4)     
Restricted cash   170             
Accounts receivable, net   8,961             
Related party receivables   791             
Inventory   8,823             
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,309             
Deferred offering costs   799    (799)  (2)     
Total current assets   42,594              
Property and equipment, net   6,834             
Right-of-use operating lease assets   352             
Goodwill   557,508             
Intangible assets, net   93,502             
Other assets   209             
Total assets  $700,999   $       $  
                   
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                  
Current liabilities:                  
Accounts payable  $16,440   $(9,977)  (1)  $  
Related party payables   1,100    (520)  (2)     
Accrued expenses   17,457    (1,656)  (1)     
Operating lease liabilities, current   213             
Deferred revenue   10,340             
Related party borrowings   5,971    (240)  (2)     
Revolving lines of credit   127    (127)  (2)     
Current maturities of debt   27,992    (20,694)  (2)     
Investor notes at fair value   13,819    (2,053)  (2)     
             (6)     
Due to sellers of Sky-Watch   3,148             
Total current liabilities   96,607              
Long-term debt, net of current maturities   688             
Deferred compensation   11,219    (11,219)  (2)     
Deferred tax liability   767             
Long-term deferred revenue   10             
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent   147             
Other long-term liabilities   50             
Contingent consideration   42,782    (42,782)  (2)     
Total liabilities   152,270              
                   
Stockholders’ equity:                  
Common stock, $0.000001 par value                
Additional paid-in capital   764,691    83,338   (2)     
         7,502   (3)     
             (4)     
             (5)     
             (6)     
Stockholder loan                
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (9,509)            
Accumulated deficit   (206,453)   (1,758)  (1)     
         (26,057)  (2)     
         (7,502)  (3)     
             (4)     
             (5)     
             (6)     
Total stockholders’ equity   548,729              
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $700,999   $       $  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

   Actual   Unaudited
Pro Forma Adjustments
      Unaudited
Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 
Revenue  $86,935   $-      $          
Cost of revenue   28,618    -         
Gross profit   58,317    -         
Operating expenses:                  
Research and development   13,133    -         
Sales and marketing   6,422    -         
General and administrative   18,201    1,758   (1)     
         4,801   (5)     
             (7)     
Goodwill impairment   37,994              
Total operating expenses   75,750              
Loss from operations   (17,433)             
Other income (expense):                  
Interest expense, net   (14,225)   (7,502)  (2)     
             (4)     
Other income (expense), net   2,173    (21,256)  (3)     
Total other expense   (12,052)             
Loss before income tax expense   (29,485)             
Income tax expense   (9,209)   -         
Net loss  $(38,694)  $       $  
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(1.39)  $       $  
Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted   27,858,276    6,263,469   (6)     

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 assumes this offering occurred on December 31, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operation for the year ended December 31, 2024 presents the pro forma effect of this offering as if it had been completed on January 1, 2024, the beginning of the earliest period presented.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 and the related notes for the year ended December 31, 2024, included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Management has made significant estimates and assumptions in its determination of the pro forma adjustments. As the unaudited pro forma combined financial information has been prepared based on these preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded may differ materially from the information presented. Significant assumptions include conversions of debt to equity as further described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma combined financial information. These conversion agreements have been executed but do not take effect until no later than two days prior to this offering. As part of the pro forma adjustments, we included adjustments to recognize interest, contingent consideration expense, and additional sales and marketing expense related to the 2021 Management Carveout Plan.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings or cost savings that may be associated with this offering. The unaudited pro forma adjustments, which are described in these notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments, and it is possible the difference may be material.

 

2. Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 are as follows:

 

(1) Represents estimated direct and incremental transaction costs incurred by us related to this offering. This includes the payment of $11.6 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses recognized by us and a $1.8 million payment for advisory services, for a total of $13.4 million.

 

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(2) The following is a detail of the adjustments marked with footnote (2) (in thousands):

 

          Net Changes 
Cash  Recording of a 10% payment of the Aspen Carveout Contingency   (280)   (19,555)
   Recording of the payment of the Put-Together Transaction Notes   (2,582)     
   Recording of a 10% payment of the Carter Aviation debt   (4,953)     
   Recording of a 10% payment of the Aspen Notes   (1,944)     
   Recording of 10% payment of the NGA Success Fee Arrangement   (150)     
   Royalty payment by Aspen Avionics   (520)     
   Payment of Jaunt Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement   (240)     
   Payment of a portion of deferred compensation   (3,452)     
   Payment of the Muncy Bank & Trust (“Muncy”) promissory notes and the First Citizens Community Bank notes payable   (1,254)     
   Payment of lines of credit with First Citizens Community Bank   (127)     
   Recording Cantor payment   (2,000)     
   Investor Note cash payment, including principal, premiums, interest and other required payments due within 5 days of this offering   (2,053)     
              
Deferred offering cost  Recording Cantor offering cost   2,000    (799)
   Recording of the NGA Success Fee Arrangement   1,500      
   Reclassifying deferred offering cost   (4,299)     
              
Contingent consideration             
   Recording of the Put-Together Transaction Notes due to now being deemed probable   5,128    (42,782)
   Recording of the Carter Aviation debt due to now being deemed probable   16,126      
   Recording of the Aspen Carveout Contingency   2,803      
   Recording of a 10% payment of the Aspen Carveout Contingency   (280)     
   Conversion of 90% of the Aspen Carveout Contingency to equity   (2,523)     
   Conversion of the Put-Together Transaction Notes to equity   (11,928)     
   Conversion of 90% of the Carter Aviation debt to equity   (44,573)     
   Recording of payment of the Put-Together Transaction Notes   (2,582)     
   Recording of a 10% payment of the Carter Aviation debt   (4,953)     
              
Related party payables  Royalty payment by Aspen Avionics   (520)   (520)
              
Revolving lines of credit  Payment of the lines of credit with First Citizens Community Bank   (127)   (127)
              
Related party borrowings  Payment of Jaunt Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement   (240)   (240)
              
Current maturities of debt  Conversion of 90% of the Aspen Notes   (17,496)   (20,694)
   Payment of 10% of the Aspen Notes   (1,944)     
   Payment of the Muncy promissory note and the First Citizens Community Bank notes payable   (1,254)     
              
Investor notes at fair vale  Cash payment of Investor Notes due within 5 days of this offering   (2,053)   (2,053)
              
Deferred compensation  Conversion of accrued compensation to equity   (7,767)   (11,219)
   Payment of accrued compensation   (3,452)     
              
Additional paid-in capital  Conversion of the Put-Together Transaction Notes to equity   11,928    83,338 
   Conversion of 90% of the Carter Aviation debt to equity   44,573      
   Conversion of 90% of the NGA fee   1,350      
   Conversion of 90% of the Aspen Notes   17,496      
   Conversion of 90% of the Aspen Carveout Contingency to equity   2,523      
   Conversion of 90% of accrued compensation to equity   7,767      
   Issuance of stock portion of Aspen Carveout Contingency   2,000      
   Reclassifying deferred offering costs   (4,299)     
              
Accumulated deficit             
   Recording of the Put-Together Transaction Notes due to now being deemed probable   (5,128)   (26,057)
   Recording of the Carter Aviation debt due to now being deemed probable   (16,126)     
   Recording of the Aspen Carveout Contingency   (4,803)     

 

(3) Reflects $7.5 million of contingent stock premiums on certain Investor Notes that will become payable at the closing of this offering.
   
(4) Reflects $     million of estimated net proceeds from this offering.
   
(5)

Reflects $     million related to the modification of the restricted stock awards, the vesting of which will become probable at the closing of this offering and $     million pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, both assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

   
(6) Reflects settlement of interest feature on Investor Notes at fair value.

 

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3. Adjustments to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 are as follows:

 

(1) Recording our estimated costs that were contingent upon this offering of $1.8 million, which are payable in cash and which had not been deemed probable as of December 31, 2024 and thus had not been recorded as of December 31, 2024.
   
(2) Recording $7.5 million of expense for contingent stock premiums on Investor Notes payable in stock at the closing of this offering.
   
(3) Recording of a $5.1 million charge for contingent promissory notes to the Merger Entities and $16.1 million under the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement. Obligations under the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement total $49.5 million, of which only $33.4 million had been recorded as of December 31, 2024. Contingent promissory note obligations total $14.5 million, of which only $9.4 million had been recorded as of December 31, 2024.
   
(4) Reflecting settlement of interest feature on Investor Notes at fair value.
   
(5) Recording of contingent charges of $1.9 million attributable to Aspen Contingent Debt, $2.0 million related to the Aspen Carveout Stock Obligation, and $0.9 million related to the Aspen Carveout Contingency for a total of $4.8 million.
   
(6) Change in shares outstanding is due to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of         shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of         shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, (iv) the issuance of        shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and (v) a one- for        reverse stock split of our common stock to be effected prior to the consummation of this offering.
   
(7) Reflecting $     million of expense related to the modification of restricted stock awards, the vesting of which will become probable at the closing of this offering

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, together with related notes thereto, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the sections titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for a discussion of forward-looking statements and important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.

 

Overview

 

We are a technologically differentiated aerospace, autonomy, and air mobility platform targeting 21st century aerospace and defense opportunities. We leverage decades of industry expertise and connections across the drone, aviation, and avionics markets to provide leading solutions to the aerospace and defense market. We offer connected and diversified solutions providing operational synergies across our segments and are powered by an international footprint as well as supplier and public sector relationships. Supported by complementary and innovative technologies, we believe we bring a unique value proposition to the market and are well-positioned to become a differentiated leader in the industry.

 

Our business is organized into four operating segments, each of which represents a critical growth vector in the aerospace and defense market: Drones, Avionics, Training, and Electric Air Mobility. These four segments collectively target a combined total addressable market estimated to be over $315.4 billion by 2030.

 

 

Drones. The Drones segment develops, manufactures, and sells drones and will provide drone services, such as DaaS, for military and commercial end users. Our military drones are sold through our Sky-Watch brand, which is a key supplier to European NATO countries. A critical point of differentiation lies in our drones’ ability to perform in a GPS-denied environment, which is a technology application relevant for both military and commercial end markets.

 

Avionics. The Avionics segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics for military and general aviation aircraft, drones, and eVTOLs. Our advanced avionics products include flight displays, Connected Panels, and GPS/GNSS sensors, all of which have been installed on legacy military aircraft and general aviation platforms. We sell our advanced avionics through our Aspen Avionics brand, which is well-recognized in the general aviation aftermarket sector with over 20 years of operating history and long-term customer loyalty for our value proposition. We also serve as an avionics supplier for OEMs, including Robinson Helicopters, Pilatus, and Honeywell. We believe our avionics solutions have a considerable market opportunity as general aviation fleets continue to age, with owners and operators seeking to upgrade the avionics technology on their aircraft.

 

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Training. The Training segment currently provides military pilot training and will provide commercial pilot training in the future. We offer professional training and consulting services to the U.S. military, select NATO countries, and other U.S. allies under our CDI brand. These offerings include adversary air, close air support, ISR, aircraft leasing, pilot training, ground liaison services, and JTAC, as well as full joint theatre ISR and simulated ground strike training. We work closely with special military forces such as SEAL teams, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, and USAF Air Combat Command, and are a mandated recipient on a $5.7 billion IDIQ contract. Our personnel’s top security clearances and established relationships at the Pentagon provide us with a differentiated ability to bid on mandates. We also plan to offer commercial pilot training and plan to expand our non-military capabilities in response to the global pilot shortage.

 

Electric Air Mobility. The Electric Air Mobility segment is developing a rotorcraft eVTOL for cargo and passenger use through our Jaunt brand for fixed route flights, on-demand trips, and cargo operations. Our R&D efforts are focused on developing a cargo eVTOL platform, which will be a scaled-down version of our passenger eVTOL platform, and will target the attractive middle mile delivery cargo market. Meanwhile, our long-term R&D efforts are focused on developing a full-scale multi-role eVTOL platform, which will be able to serve both the cargo and passenger markets. We plan to certify our eVTOLs through existing CAR 529 Rotorcraft standards, with our platform including the best attributes of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Our patented compound rotorcraft technology, a core point of technological differentiation that will underpin our cargo eVTOL’s commercial capability, has over 300 piloted flight hours on multiple Jaunt demonstrator aircraft. We believe the range and payload capabilities driven by this technology uniquely position us to provide a compelling commercial solution for the eVTOL cargo market. Once developed and certified, we expect our cargo eVTOL program will serve as the foundation of our commercialization efforts, with passenger applications serving as a longer-term secondary initiative.

 

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Business Combination Agreement

 

On March 3, 2023, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement. On August 5, 2024, the Business Combination Agreement was terminated and, as a result, none of the BCA Transactions were effectuated. We incurred expenses of $1.4 million and $4.1 million in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in connection with the entry into the Business Combination Agreement and steps to prepare for the BCA Transactions.

 

Business Combinations

 

We were formed in August 2021 for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies engaged in the aerospace and defense industry. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we completed our Put-Together Transaction to acquire six companies which are now organized into our four reportable segments, each with a diverse set of partners and customers: (i) Drones, through our subsidiaries, AIRO Drone and Sky-Watch; (ii) Avionics, through our subsidiary, Aspen Avionics; (iii) Training, through our subsidiaries, Agile Defense and CDI; and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, through our subsidiary, Jaunt.

 

We acquired Agile Defense on February 25, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Agile Defense, AIRO Group, Inc., n/k/a Old AGI, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Legacy AIRO”), us, Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC, and Joseph Burns as target representative, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of a promissory note in the amount of $2.3 million (the “Agile Defense Promissory Note”). The Agile Defense Promissory Note bears no interest and was originally payable within five business days following the commencement of public trading of our common stock. On October 2, 2023, the parties signed a promissory note termination agreement (the “Agile Defense Promissory Note Termination Agreement”) whereby six of the seven note holders agreed to convert $1.4 million of the principal owed to them under the Agile Defense Promissory Note into 58,417 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $0.2 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue 58,417 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $1.0 million from this offering to satisfy our obligations to the remaining holder under the Agile Defense Promissory Note and the other holders pursuant to the Agile Defense Promissory Note Termination Agreement.

 

We acquired AIRO Drone on February 25, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Drone, Legacy AIRO, us, AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC and Joseph Burns as target representative, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of a promissory note in the amount of $2.1 million (the “AIRO Drone Promissory Note”). The AIRO Drone Promissory Note bears no interest and was originally payable within five business days following the commencement of public trading of our common stock. On October 2, 2023, the parties signed a promissory note termination agreement (the “AIRO Drone Promissory Note Termination Agreement”) whereby nine of the ten note holders agreed to convert approximately $1.5 million of the principal owed to them under the AIRO Drone Promissory Note into 63,043 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $0.2 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue 63,043 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $0.6 million from this offering to satisfy our obligations to the remaining holder under the AIRO Drone Promissory Note and the other holders pursuant to the AIRO Drone Promissory Note Termination Agreement.

 

We acquired Jaunt on March 10, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Jaunt, Legacy AIRO, us, Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC and Martin Peryea as member representative, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of 5,343,124 shares of our common stock. As part of this acquisition, we acquired a contingent obligation originating from Jaunt’s acquisition of certain patents, licenses, and other intellectual property from Carter Aviation, a former member of Jaunt, in April 2019 (the “Jaunt Contingent Arrangement”). Under the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement, 10% of any cash receipt, including all income, receipts, proceeds, debt or equity investment, earnings, sales, or winnings, up to $50 million is payable to Carter Aviation. As of the acquisition date, $49.6 million in future payments remained on this obligation. The original terms of the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement provided that upon the completion of a business combination, the contingent consideration assumed from Jaunt would be replaced by promissory notes, the first of which would be for $23.0 million due one day after the closing of such business combination, and the second would be for the remaining portion of the contingent consideration and would be paid over three years subsequent to such closing. On October 27, 2023, we signed a satisfaction of indebtedness and satisfaction of covenant agreement (the “Jaunt Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement”), whereby the holder agreed to convert $44.6 million of the obligations owed to it as part of the Jaunt acquisition into 1,908,143 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining portion of the contingent consideration of $5.0 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue 1,908,143 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $5.0 million from this offering to satisfy our obligations to the holders under the Jaunt Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement.

 

We acquired Sky-Watch on March 28, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Equity Purchase Agreement by and among Sky-Watch, Legacy AIRO, us, Dangroup ApS and Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of a promissory note in the amount of $12.9 million (the “Sky-Watch Promissory Note”), 890,909 shares of our common stock and an earnout of up to $6.5 million based on performance commencing on the closing date of the acquisition through June 2024. The $6.5 million earnout was made up of $3 million that was payable on a dollar-for-dollar basis on revenue earned within the first two-year anniversary of the acquisition and $3.5 million would become due and payable if Sky-Watch earns a minimum of $13.8 million in revenue during the period from the acquisition date through June 2024. In December 2022, the Equity Purchase Agreement was amended to increase the second earnout amount from $3.5 million to $7.5 million and to extend the earnout period to include the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024. In March 2023, the Equity Purchase Agreement was further amended to add a third earnout of $4.0 million if revenue during the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024 reaches $17.0 million. In March 2024, the parties further amended the Equity Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the former shareholders of Sky-Watch became eligible for an additional earnout of $1.0 million if Sky-Watch achieves earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) of DKK 127,107,500 or above for fiscal year 2024. On June 28, 2024, the parties signed an amendment to the promissory notes (the “Sky-Watch Promissory Note Amendment”) whereby (i) the remaining principal of $5.7 million payable within five business days of the date that we or our successor closes one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $35.0 million and (ii) the remaining earnout liability is payable within five business days following the date that the we, or our successor, closes one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $45.0 million with interest continuing to accrue on the earned but unpaid earnout amounts at the federal discount rate plus 5.0%, compounded quarterly. In December 2024, we made a $13.9 million payment in full satisfaction of the Sky-Watch Promissory Note with the remainder partially funding the earnout consideration. As of December 31, 2024, we have accrued $3.1 million in connection with the unpaid earnout consideration related to this acquisition.

 

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We acquired Aspen Avionics on April 1, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Aspen Merger Agreement”) by and among Aspen, Legacy AIRO, us, Aspen Merger Sub, Inc. and John Uczekaj as target representative, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of 2,575,758 shares of our common stock. As part of this transaction, we agreed to assume $25.3 million of obligations, which primarily included $19.4 million related to the Aspen Notes, $2.9 million related to the Aspen Carveout Contingency and $1.9 million attributable to future allowable services or to be payable to the former Aspen Avionics shareholders at the closing of this offering (“Aspen Contingent Debt”).

 

On October 6, 2023, we signed a satisfaction of indebtedness and satisfaction of covenant agreement (the “Aspen Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement”), whereby all of the holders agreed to convert various amounts due, which included $17.5 million under the Aspen Notes, $0.8 million related to the cash portion of Aspen Carveout Contingency, and $1.7 million attributable to the Aspen Contingent Debt into 749,007 shares, 73,971 shares and 34,018 shares, respectively, of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining amount of $2.2 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. The 2021 Management Carveout Plan also provides for a $2.0 million Aspen Carveout Stock Obligation which equates to 87,226 shares that is also due at the closing of a business combination. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue an aggregate of 944,222 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $2.2 million from this offering to satisfy our obligations to the holders under the Aspen Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement.

 

We acquired CDI on April 26, 2022, pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among CDI, Legacy AIRO, us, Coastal Merger Sub, Inc. and Jeffrey Parker as target representative, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, in exchange for consideration in the form of a promissory note in the amount of $10.1 million (the “CDI Promissory Note”) and 1,818,182 shares of our common stock. The CDI Promissory Note bears no interest and was originally payable within five business days following the commencement of public trading of our common stock. On October 17, 2023, the parties signed a promissory note termination agreement (the “CDI Promissory Note Termination Agreement”) whereby all of the holders agreed to convert $9.1 million of the principal owed to them under the CDI Promissory Note into 389,128 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $1.0 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue 389,128 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $1.0 million from this offering to satisfy our obligations to the holders under the CDI Promissory Note pursuant to the CDI Promissory Note Termination Agreement.

 

Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

 

Our financial condition and results of operations have been, and will continue to be, affected by a number of factors, including the following.

 

Global Supply Chain

 

We are dependent on a global supply chain and in recent years have experienced supply chain disruptions that resulted in delays and increased costs which adversely affected our performance. The supply chain disruptions discussed above did not materially impact our outlook, business goals, results of operations or capital resources during 2024. These disruptions impacted our ability to procure raw materials, microelectronics, and certain commodities on a timely basis and/or at expected prices, and have been driven by supply chain market constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and labor market shortages. Current geopolitical conditions, including conflicts and other causes of strained intercountry relations, as well as sanctions and other trade restrictive activities, continue to contribute to these issues. Furthermore, our suppliers and subcontractors have been impacted by these same issues. We also experience periodic shortages of electronic and mechanical parts. Management continues to proactively manage the supply and transportation of parts during regular sales inventory and operations meetings. This proactive planning is an integral part of our normal operations and has allowed us to anticipate potential shortages and introduce redundancy along our supply chain. These mitigation efforts have not introduced new material risks related to product quality, reliability or regulatory approval of products. We continue to monitor the condition of our supply chain and evaluate our procurement strategy to reduce any negative impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We have implemented actions and programs designed to mitigate the impacts of supply chain disruptions, but anticipate that we and others in our industry will continue to face such challenges for the foreseeable future.

 

Geopolitical Matters

 

We operate in a complex and evolving global security environment, and our business is affected by geopolitical and security issues. Conflicts, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and heightened tension in the Pacific region, have elevated global security concerns resulting in increased interest for our products and services as countries seek to improve their security posture. In addition, security assistance provided by NATO and its allies to Ukraine has increased demand to replenish NATO stockpiles, resulting in additional and potential future orders, including for the ramp-up in production capacity for certain products. We continue to expect additional orders over the next several years attributable to the global threat environment.

 

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Economic Environment

 

Our business and financial performance is also affected by elevated levels of inflation and interest rates. Certain costs, including rising labor rates and supplier costs, have increased as a result of inflation, and have adversely affected our margins on certain programs. Due to the nature of our government and commercial aerospace businesses, and their respective customer and supplier contracts, we are not always able to offset cost increases by increasing our contract value or pricing, in particular on our fixed-price contracts. Increasing material, component, and labor prices could subject us to losses in our fixed price contracts in the event of cost overruns. In addition, higher interest rates have increased the cost of borrowing and tightened the availability of capital. Among other things, these effects can affect our ability to acquire equipment and constrain our customers’ purchasing power and decrease orders for our products and services and impact the ability of our customers to make payments and of our suppliers to perform. Moreover, volatility in interest rates and financial markets can lead to economic uncertainty, an economic downturn or recession and impact the demand for our products and services as well as our supply chain.

 

U.S. Government’s Continuing Resolution

 

In December 2024, President Biden signed a continuing resolution that funds federal agencies through March 14, 2025. A continuing resolution authorizes federal agencies to operate generally at the same funding levels from the prior year, but typically does not authorize new spending initiatives during this period. If Congress is unable to enact formal fiscal year 2025 appropriation bills by March 14, 2025, it may pass another continuing resolution. However, if Congress fails to pass the formal appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, then the U.S. government would shut down during which federal agencies would cease all non-essential functions.

 

In the event of a U.S. government shutdown, our business, program performance and results of operations could be impacted by the resulting disruptions to federal government offices, workers, and operations, including risks relating to the funding of certain programs, stop work orders, as well as delays in contract awards, new program starts, payments for work performed, and other actions. We also may experience similar impacts in the event of an extended period of continuing resolutions. Generally, the significance of these impacts will primarily be based on the length of the continuing resolution or shutdown. Furthermore, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which imposes limits on discretionary spending for defense and non-defense programs in exchange for the lifting of the debt ceiling in June 2023, if Congress fails to enact appropriation bills by April 30, 2025, then the budget caps will be reduced and corresponding automatic reductions to agency budget accounts will be enforced through sequestration.

 

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Development of the Electric Air Mobility Market

 

Our revenue will be tied to the continued development of short distance aerial transportation. While we believe the global market for electric air mobility will be large, it remains undeveloped and there is no guarantee of future demand. We anticipate receiving certification of our 33% downscaled cargo eVTOL under drone rules as early as 2027 and expect our first passenger production aircraft to be certified by the TCCA under existing CAR 529 Transport Category Rotorcraft airworthiness rules as early as 2031. Our business will require significant investment leading up to launching these services, including, but not limited to, final engineering designs, prototyping and testing, manufacturing, software development, certification, pilot training, infrastructure and commercialization. We benefit from supplier cost sharing, whereby our suppliers have agreed to defer their non-recurring engineering costs until commercialization, which has reduced our initial funding requirements prior to commercialization.

 

Key Components of Results of Operations

 

Revenue

 

Revenue consists primarily of product sales, fees for consulting services, licensing revenue, warranty sales and after sale services. A majority of our revenue is derived from the Drones segment. To date, our Electric Air Mobility segment has not generated material revenue.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue includes direct labor (including salary, benefits and taxes), material costs and indirect production costs. Indirect production costs include indirect labor, purchasing, quality and manufacturing leadership, consumables, freight, charges for inventory reserves and amortization of intangible assets. We expect our cost of revenue to fluctuate based on a number of factors including, among others, availability and ability to obtain suitable aircraft, availability and cost of raw materials, such as lithium, and fluctuations in the labor market, in particular with respect to individuals who are highly skilled and specialized, such as pilots, and foreign currency exchange rates.

 

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Operating Expenses

 

Research and Development

 

R&D expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, including salaries, benefits, costs of consulting, equipment and materials, direct allocable overhead costs, including staff development cost, travel costs and technology costs, and amortization of intangible assets. We expect our R&D expenses to increase as we continue to invest in our infrastructure and technology and seek to develop new products and services.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

Sales and marketing expenses include salary, benefits and taxes, commissions, travel, costs of leased airplanes, advertising, trade shows and amortization of intangible assets. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase as we seek to build out our capabilities in these areas to acquire new customers.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses include costs of executive leadership, corporate governance, consulting fees, the accounting and finance operations, travel, and support functions, including human resources and information technology. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase as we incur additional costs associated with being a public company and certain terms of our consulting and incentive agreements become effective.

 

Goodwill Impairment

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. We manage our business primarily based upon four operating segments: (i) Drones, (ii) Avionics, (iii) Training and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, each of which represents a reportable segment. See “—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Goodwill” for additional information.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Interest expense, net consists primarily of the interest expense from borrowings relating to revolving lines of credit with external banks and third-party notes, net of interest income earned on invested cash balances.

 

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Other Income (Expense), Net

 

Other income (expense), net includes changes in fair value on contingent consideration obligations and foreign currency exchange adjustments based on the terms of payments related an earnout obligation.

 

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

 

Income tax (expense) benefit primarily consists of income taxes in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct business.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

To supplement our consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, as described below, to facilitate analysis of our financial and business trends and for internal planning and forecasting purposes.

 

We define (1) EBITDA as net loss before interest expense, income tax expense or provision, depreciation and amortization, (2) Adjusted EBITDA as net loss before interest expense, income tax expense or provision, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, contingent consideration fair value adjustments and impairments, and (3) Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. The above items are excluded from our Adjusted EBITDA measure because these items are either non-cash in nature, or because the amount and timing of these items is unpredictable, or because they are not driven by core results of operations, thereby rendering comparisons with prior periods and competitors less meaningful. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as provides a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. Moreover, we have included Adjusted EBITDA in this prospectus because it is a key measurement used by our management internally to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance, and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting.

 

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by items that are excluded from these metrics. In addition, our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider any of these non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that our non-GAAP financial measures:

 

do not reflect our interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;

 

exclude depreciation and amortization expense, and although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated may have to be replaced in the future, increasing our cash requirements; and

 

do not reflect provision for or benefit from income taxes that reduces cash available to us.

 

Because of these limitations, we consider, and you should consider, the non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial performance measures, including net loss and our other GAAP results. A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to net loss margin, the most directly comparable financial measures stated in accordance with GAAP, is provided below. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

 

   Year Ended 
(in thousands, except percentages)  December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023 
Net loss  $(38,694)  $(32,456)
Depreciation and amortization   12,640    12,731 
Income tax expense   9,209    2,294 
Interest expense, net   14,225    2,137 
EBITDA   (2,620)   (15,294)
Stock-based compensation   716    1,815 
Contingent consideration fair value adjustments   (2,400)   18,009 
Impairments   37,994    
Adjusted EBITDA  $33,690  $4,530 
           

Net loss margin

   

(44.5

)%   (75.0)%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin   38.8%   10.5%

 

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Results of Operations

 

Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

 

The following table shows our consolidated financial results for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   Year Ended December 31,   Period over period change 
(in thousands)  2024   2023   ($)   (%) 
Revenue  $86,935   $43,254   $43,681    101.0%
Cost of revenue   28,618    18,340    10,278    56.0%
Gross profit   58,317    24,914    33,403    134.1%
Operating expenses:                    
Research and development   13,133    11,871    1,262    10.6%
Sales and marketing   6,422    5,374    1,048    19.5%
General and administrative   18,201    17,601    600    3.4%
Impairment   37,994    -    37,994    N/A 
Total operating expenses   75,750    34,846    40,904    117.4%
Loss from operations   (17,433)   (9,932)   (7,501)   (75.5)%
Other income (expense):                    
Interest expense, net   (14,225)   (2,137)   (12,088)   (565.7)%
Other income (expense), net   2,173    (18,093)   20,266   112.0%
Total other expense   (12,052)   (20,230)   8,178   40.4%
Loss before income tax expense   (29,485)   (30,162)   677   2.2%
Income tax expense   (9,209)   (2,294)   (6,915)   (301.4)%
Net loss  $(38,694)  $(32,456)  $(6,238)   (19.2)%

 

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Revenue

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, the $43.7 million increase in revenue was primarily due to a $46.7 million increase in the Drones segment, largely caused by an increase in drone shipments and support revenue. Increased drone sales were driven by market entry strategies to target NATO member countries, as we believe that drones can be a key component of NATO countries’ defense spending plans to meet their 2% GDP contribution target. This increase was partially offset primarily by a $2.1 million decrease from the Training segment due to a decrease in contracts resulting from our inability to obtain assets required to conduct trainings due to lack of funding as well as timing of training exercises and a $0.7 million decrease in the Avionics segment due to product mix and a general reduction in market demand of existing products.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, cost of revenue increased by $10.3 million primarily due to an $11.5 million increase in the Drones segment due to increased sales, partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease from the Training segment due to the decrease in revenue described above. Gross margin was 67.1% in 2024 compared to 57.6% in 2023. This 9.5% point improvement in gross margin was primarily attributable to the Drones segment which improved its margin by 3.1% points due to economies of scale with both production efficiencies and negotiating better pricing with suppliers.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Research and Development

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, R&D expense increased $1.3 million primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in personnel costs and a $0.2 million increase in consulting fees for product development within the Drones segment.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, sales and marketing expense increased $1.0 million primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in personnel costs and a $0.8 million increase in sales commissions and bonuses within the Drones segment, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease within Avionics due to cost reduction initiatives in the business.

 

General and Administrative

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, general and administrative expense increased $0.6 million primarily due to a $5.0 million increase within the Drones segment, partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease within the Avionics segment, a $0.7 million decrease within the Training segment, a $1.2 million decrease within the Electric Air Mobility segment and a $2.1 million decrease in corporate costs. Increases within the Drones segment were primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in personnel costs, a $1.4 million increase in bonuses, a $1.0 million increase in consulting fees for assistance in branding and rolling out products and services into new markets and other expansion costs. Decreases within the Avionics, Training and Electric Air Mobility segments and corporate costs were due to cost reduction initiatives in the business.

 

Goodwill Impairment

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded $38.0 million of goodwill impairment. Primary factors leading to the impairment were the continuation of funding delays which resulted in the change of projected cash flows within the Training and Electric Air Mobility segments. See “—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Goodwill” for additional information.

 

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Interest Expense, Net

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, interest expense, net, increased $12.1 million primarily due to a $10.5 million debt extinguishment charge and a $0.3 million fair value adjustment on Investor Notes at fair value. During 2024, certain Investor Notes were amended which resulted in significant modifications of these Investor Notes. In accordance with ASC 470-50, as this significant modification created an election date for the fair value option and as the fair value election is applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis, we chose to record such Investor Notes at fair value beginning on the modification date in October 2024. See further details of the Investor Notes at fair value in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Remaining changes included a $1.9 million increase in interest within the Drones segment, offset primarily by a $0.5 million decrease in the Electric Air Mobility segment for non-recurring accretion of deferred compensation assumed as part of the Jaunt acquisition and a $0.3 million decrease in both the Training and Avionics segments as amounts owed to FCCB and amounts owed under Aspen’s credit facility were reduced by payments during 2024. The interest in the Drones segment is attributable to amendments to the Sky-Watch Promissory Note, entered into in March and June of 2024, and earnouts requiring us to pay interest on the amounts due to the holders of the Sky-Watch Promissory Note beginning on January 1, 2024 and payments to the holders of the Sky-Watch earnouts beginning on April 1, 2024, as well as the accretion of the most recent earnout as described in Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Other Income (Expense), Net

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had $2.2 million of other income, primarily due to the decrease in the fair value of the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement, as compared to $18.1 million of other expense during the year ended December 31, 2023, which was primarily due to the increase in the fair value of the Sky-Watch earnouts. Other income (expense), net also includes the change in the fair value of the contingent promissory notes with certain of the Acquired Companies.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024, our income tax expense was $9.2 million and our effective tax rate was 39.9%. The $9.2 million tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to Sky-Watch generating positive pre-tax income. The primary drivers of our effective tax rate consisted of the full valuation allowance positions taken by our U.S. and Canadian entities and the profit generated by our entities in other jurisdictions, mainly Denmark. On a worldwide basis, while our profit before tax was minimal, it represented significant losses in the United States and significant profits in Denmark, resulting in a high effective tax rate. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s income tax expense was $2.3 million and the effective tax rate was 7.6%.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2024, we had cash and restricted cash of $20.9 million, of which $0.2 million was either restricted or was designated exclusively for Sky-Watch operations, and a working capital deficit of $47.6 million. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Over the next twelve months, we expect to finance our operations with operating revenue from our commercial operations, subsidiary financing of operations, short-term debt financing, private sales of equity securities, and the proceeds from this offering. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of their acquisition agreements, our subsidiaries are obligated to obtain independent financing, such as through credit facilities, as necessary for their operations on a subsidiary level. Debt at the subsidiary level will be refinanced and consolidated in connection with this offering.

 

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Pending the closing of this offering, we will continue to operate with nominal cash flow, as we have historically. We believe the proceeds of this offering, together with our cash and restricted cash, is expected to fund our growth strategies and business objectives into              . If we are unable to obtain a sufficient amount of financing to support all of our operations, we will prioritize deploying resources to the segments that generate the most revenue and have the potential for the greatest long-term growth. Specifically, we will focus on Drones, Avionics and Training for short-term revenue production and Electric Air Mobility as the driver of long-term growth.

 

Investor Notes

 

As of December 31, 2024, our Investor Notes include third party obligations of $3.0 million of Investor Notes as described within Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, $4.2 million of Investor Notes as described in Note 18 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, and $13.8 million of Investor Notes which we have elected to record using the fair value election as further described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. These Investor Notes consist of the following:

 

Notes totaling $4.2 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 100% of the principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with 110% of the principal to be paid in cash on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering, and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.
Notes totaling $0.6 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 100% of the principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with 100% of the principal to be paid in cash on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.
Notes totaling $0.2 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 115% of the principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with the principal to be paid on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 15% per annum from the closing of this offering.
 

Notes totaling $0.5 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 125% of the aggregate principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with the principal to be paid on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.

Notes totaling $0.6 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 50% of the principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with the principal, to be paid on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.
Notes totaling $0.2 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 150% of the aggregate principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with the principal to be paid on the maturity date, which is 190 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.
Notes totaling $0.1 million that include a one-time interest charge equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with 110% of the principal to be paid on the maturity date, which is 30 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the closing of this offering.
 A note totaling $0.1 million that includes a one-time interest charge equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount, contingently payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with 120% of the principal to be paid on the earlier of a March 31, 2025 maturity date or 30 days subsequent to the closing of this offering, and accruing interest at a rate of 15% per annum from either the date of the note through March 31, 2025 if this offering is not completed or for the 30 days subsequent to the closing of this offering.
 Notes with a fair value of $2.9 million, of which 120% of the $1.0 million principal is due at the earlier of March 31, 2025 or 30 days subsequent to the closing of this offering, with a stock premium of                , payable in                      shares of our common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) immediately prior to the closing of this offering. Interest accrues at a rate of 15% per annum from the date of the note through March 31, 2025 and is payable 30 days after the closing of this offering. An additional 0.4 million shares of our common stock will be issued if we do not complete this offering by March 31, 2025.

 

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  Notes with a fair value of $11.0 million, of which include a one-time interest charge equal to $9.4 million, payable in                         shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering, with $1.6 million in principal to be paid on the earlier of (a) 5 days subsequent the closing of this offering or capital raise of at least $10 million and (b) March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the notes at a rate of 12% per annum through the maturity date. Such notes at fair value have a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if our valuation is less than $770 million at the closing of this offering. An additional 0.1 million shares of our common stock will be issued if this offering is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.
Notes totaling $0.5 million, which accrue interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum, with the principal and interest to be paid in cash on the maturity date, which is the earlier of the fifth business day following the closing of this offering or the closing of one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $35 million.
 A note totaling $0.1 million with a maturity date of March 31, 2025, which includes a contingent interest charge equal to $50,000 payable in                      shares of common stock (assuming an initial public offering price of $                  per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) which is to be paid immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

 

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Dangroup Incentive Agreement

 

In June 2024, we entered the Dangroup Incentive Agreement with Dangroup, whereby we agreed to pay Dangroup 20% of Sky-Watch’s EBITDA as an incentive bonus for their continued involvement in Sky-Watch’s governance, management and/or other operations, commencing on January 1, 2025 for an initial term of five years, which shall renew upon mutual agreement of the parties. In December 2024, we amended the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, whereby we agreed to transfer to Dangroup shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering such that Dangroup’s ownership would be increased to 5% of our capital stock on a fully diluted basis.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
(in thousands)  2024   2023 
Net cash provided by operating activities  $21,485   $22,106 
Net cash used in investing activities   (789)   (836)
Net cash used in financing activities   (10,583)   (9,288)

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled $21.5 million, and was primarily due to positive non-cash adjustments, including goodwill impairment, depreciation and amortization, non-cash loss on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation, net of a negative non-cash adjustment for change in fair value of contingent consideration, offset by working capital adjustments, primarily consisting of the changes in accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, net of changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities and deferred compensation partially offset by a net loss of $38.7 million. Net cash provided by operations of $22.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to positive non-cash adjustments, primarily the change in fair value of contingent consideration and depreciation and amortization, and working capital adjustments, primarily from increases in deferred revenue and accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities, partially offset by a net loss of $32.5 million.

 

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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

Cash of $0.8 million was used in investing activities during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 to purchase property and equipment and intangible assets.

 

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2024 was $10.6 million, primarily due to payments made to the sellers of Sky-Watch that were partially offset primarily by the proceeds from borrowings (including related party borrowings), net of repayments. Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2023 of $9.3 million was primarily due to payments on contingent consideration and amounts due to the sellers of Sky-Watch.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 1 “The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, the following accounting policies and specific estimates involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, these are the policies and estimates we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations:

 

the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of performance obligations for revenue contracts with multiple performance obligations;
   
 the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for business combinations;

 

goodwill impairment;

 

impairment of indefinite lived and long-lived assets;
   
 valuation of debt;

 

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stock-based compensation;
   
 inventory valuation; and

 

the recognition, measurement and valuation of current and deferred income taxes and uncertain tax positions.

 

As described more fully below, these estimates bear the risk of change due to the inherent uncertainty of the estimate. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, industry benchmarking information, and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

 

These estimates may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and such changes will be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from these estimates and any such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue when, or as, we satisfy performance obligations by transferring promised products or services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive. We apply the following five steps: (i) identify the contract with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied. We account for a contract with a customer when there is a legally enforceable contract, the rights of the parties are identified, the contract has commercial terms, and collectability of the contract consideration is probable.

 

For certain sales, we have contracts with customers that include multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, we account for individual performance obligations separately, by allocating the contract’s total transaction price to each performance obligation in an amount based on the relative SSP of each distinct good or service in the contract. We determine the SSP based on our overall pricing objectives, taking into consideration market conditions. Determining whether products or services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for those services. Our contracts do not include highly variable components. The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections can result in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and deferred revenue (contract liabilities). The costs to obtain contracts, primarily commission expenses, are expensed when incurred.

 

Amounts that are invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and revenue or deferred revenue, depending on whether the revenue recognition criteria have been met. A large portion of our sales result in partial prepayments prior to shipment from customers. Otherwise, customer invoices generally have payment terms of net 30 days and do not have a significant financing component.

 

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Our revenue is derived from various sources: (i) avionics products consisting primarily of hardware with embedded firmware sold to an authorized dealer network and avionics and GNSS products sold to OEMs, (ii) R&D projects, (iii) sales-based royalties related to GNSS technology licensed to OEMs, (iv) consultation and training services related to aerial integration and close air support providing the latest tactics, technique, and procedures to incorporate contract close air support/intelligence surveillance reconnaissance with video downlink systems into tactical operations, (v) technology and equipment sales (vi) mUAS, commonly referred to as “commercial drones,” sales, including hardware, software, training, support and product service, and (vii) drone services, including surveys, imaging, security, and other drone applications.

 

Business Combinations

 

We account for acquired businesses using the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method, our consolidated financial statements include the financial results of an acquired business starting from the date the acquisition is completed. In addition, the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any contingent consideration must be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective estimated fair values, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of contingent consideration and intangible assets and in assigning their respective useful lives. Accordingly, we typically obtain the assistance of third-party valuation specialists for significant acquisitions. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management but are inherently uncertain.

 

We use a discounted cash flow analysis given probability and estimated timing of payout to determine the fair value of contingent consideration on the date of acquisition. Significant changes in the discount rate used could affect the accuracy of the fair value calculation. Contingent consideration is adjusted based on experience in subsequent periods and the impact of changes related to assumptions are recorded in operating expenses as incurred.

 

We typically use an income method to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect a consideration of other marketplace participants and include the amount and timing of future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability), the underlying product or technology life cycles, the economic barriers to entry, and the discount rate applied to the cash flows. Unanticipated market or macroeconomic events and circumstances may result in a triggering event for which we would test for impairment.

 

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Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. We manage our business primarily based upon four operating segments: (i) Drones, (ii) Avionics, (iii) Training and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, each of which represents a reportable segment. We have determined that each reportable segment represents a reporting unit and, in accordance with ASC 350, each reporting unit requires an allocation of goodwill. We will continue to reevaluate reportable and operating segments.

 

Goodwill is not amortized and is tested at the reporting unit level for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We have selected October 1st as the date to perform our annual impairment test. In the valuation of goodwill, management must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows to be derived from our business. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record an impairment for these assets. Management may first evaluate qualitative factors to assess if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and to determine if an impairment test is necessary. Management may choose to proceed directly to the evaluation, bypassing the initial qualitative assessment. The impairment test involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to which goodwill is allocated to its net book value, including goodwill. A goodwill impairment loss would be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. We recorded goodwill impairment charges of $38.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as described within Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. No goodwill impairment charges were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

2023 Impairment Test

 

In 2023, due to delays we experienced in securing financing, we performed a quantitative assessment on goodwill for all of our reporting units except Avionics, as no goodwill had been allocated to this reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting units for which we performed quantitative impairment tests was estimated using an income approach, which incorporates the use of the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) method. Financial projections used by management in performing quantitative impairment tests required the use of significant estimates and assumptions specific to the reporting unit as well as those based on general economic conditions. Factors specific to each reporting unit included revenue growth, profit margins, terminal value growth rates, capital expenditures projections, assumed tax rates, discount rates and other assumptions deemed reasonable by management.

 

The table below displays the fair value for each reporting unit tested in the 2023 annual impairment test. We determined that the fair value of the Drones and Training reporting units substantially exceeded their respective carrying values. While the Electric Air Mobility reporting unit fair value was not substantially in excess of its carrying value, the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by $12.3 million, or 2.3%, and accordingly, our goodwill was not impaired.

 

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Drones

     

Electric Air

Mobility

     

Training

 
Goodwill carrying value as of October 1, 2023   $ 109.9 million     $ 451.4 million     $ 36.5 million  
Fair value of reporting unit as of October 1, 2023   $ 151.3 million     $ 545.2 million     $ 97.0 million  
Carrying value of reporting unit as of October 1, 2023   $ 96.1 million     $ 532.9 million     $ 46.6 million  

 

Estimates and assumptions varied between each reporting unit depending on the facts and circumstances specific to that reporting unit. The discount rate for each reporting unit was influenced by general market conditions as well as factors specific to the reporting unit. For the 2023 impairment test, the WACC discount rate we used for our reporting units was 25% to 40% and the terminal value growth rate was 4%. The terminal value growth rate represented the expected long-term growth rate for our industry, which incorporated the type of services each reporting unit provided as well as the global economy. Other factors influencing the revenue growth rates included the nature of the services the reporting unit provided for its clients, the geographic locations in which the reporting unit conducted business and the maturity of the reporting unit.

 

Specific to the Electric Air Mobility segment’s projections as of our October 1, 2023 testing date, projected revenue was primarily updated from our initial revenue estimates to reflect projected aircraft production from 2027 to 2028. As of our October 1, 2023 testing date, no R&D revenue was assumed for the period 2024 to 2027 as the Electric Air Mobility segment had been informed that it was not selected for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program. Our projected revenue estimates in years 1 and 2 of commercialization as of October 1, 2023 increased as compared to initial revenue estimates for the same two-year period. Current projections were updated to reflect an assumed selling price in line with the negotiated pricing noted in nonbinding letters of intent and revised production levels based on expected capacity over the same two-year period.

 

Revenue projections were based on increasing production quantities year-over-year that max out at approximately 3,000 units per year at a single facility, and a per-unit sales price that increases over time, assuming a 1.5% escalation rate per year.

 

EBITDA projections as of October 1, 2023 during the two years post commercialization were developed using revised estimates of manufacturing costs, production hours per unit, learning curves and subsequent efficiencies, and operating costs.

 

Mid-term and long-term EBITDA projections incorporated economies of scale and synergies, however, changes between projections as of October 1, 2023 and our initial projections are not significant once maximum manufacturing conditions are reached.

 

As to the degree of uncertainty associated with our assumptions, we believed our long-term projected revenue was reasonable given a sales price supported by non-binding letters of intent and a relatively small number of units in comparison to, according to the Morgan Stanley Report, an anticipated global market ranging between an expected $1 trillion with an upside of $4.4 trillion by 2040. There was a higher degree of uncertainty in projected EBITDA as compared to projected revenue, as projected EBITDA included estimates as to future labor and material costs, efficiency rates as to the number of production hours required over time, and synergies.

 

The most sensitive factor in our analysis was the WACC discount rate. As of October 1, 2023, a 35% WACC discount rate was applied to the Electric Air Mobility segment, which was fairly consistent but still more conservative than the 34% WACC discount rate used as of the acquisition date. The 100 basis-point increase was deemed appropriate due to the development stage of the Electric Air Mobility segment, however, a larger increase was not deemed appropriate due to positive market changes including proof of concept in the market and observations of timing to certification by TCCA. As to the sensitivity of the WACC rate, another hypothetical 100 basis-point increase in the WACC discount rate would have yielded an estimated fair value for the Electric Air Mobility segment below carrying value.

 

We believe the factors considered in the impairment analysis were reasonable; however, significant changes in any one of our assumptions could have produced a different result and resulted in impairment charges that could have been material to our consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment exceeded the carrying value as of October 1, 2023 by $12.3 million, or 2.3%. While the goodwill of this reporting unit was not currently impaired, we noted that there could be an impairment in the Electric Air Mobility segment in the future as a result of changes in certain assumptions. For example, the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment could be adversely affected and may result in an impairment of goodwill if this reporting unit is not able to advance the development of our aircraft and other products, obtain regulatory approvals, and launch and commercialize our products at scale, if the estimated production costs are significantly higher than estimated or if the WACC discount rate is increased.

 

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2024 Impairment Test

 

As a result of the BCA Transactions being terminated in August 2024 and the continued delays in securing financing, we determined it appropriate to test the fair value of each reporting unit for goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2024 for all of our reporting units except Avionics as no goodwill had been allocated to this reporting unit. We determined that the fair value of the Drones reporting unit substantially exceeded its respective carrying value. The Electric Air Mobility and Training reporting unit fair values indicated goodwill impairment as detailed below.

 

      Drones      

Electric Air

Mobility

      Training  
Goodwill carrying value as of September 30, 2024   $ 115.8 million     $ 451.4 million     $ 36.5 million  
Fair value of reporting unit as of September 30, 2024   $ 185.1 million     $ 510.2 million     $ 25.1 million  
Carrying value of reporting unit as of September 30, 2024   $ 133.5 million     $ 527.2 million     $ 46.1 million  
Impairment as of September 30, 2024   $     $ 17.0 million     $ 21.0 million  

 

Estimates and assumptions varied between each reporting unit depending on the facts and circumstances specific to that reporting unit. The discount rate for each reporting unit is influenced by general market conditions as well as factors specific to the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting units for which we performed quantitative impairment tests was estimated using an income approach, which incorporates the use of the discounted cash flow method. Projections used require the use of significant estimates and assumptions specific to the reporting unit as well as those based on general economic conditions. Factors specific to each reporting unit include revenue growth, profit margins, terminal value growth rates, capital expenditures projections, assumed tax rates, discount rates and other assumptions deemed reasonable by management. For the 2024 impairment test, the WACC discount rates we used for our reporting units was 30%-35% and the terminal value growth rate was 4%. The terminal value growth rate represents the expected long-term growth rate for our industry, which incorporates the type of services each reporting unit provides as well as the global economy. Other factors influencing the revenue growth rates include the nature of the services the reporting unit provides for its clients, the geographic locations in which the reporting unit conducts business and the maturity of the reporting unit.

 

Specific to the Electric Air Mobility segment’s projections as of September 30, 2024, projected revenue was revised to include projected aircraft production timing for the Jaunt Journey in 2031 as compared to a previous estimate of 2028 and further incorporated production of a cargo UAV (a smaller cargo derivative of the Jaunt Journey) in 2027. Projected revenue in years 1 and 2 of commercialization of the cargo UAV as of September 30, 2024 were added to our September 30, 2024 projections based on an estimated assumed selling price and expected production levels of approximately 240 units over the two-year period. Projected revenue in years 1 and 2 of commercialization (i.e., 2028 and 2029) of the Jaunt Journey as of October 1, 2023 was based on a sales price that was in line with the negotiated pricing contained in our non-binding letters of intent and projected volume of 630 units over the same two-year period. Following the revision of the estimated commercialization date to 2031, the escalation rate utilized in our original projections continued to be consistently applied. Accordingly, such escalation rate was applied to the original estimated selling price in 2028 for a period of three additional years (i.e., 2028 to 2031). As a result, the sales price in the revised estimated first year of commercialization (2031) increased compared to prior projections. Revenue projections for both programs were based on increasing production quantities year-over-year that max out at approximately 400 units per year for the cargo UAV and 3,000 units per year for the Jaunt Journey at a single production facility, and a per-unit sales price that increases over time assuming a 1.5% escalation rate. The foregoing escalation rate and production volume of the Jaunt Journey remained consistent with prior year projections.

 

EBITDA projections as of September 30, 2024 and October 1, 2023 were developed using estimates of manufacturing costs, production hours per unit, learning curves and subsequent efficiencies, and operating costs. While mid-term and long-term EBITDA projections at maximum capacity have not significantly changed compared to our prior year testing date of October 1, 2023, the impact of delaying the projected cash flows from the Jaunt Journey as a result of a later expected commercialization date resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment, which indicated impairment. Projected EBITDA as of October 1, 2023 gave effect to net research and development costs expected to be incurred between 2024 and 2027 leading up to the commercialization of the Jaunt Journey aircraft and assumed positive EBITDA during the two years following commercialization. Projected EBITDA as of September 30, 2024 gave effect to net research and development costs expected to be incurred (i) between 2025 and 2028 leading up to the commercialization of the cargo UAV and (ii) between 2029 and 2031 leading up to the commercialization of the Jaunt Journey and assumed positive EBITDA during the two years following commercialization. Mid-term and long-term EBITDA margin projections at full rate production were reduced slightly (1-2%) compared to our prior year testing date of October 1, 2023.

 

EBITDA projections as of September 30, 2024 were also revised to incorporate estimates of manufacturing costs of the cargo UAV, which reduced mid-term and long-term gross margins by approximately 2% at full rate production, as well as estimated efficiencies, which resulted in reduced operating expenses slightly (0.5%-1%) as a percentage of revenue as compared to the October 1, 2023 projections.

 

While the timing of projected cash flows from the Jaunt Journey has been delayed and as operations now include a plan to produce a cargo UAV, profitability of the Electric Air Mobility segment post-commercialization of the Jaunt Journey has always been part of our projections. We anticipate profitability in the Electric Air Mobility segment commencing in year two following commercialization of the cargo UAV. As to the degree of uncertainty associated with our assumptions, we believe our long-term projected revenue is reasonable given a sales price supported by non-binding letters of intent and a relatively small number of units in comparison to, according to the Morgan Stanley Report, an anticipated global market ranging between an expected $1 trillion and with an upside $4.4 trillion by 2040. There is a higher degree of uncertainty in projected EBITDA, as compared to projected revenue as projected EBITDA includes estimates as to future labor and material costs, efficiency rates as to the number of production hours required over time, and synergies.

 

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The most sensitive factor in our analysis was the WACC discount rate. As of September 30, 2024, a 33% WACC discount rate was applied to the Electric Air Mobility segment, which is fairly consistent with the 35% WACC discount rate used as of our prior year testing date of October 1, 2023. The 200 basis-point decrease from prior year was deemed appropriate due to more conservative projected long term EBITDA margins as compared to sales in the prior year, regulatory harmonization that has occurred for the industry between the FAA, TCCA, and EASA, advances in electric propulsion, battery density, and autonomous systems which lower remaining technical development risk. While these factors reduce risk to the Electric Air Mobility segment, a larger decrease in the WACC was not deemed appropriate due to delays in funding for development efforts and overall implementation risk that remains similar to October 1, 2023. As to the sensitivity of the WACC rate, another hypothetical 100 basis-point increase in the WACC discount rate would have yielded an additional $46.0 million in goodwill impairment.

 

We believe the factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable; however, significant changes in any one of our assumptions could produce a different result and result in additional impairment charges that could be material to our consolidated financial statements. For example, the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment could be adversely affected and may result in an additional impairment of goodwill if this reporting unit is not able to advance the development of our aircraft and other products, obtain regulatory approvals, and launch and commercialize our products at scale, if the estimated production costs are significantly higher than estimated or if the WACC discount rate is increased.

 

Specific to the Training segment’s projections as of September 30, 2024, we noted a significant decrease in sales and gross margins as a result of not being able to meet contractual demands due to delays in the funding of aircraft. In prior years, government ISR aircraft contracts did not require that the aircraft be able to employ weapons. As those contracts have aged-out, the new requirements for the re-competitions require assets that have the ability to employ training munitions and have been approved by the government to do so. CDI does not possess aircraft that can achieve this requirement; thus, we have either not been awarded or chose not to bid on certain contracts. The projected revenue and margins were revised to include the timing of projected aircraft and investments to be made in flight schools in the short-term (between 2025 and 2028) and then the acquisition of additional aircraft beginning in years after 2029.

 

EBITDA projections as of September 30, 2024 have not significantly changed compared to our prior year testing date of October 1, 2023, and we do not anticipate any changes until we are able to make more significant investments in aircraft, and at which time we can better leverage our operating expenses. At that point, we anticipate that mid-term and long-term EBITDA margins would increase. The shifting and corresponding discounting of these projections resulted in a significant decrease in the fair value of the Training segment, which indicated impairment.

 

As to the degree of uncertainty associated with our assumptions, we believe our short-term projected revenue is reasonable given our history with military contract practices and the historical results of flight schools, while our long-term projected revenue is subject to a higher degree of uncertainty. To mitigate this risk, a 30% WACC discount rate was applied to these projections which was consistent with our prior year testing date of October 1, 2023. As to the sensitivity of the WACC rate, another hypothetical 100-basis-point increase in the WACC discount rate would have yielded an additional $3.4 million in goodwill impairment.

 

We believe the factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable; however, significant changes in any one of our assumptions could produce a different result and result in additional impairment charges that could be material to our consolidated financial statements. For example, the fair value of the Training segment could be adversely affected and may result in an additional impairment of goodwill if this reporting unit is not able to purchase the needed aircraft, if the estimated costs for managing the flight schools are significantly higher than estimated or if the WACC discount rate is increased.

 

Intangible Assets

 

We perform valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and allocates the purchase price of the acquired business to the respective net tangible and intangible assets. We determine the appropriate useful life by performing an analysis of expected cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed. We capitalize third-party legal costs and filing fees, if any, associated with obtaining patents. Once the patent asset has been placed in service, we amortize these costs over the shorter of the asset’s legal life, generally 20 years from the initial filing date, or its estimated economic life using the straight-line method.

 

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The estimated useful lives for our intangible assets are as follows:

 

   

Estimated useful life

Developed technology   8 to 13 years
Tradenames – definite-lived   4 to 8 years
Customer relationships   3 to 7 years
Patents   up to 20 years

 

In addition to the long-lived intangible assets, we also had $8.8 million of indefinite lived intangible assets which is primarily the $8.7 million tradename obtained in conjunction with the Jaunt acquisition.

 

Impairment of Indefinite Lived Assets

 

Under ASC 350-30-35-18, an intangible asset that is not subject to amortization shall be tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. In testing for impairment, we define our Asset Groups at the reporting unit level. Under ASC 360-10-35-26 when an asset group is a reporting unit, the asset group includes goodwill. When goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles are included in the long-lived asset group being tested for impairment, the indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 350-30 first, then the long-lived assets (groups) are tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 360-10, and goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level in accordance with ASC 350-20 last.

 

ASC 350-30-35-18A specifies that an entity may first perform a qualitative assessment, as described in this paragraph and paragraphs 350-30-35-18B through 35-18F, to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test.

 

When performing the annual impairment test in 2023, we used a qualitative assessment to determine if any facts or circumstances during the period could require a quantitative analysis. When performing a qualitative assessment, we considered factors listed in ASC 350 which includes cost factors, financial performance, legal, regulatory, contractual, political, business, or other factors. Based on our review of these factors, there was no impairment of indefinite lived assets recorded during the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2023.

 

As a result of the BCA Transactions being terminated in August 2024 and the continued delays in financing, we determined it appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment considering factors listed in ASC 350, which includes cost factors, financial performance, legal, regulatory, contractual, political, business, or other factors. Based on our review of these factors, there was no indication of impairment for the Avionics or Drones segments. However, we determined it appropriate to perform a quantitative analysis on intangible and long-lived assets within the Electric Air Mobility and Training segments. The fair value of the undiscounted cashflows of both the Electric Air Mobility and Training segments was significantly higher than the respective asset group’s carrying value and therefore no impairment charges were required to be recorded for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

We evaluate long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, for impairment in accordance with ASC 360 whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If such evaluation indicates that the carrying amount of the asset or the asset group is not recoverable, any impairment loss would be equal to the amount the carrying value exceeds the fair value. Our 2023 evaluation was performed in accordance with ASC 360 and included considerations related to market price, use and condition of the asset, business climate, projections of losses and other factors. While each of these reporting units had an operating loss through October 1, 2023, they continued to project increases in operating performance.

 

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We therefore determined that, given this fact pattern and other considerations, the financial performance did not indicate that it is more likely than not that the long-lived assets of the reporting units were impaired. As such, there was no impairment recorded during the year ended 2023.

 

As a result of the BCA Transactions being terminated in August 2024 and the continued delays in financing, we determined it was appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment considering factors listed in ASC 350 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”) which includes cost factors, financial performance, legal, regulatory, contractual, political, business, or other factors. Based on our review of these factors, there was no indication of impairment for the Avionics or Drones segments. However, we determined it was appropriate to perform a quantitative analysis on intangible and long-lived assets within the Electric Air Mobility and Training segments. The fair value of the undiscounted cashflows of both the Electric Air Mobility and Training segments was significantly higher than the respective asset group’s carrying value and therefore no impairment charges were required to be recorded in 2024.

 

Valuation of Debt

 

During 2024, certain Investor Notes were amended which resulted in significant modifications of debt. In accordance with ASC 470-50, as this significant modification was considered an extinguishment and created an election date for the fair value option and as the fair value election is applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis, we chose to record these Investor Notes at fair value beginning on the modification date in October 2024. Investor Notes have historically included various interest features in the form of both stock and cash upon the closing of an initial public offering or qualified financing. 

 

Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of debt. Accordingly, we typically obtain the assistance of third-party valuation specialists for valuations. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management but are inherently uncertain.

 

To determine the fair value of Investor Notes, we incorporated the probability of both an IPO and non-IPO scenario and estimated stock pricing through a lattice model. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect a consideration of other marketplace participants and include the amount and timing of future cash flows. Significant changes to our assumptions used could affect the accuracy of the fair value calculation.

 

Inventory Valuation

 

We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Reductions to the carrying value of inventory are charged to cost of revenue and a new, lower cost basis for that inventory is established. Subsequent changes to facts or circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in the related inventory value. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

We recognize compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the grant-date estimated fair value of the awards. Options and restricted stock awards may be granted as time-based awards, performance-based awards or combinations of the time-based and performance-based awards. We expense the fair value of its options to employees and non-employees on a straight-line basis over the associated service period for time-based awards, which is generally the vesting period. The performance-based awards begin their period of ratable vesting at the time that we determine that the achievement of the performance thresholds is probable. We account for forfeitures as they occur and does not estimate forfeitures at the time of grant. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will be for only those options that vest.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability approach method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the consolidated financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as for net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax amounts are determined by using the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance reduces the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized.

 

We evaluate our tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing our tax returns to determine whether the tax positions will more-likely-than-not be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are not recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Interest and penalties, if applicable, are recorded in the period assessed as income tax expense.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

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BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are a technologically differentiated aerospace, autonomy, and air mobility platform targeting 21st century aerospace and defense opportunities. We leverage decades of industry expertise and connections across the drone, aviation, and avionics markets to provide leading solutions to the aerospace and defense market. We offer connected and diversified solutions providing operational synergies across our segments and are powered by an international footprint as well as supplier and public sector relationships. Supported by complementary and innovative technologies, we believe we bring a unique value proposition to the market and are well-positioned to become a differentiated leader in the industry.

 

Our business is organized into four operating segments, each of which represents a critical growth vector in the aerospace and defense market: Drones, Avionics, Training, and Electric Air Mobility. These four segments collectively target a combined total addressable market estimated to be over $315.4 billion by 2030.

 

 

Drones. The Drones segment develops, manufactures, and sells drones and will provide drone services, such as DaaS, for military and commercial end users. Our military drones are sold through our Sky-Watch brand, which is a key supplier to European NATO countries. A critical point of differentiation lies in our drones’ ability to perform in a GPS-denied environment, which is a technology application relevant for both military and commercial end markets.

 

Avionics. The Avionics segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics for military and general aviation aircraft, drones, and eVTOLs. Our advanced avionics products include flight displays, Connected Panels, and GPS/GNSS sensors, all of which have been installed on legacy military aircraft and general aviation platforms. We sell our advanced avionics through our Aspen Avionics brand, which is well-recognized in the general aviation aftermarket sector with over 20 years of operating history and long-term customer loyalty for our value proposition. We also serve as an avionics supplier for OEMs, including Robinson Helicopters, Pilatus, and Honeywell. We believe our avionics solutions have a considerable market opportunity as general aviation fleets continue to age, with owners and operators seeking to upgrade the avionics technology on their aircraft.

 

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Training. The Training segment currently provides military pilot training and will provide commercial pilot training in the future. We offer professional training and consulting services to the U.S. military, select NATO countries, and other U.S. allies under our CDI brand. These offerings include adversary air, close air support, ISR, aircraft leasing, pilot training, ground liaison services, and JTAC, as well as full joint theatre ISR and simulated ground strike training. We work closely with special military forces such as SEAL teams, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, and USAF Air Combat Command and are a mandated recipient on a $5.7 billion IDIQ contract. Our personnel’s top security clearances and established relationships at the Pentagon provide us with a differentiated ability to bid on mandates. We also plan to offer commercial pilot training and plan to expand our non-military capabilities in response to the global pilot shortage.

 

Electric Air Mobility. The Electric Air Mobility segment is developing a rotorcraft eVTOL for cargo and passenger use through our Jaunt brand for fixed route flights, on-demand trips, and cargo operations. Our R&D efforts are focused on developing a cargo eVTOL platform, which will be a scaled-down version of our passenger eVTOL platform, and will target the attractive middle mile delivery cargo market. Meanwhile, our long-term R&D efforts are focused on developing a full-scale multi-role eVTOL platform, which will be able to serve both the cargo and passenger markets. We plan to certify our eVTOLs through existing CAR 529 Rotorcraft standards, with our platform including the best attributes of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Our patented compound rotorcraft technology, a core point of technological differentiation that will underpin our cargo eVTOL’s commercial capability, has over 300 piloted flight hours on multiple Jaunt demonstrator aircraft. We believe the range and payload capabilities driven by this technology uniquely position us to provide a compelling commercial solution for the eVTOL cargo market. Once developed and certified, we expect our cargo eVTOL program will serve as the foundation of our commercialization efforts, with passenger applications serving as a longer-term secondary initiative.

 

Our Platform

 

Our business is thoughtfully interconnected as we seek to leverage each segment’s full capabilities and drive synergies, creating a significant competitive advantage. We are synergistically leveraging our field-proven product track record – particularly through our Drone and Avionics brands – to drive opportunities across our platform. The manufacturing capabilities of our Avionics segment enable us to supply most of our own components for our drone and aircraft systems, including our eVTOL aircraft, which enhances our product quality and reduces production costs. Our deep, long-term relationships with the U.S. government and NATO countries that underpin our Training and Drones segments provide us with access to key decisionmakers, which provides us with new business opportunities. Our Electric Air Mobility platform represents a significant future growth opportunity to expand into cargo and passenger eVTOLs while also providing an OE platform for new products and services across our other segments.

 

In addition, we are able to utilize our certification capabilities to improve time to market for the introduction of products and services. These offerings leverage our U.S. and international sales and manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and expand our market footprint. This capability also helps us swiftly integrate new avionics, electronics, and AI into our products, all while sharing the intra-segment R&D insights that drive our high-quality, interconnected products and services.

 

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Our Competitive Strengths

 

We are an at scale, integrated aerospace and defense platform with multiple solutions and services in the high-growth aerospace and defense categories. Our competitive advantages include:

 

Cross-Platform Strategy Generates Operational and Product Synergies

 

Our business is thoughtfully interconnected to leverage each segment’s full capabilities, with synergies driving growth in new customer categories, geographies, and product lines that would not be attainable as standalone entities. Each of our segments benefits from operational synergies in certification, economies of scale, shared R&D insights and integration of products and services across a global platform with operations in the United States, Canada and Denmark. Accordingly, our platform generates a considerable positive network effect, with shared access to commercial, technological, and public sector relationship resources, including the United States, EU members, NATO countries and other international allies of the United States, which drive growth and innovation to meet customer needs.

 

Fulsome Product Assortment Targeting Actionable Market Opportunities

 

We offer differentiated technologies and diversified product offerings across the Drones, Avionics, Training, and Electric Air Mobility segments for both military and commercial end users. Our product lineup is competitively designed to take advantage of key opportunities in the aerospace and defense sector, focusing on areas with potential for future growth. Additionally, the collaboration between our R&D and commercial teams ensures that our products are both market-relevant and commercially available. With offerings ranging from training to drones to services to avionics, we address the marketplace of tomorrow.

 

Talented Management Team Possesses Robust Operational Experience and Deep Private and Public Sector Relationships

 

Our robust leadership team possesses over 150 years of combined operating experience and industry success in the aerospace and defense market. We maintain strong relationships with key contacts within the U.S. government and NATO, as well as regulatory agencies, such as the FAA, DHS, and NASA, which has provided us with access to key decisionmakers to secure new business and enable us to build the trust necessary to offer additional functions and features for our products and services. For example, certain members of our management team currently serve on various boards for several government agencies and have held military leadership positions in the past. These relationships are critical to this industry and have enabled us to initiate discussions with key government officials, which is a significant barrier to entry. We believe our established relationships are a core point of differentiation that will support our future success.

 

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Exceptional Research and Development that Supports the Potential for Industry-Leading Products

 

We have a history of developing and launching innovative products, with our product advantage rooted in our exceptional R&D capabilities. From prototyping to certification to commercialization, our ability to launch solutions with strongly differentiated technology and direct product market fit is core to our platform. Our innovative, technology-additive solutions are underpinned by a robust new product development pipeline supported by our platform. Moreover, critical human capital interdependencies between our various segments have provided a positive network effect, increasing the quality and efficiency of our development process. This has been proven out particularly in our Drones and Avionics segments, where the RQ-35 Heidrun and Connected Panel solutions, respectively, have proven to be compelling value propositions in their end markets.

 

Market Opportunity

 

The defense industry is affected by geopolitical and security issues. Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and heightened geopolitical tension in the Pacific region have elevated global security concerns. This has caused many governments to increase their focus on defense and security, leading to a rise in defense spending and a growing willingness to adopt new technologies and solutions. Specifically, beginning in 2014 in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and amid broader instability in the Middle East, NATO countries agreed to commit 2% of their national GDP to defense spending to help ensure the continued military readiness of NATO allies. According to NATO, 23 NATO countries are expected to meet or exceed the target of investing at least 2% of GDP in defense in 2024, compared to only three NATO countries in 2014. Over the past decade, European allies of the United States and Canada have steadily increased their collective investment in defense by 41.3%, and are investing a combined total of more than $430 billion in defense spending in 2024. Moreover, NATO has recently signaled it will increase its defense spending benchmark from its current 2% of GDP target. Current NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has acknowledged the “goal of 2%, set a decade ago, will not be enough to meet the challenges of tomorrow” and that NATO members will have to increase spending by “considerably more than 3%.” In order to ensure that these funds are spent in the most effective and efficient way to acquire and deploy modern capabilities, NATO countries have also agreed that at least 20% of defense expenditure should be devoted to major new equipment, including associated R&D perceived as a crucial indicator for the scale and pace of modernization. These tailwinds support the development of a new market leader in the aerospace and defense market, with the emergence of new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and advanced autonomous vehicles creating new commercial opportunities.

 

Drones. Global conflicts, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have led to an increase in military spending and investment in new technologies solutions such as drones. According to the Precedence Military Drones Report, the military drone market size is expected to reach approximately $24.75 billion by 2030. Key demand drivers include the rise of asymmetrical warfare, new avionics, and the inherent user safety advantages of drones over manned systems. We believe that our products will continue to play a role in the arsenals of the future, including through NATO countries. In addition, we believe that the U.S. military’s transformation into a smaller, more agile force that operates via a network of observation, communication, and precision targeting technologies will continue to accelerate the acceptance and use of small drone military operations around the world.

 

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In addition, commercial drone use is gaining momentum as multiple industries are incorporating drones into their daily business functions, given the wide range of applications, including monitoring, inspection and surveillance. According to the Grand View Drone Report, it is anticipated that worldwide commercial drone revenues will reach $163.5 billion by 2030. For example, farmers are using drones to inspect and spray their crops, which improves yields, construction sites are adopting drones to survey and monitor land, which improves workplace safety, and companies are using drones to inventory product in factories and warehouses, which improves efficiency. Additionally, drones are being used increasingly to transport and deliver goods. For example, hospitals are deploying drones to deliver critical medicine and other medical supplies to remote and underserved regions, while logistics companies are using drones to transport cargo between locations, expediting deliveries. As the commercial drone industry matures, we believe that aircraft and their components subsystems will become more commoditized, with additional pockets of growth expected in services and service-derivative revenues. The trajectory of commercial drone applications is well-aligned with our business strategy, which includes a focus on commercializing multiple types of value-added drone solutions to meet various end user and industry needs.

 

Avionics. New aircraft production and upgrades to existing aircraft are driving demand for our avionics solutions. We believe the market places a premium on avionics solutions like ours that have capabilities such as improved flight controls, communications and navigation capabilities, and flight monitoring. Continued technological advances in avionics and aging general aviation fleets are expected to drive growth for the general aviation avionics aftermarket.

 

Training. Overall demand for military flight training is expected to grow as countries around the world increase defense spending and outsource flight training to the private sector. Key market drivers include outsourcing of military training, technological advancement, and the ongoing pilot shortage. Additionally, the DoD has awarded over $13.7 billion in military aviation training contracts since 2015, representing a new public-private sector market norm. In the commercial market, the same shortage of trained pilots serves as the main driver of demand. According to the Fortune U.S. Pilot Training Report, the commercial training market is projected to grow from $1.8 billion in 2023 to over $4.9 billion in 2030, representing a CAGR of 15.4%.

 

Electric Air Mobility. According to the Morgan Stanley Report, it is estimated that the global electric air mobility market may grow to be approximately $55 billion by 2030 and to approximately $1 trillion by 2040. We believe that autonomous aerial cargo is one of the largest unaddressed segments within the EAM market, with an additional actionable opportunity in passenger transportation. We expect both of these segments will provide a substantial market opportunity. While the electric air mobility market is in its nascent stage, we believe that the growing prevalence of e-commerce, rising labor costs in traditional ground transportation, traffic congestion and the continued advancement in AAV technology will lead to growing demand for cargo solutions based on AAVs. In addition, the implementation of government regulations and creation of federal and state incentives has started to meaningfully influence consumer behavior by increasing the focus on emissions standards and targets and leading to greater interest in aircraft electrification. Ultimately, cargo represents the most actionable near-term end market owing to its large commercial opportunity and reduced technological hurdles.

 

Our Growth Strategies

 

We are a growing platform built off a successful M&A strategy, with a robust pipeline of future commercial opportunities. Our growth strategies are rooted in a bold and focused vision for the future, with a mix of organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Within each of our segments, there are several opportunities to increase market share and penetrate new business areas.

 

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Organically grow existing business line capabilities.

 

We intend to make substantial investments in our sales and marketing, analytics, and communications functions to support our expansion within current markets and into future and specialized markets within each of our segments. We have identified specific opportunities to invest in organic growth, including procuring additional aircraft to expand the capabilities of the Training segment, launching larger screen form factor avionics with increased functionality, and iteratively developing our existing drone technology to enter new commercial end markets. With strong customer relationships and a focus on loyalty and satisfaction, we will continue to upsell and cross-sell across our portfolio, which in conjunction with investments in marketing and brand positioning will bolster our brand awareness. Finally, we are planning on both measured geographic expansion and targeting new customer end markets, which will further expand our addressable market.

 

Develop and commercialize new products and services and expand certification of new and future products and services.

 

Our segment specific initiatives are as follows:

 

Drones. We intend to launch U.S. production of our military drones and subsequently seek DoD Blue UAS drone certification, which we currently estimate will take approximately six months to achieve and will allow us to sell drones to the DoD. This certification process involves sponsors in various U.S military branches supporting our product, with full certification essentially contingent on U.S-domiciled production. In addition, we intend to expand our drone and DaaS offerings into new verticals, including agricultural, security, and industrial applications, leveraging our GPS denied technology proposition as the leading edge of our value proposition owing to its inherent product-market fit.

 

Avionics. We intend to focus our R&D activities on integrated avionics for our cargo eVTOL platform, the Jaunt Journey, and other eVTOLs as well as training aircraft in current markets. We believe focusing on in-flight controls, navigation, and communications will lead us to experience strong growth through organic expansion opportunities designed to expedite the development of integrated systems for both internal platforms and external OEM initiatives. With a history of providing innovative avionics for over 20 years, Aspen Avionics is primed to launch products for the aircraft of tomorrow.

 

Training. We intend to expand our current training capabilities through the acquisition of a flight school for commercial flight training and the launch of a fixed wing military simulation service offering. Our training capabilities will be further enhanced by the acquisition of additional training aircraft through our acquisition of a flight school or otherwise. Additionally, we plan to offer drone and electric air mobility flight training to take advantage of these rapidly growing markets.

 

Electric Air Mobility. We intend to develop, certify, and commercialize our eVTOL aircraft. We anticipate certification of our 33% downscaled cargo eVTOL under drone rules as early as 2027 and expect our first passenger production aircraft to be certified by the TCCA under existing CAR 529 Transport Category Rotorcraft airworthiness rules as early as 2031.

 

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Leverage Public Sector Relationships and Security Clearances to Drive Business.

 

Our deep public sector relationships and security clearances enable us to bid on government RFPs and drive brand awareness of our drone, eVTOL, avionics, and training solutions with key military decision makers. For example, members of our management team maintain close relationships with the highest levels of government around the world, including military leaders, ambassadors, and defense attachés from NATO and its allies. Our senior leadership team has also held and/or currently holds positions on various government committees across the FAA, Pentagon, and White House. Key employees also possess extensive military leadership experience having served in U.S. special forces units. This competitive moat grants us enviable access to key growth end markets and unlocks commercial synergies between our various segments.

 

Partnering with other firms on commercial ventures to drive technology convergence.

 

Partnerships allow us to expedite development of customer solutions by bringing together critical technologies across the aerospace and defense marketplace. For example, our Sky-Watch brand has critical partnerships with companies such as Palantir and Helsing that have boosted our drone’s capabilities. For our Electric Air Mobility segment, partnerships with have been and will be at the forefront of our eVTOL platform’s integrated and convergent technology advantage - not only for the end-product but also in the areas of manufacturing, engineering and supply chain. New partnerships in AI and machine learning are also being explored in the Drones segment as well as virtual training system partnerships in the Training segment.

 

Strategically acquire businesses and technologies to enhance our offerings.

 

We were formed in August 2021 for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies engaged in the aerospace and defense industry. Since our founding, including the Put-Together Transaction, we have gained experience in successfully integrating businesses, and will continue to focus on thoughtful strategic acquisitions as a key component of our business growth strategy. For example, the drone and avionics markets are primed for consolidation due to the lack of scale, capital, and resources necessary for expansion by many drone and avionics companies, and we have identified and are actively evaluating a wide range of strategic opportunities for expansion. We believe our acquisition strategy will enable us to expand our footprint and opportunities in new and existing areas, strengthen our customer base and market share and improve overall brand recognition.

 

Continual investment in software, AI, and machine learning to expand solutions capabilities and increase operational efficiencies.

 

We plan on building out our software, AI, and machine learning capabilities to help our customers solve more complex problems and bring additional capabilities to the marketplace. In addition, we intend to offer new product and service lines to ensure our customers are equipped with the proper tools for their evolving needs. These investments are expected to further bolster our cross-platform network effort to help support future R&D and new product development. These initiatives will also help us streamline our internal processes and optimize our supply chain, which will support further growth.

 

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Segment Summary

 

Drones

 

The Drones segment develops, manufactures and sells drones and will provide drone services, such as DaaS, for military and commercial end users. Our military drones are sold through our Sky-Watch brand, which is a key supplier to European NATO countries. Military applications include reconnaissance, surveillance, and defense services, while commercial applications currently include inspection, survey, mapping, and photography, with future potential expansion into agriculture, weather analysis, conservation, healthcare, search and rescue and construction applications. A critical point of differentiation lies in our drones’ ability to perform in a GPS denied environment, which has numerous military and commercial applications. Moreover, our close feedback loop with in-field operators supports a battlefield relevant capability set. Key market tailwinds include heightened geopolitical instability, increased defense spending, and the evolving realities of the 21st century battlefield. Our core future initiatives include military manufacturing in the United States to sell our drones to the DoD and expansion of the DaaS business.

 

Our primary military product, the RQ-35 Heidrun, offers significant advantages over existing micro-ISR drones, because of the combination of its full-autonomy, demonstrated ability to operate in harsh electronic warfare and GPS-denied battlespaces, its long flight time, ease of operation, and robust supply chain. Our RQ-35 Heidrun drones operate in EU and NATO countries, having been tested and deployed in international markets in the EMEA region, including in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. These drones have hundreds of thousands of hours operating successfully in these harsh environments, and via integrations with other battlespace partners, and has proven to be an essential link between intelligence gathering and decision making for military customers around the world.

 

We also have three cargo drone platforms, including the Sentinel 30 km short-distance drone, the Chaos 60 km medium distance drone, and a downscaled cargo version of the Electric Air Mobility segment’s Jaunt Journey that can carry up to 250 pounds. All of these platforms are currently in the prototype stage and we are working to obtain FAA certification, which has been granted by the FAA for cargo oriented drones, for our cargo drones before going to market.

 

Our drone assortment has critical points of parity with other drones along parameters such as wingspan, weight, payload, and endurance, with our critical point of differentiation being our drone’s ability to autonomously operate in GPS-denied environments. This core attribute expands the solutions scope of our offerings while reducing the need for human input. This technology has critical applications across military and commercial use cases, and we believe we are uniquely suited to capitalize on this opportunity.

 

We also plan to provide DaaS offerings, including surveillance services for businesses interested in monitoring, surveying, and evaluating their properties. Our DaaS strategy is rooted in our GPS-denied technology, which has strong commercial potential in agriculture, security, and industrials applications. We plan to offer an extensive suite of capabilities for a wide range of commercial use cases, including mapping, surveying, inspecting, photographing and filming, dispensing and spraying, warehousing, monitoring. We will expand our commercial capabilities by offering drone maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, which would allow us expand the breadth of our commercial offerings.

 

Sales of our drones to the DoD is a key future initiative. Our production facilities in Albuquerque and Phoenix are currently in the process of obtaining Blue UAS certification, which will enable us to manufacture and sell our RQ-35 drone to the DoD. This certification process involves sponsors in various U.S military branches supporting our product, with full certification essentially contingent on U.S.-domiciled production. A version of the RQ-35 intended for Blue UAS certification, the RQ-35 v.251, is currently in our development plan, along with a follow-on certification program. We currently estimate that it will take approximately six months to achieve Blue UAS certification. We are leveraging the full breadth of our product development excellence, public sector relationships, and our platform to penetrate the U.S. military drone market.

 

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To support future new product development, we are designing and engineering efficient, reliable, and low-carbon-emission unmanned aircraft systems for both commercial and military markets. We are actively developing improvements for our existing RQ-35 Heidrun drone while also designing the next generation of fully autonomous, fixed-wing mini drones.

 

Finally, we are developing a global command, control and communications network for safe, efficient and seamless air platform interoperability called “AIRO Link.” This network would be designed to enable ground operators to establish a data link to unmanned aircraft systems, providing valuable flight analytics and support the development of drone flights performed in BVLOS. Currently, we are researching the requirements and framework that will enable multiple BVLOS drone operations at low altitudes in airspace where FAA air traffic services are not provided. We are also working to demonstrate the feasibility of using small radio or communication links on drone airframes.

 

Avionics

 

The Avionics segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics for military and general aviation aircraft, drones, and eVTOLs. Our advanced avionics products include flight displays, Connected Panels, and GPS/GNSS sensors, all of which have been installed on legacy military aircraft and general aviation platforms. With technology constantly advancing and general aviation fleets aging, we believe there is considerable potential for military and general aviation aircraft to be upgraded with our solutions. Key market tailwinds include technological advancements, robust general aviation delivery numbers, and an aging general aviation fleet.

 

Our Aspen Avionics brand provides avionics solutions to the general aviation aftermarket, including Connected Panels and OEM displays and integrations for select partners. Our Aspen Avionics brand is well-known in the avionics market, given its extensive presence on older military, general aviation, and rotary wing platforms. In addition, our Aspen Avionics brand possesses over 20 years of experience and strong, long-term customer acceptance of its value proposition. We also supply parts to OEMs, including displays to Robinson Helicopters, our Connected Panels to Pilatus and Honeywell, and are developing solutions for our Jaunt eVTOL platforms and other eVTOL operators like Joby Aviation.

 

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Our product assortment is built on our Connected Panels, Evolution Flight Display System, and NexNAV offerings depicted below:

 

 

The Avionics segment uses a book and bill model, leveraging our strong relationships with more than 650 dealers worldwide. We primarily use contract manufacturers based in the United States for our advanced avionics product. Product-market fit has been robust with our flight display system, our Connected Panels, and NexNav, which have been well received by consumers.

 

Our solutions demonstrate strong points of parity with products manufactured by competitors Garmin Ltd., Dynon Avionics, Inc., and Avidyne Corporation along many core product functionality attributes such as Primary Flight (“PFD”) and Multi-functional Displays, PFD Backup, Vacuum Removal, Small Form Factor, and GPS / GNSS Integration. Our key point of differentiation is our products’ easy-use, low-cost installation, and unique upgradeability, with our avionics engineered ground-up to allow for value-added features to be added seamlessly throughout the ownership lifecycle.

 

We are developing new avionics systems with additional capabilities. These systems are being designed to improve detection and avoidance with obstacles that could enable manned and unmanned BVLOS operations and enhance connectivity and health monitoring between ground-based and flight-based systems. We are also developing sensor payloads for specific missions and researching the use of advanced light field and near-eye optics for display systems.

 

We are also developing larger screen displays which will allow us to serve as an OEM supplier for a variety of platforms. Additionally, these larger screen displays will also be used on our Jaunt cargo and passenger aircraft, which we expect will significantly reduce total eVTOL and Avionics production costs.

 

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Training

 

The Training segment provides military and commercial pilot training for the military and commercial sectors. We offer professional training and consulting services to the U.S. military, select NATO countries, and other U.S. allies under our CDI brand. These offerings include adversary air, close air support, ISR, aircraft leasing, pilot training, ground liaison services, JTAC training, as well as full joint theatre ISR and simulated ground strike training. We work closely with special military forces such as SEAL teams, the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, and USAF Air Combat Command. Our top security clearances and established relationships at the Pentagon provide us a differentiated ability to bid on mandates. We also offer commercial pilot training for individuals looking to satisfy their training requirements to earn their commercial pilot license and are actively expanding our non-military capabilities. Our leased aircraft platforms include the Cessna-310, Cessna-206, and L-39 Albatros with plans to also procure the Marchetti S-211, enabling us to provide a wide variety of training services.

 

Coastal Defense Incorporated. CDI provides a full suite of services including close air support, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance and simulated ground strike training. We are highly experienced in special forces and possess top secret clearance for our facility, which enables us to bid on contracts with special clearance requirements. CDI is an approved participant under certain multiple award IDIQ contracts issued by the U.S. military. Approved IDIQ contract participants such as CDI bid on task orders as they are issued by the U.S. military pursuant to such IDIQ contracts. The U.S. military chooses winning bids based on such factors as cost, certainty of fulfilling the requirements of a specific task order, safety records, and other factors.

 

CDI is a current participant under two such IDIQ contracts. The first is for Combat Air Force CAS services, which was awarded in September 2024 and expected to be completed by September 2029, with a combined not-to-exceed aggregate award of $5.7 billion across all task orders and participants. The Combat Air Force CAS contract is still active and is expected to continue through 2029. We plan to compete for task orders under this contract that we qualify for based on our fleet of aircraft. The second contract is for terminal air attack controller trainer services (“TAACTS”). The TAACTS contract will be active through 2028, with a combined not-to-exceed aggregate award of $249 million across all task orders and participants. We plan to compete for task orders under this contract as they are released. In addition to the IDIQ contracts, CDI also bids quarterly on individual contracts and purchase orders to provide ISR support services, including a current contract award until April 30, 2029.

 

Our staff includes a large network of Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps pilots. CDI is a mandated participant in a $5.7 billion IDIQ contract from 2024 through 2029 as one of seven companies approved by U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command to bid for contract military training contracts. Key market tailwinds include a persistent military pilot shortage and the DoD outsourcing pilot training to the private sector.

 

Commercial Flight School. In November 2023, we signed non-binding letters of intent to acquire two businesses for the Training segment, including a flight training school. Over time, we plan to expand into other airports by leveraging the flight school’s FAA certification and grow our base of flight instructors, while competing with other commercial pilot training centers in the United States. There can be no assurance that we will acquire the flight school on the terms described herein or at all.

 

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Electric Air Mobility

 

The Electric Air Mobility segment is developing a rotorcraft eVTOL for cargo and passenger applications through our Jaunt brand. Use cases including fixed route flights, on-demand trips, and cargo operations. Our R&D efforts are focused on developing the cargo eVTOL platform, targeting the attractive middle mile delivery cargo market. We plan to certify our platforms through existing CAR 529 Rotorcraft standards, with our eVTOL platform including the best attributes of both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. This certification process does not require us to modify existing rules to get certified, which we believe is a distinct advantage versus our competitors who are certifying under FAA Part 21.17(B) rules. Our patented compound rotorcraft technology is a core point of technological differentiation that will underpin our cargo eVTOL’s commercial capability and it has over 300 piloted flight hours on multiple Jaunt demonstrator aircraft. We believe the range and payload capabilities driven by this technology uniquely positions us to provide a compelling commercial solution for the eVTOL cargo market. Once developed and certified, our cargo eVTOL will serve as the foundation of our commercialization efforts, with passenger applications as a longer-term secondary initiative.

 

Our R&D efforts are focused on designing efficient energy management systems, flight control computers, and fly-by-wire systems capable of delivering cargo and passengers. Additionally, we are collaborating with other technology companies to provide high-fidelity virtual-reality flight simulators to eventually support eVTOL aircraft testing and pilot training. We are also researching robotic automation technologies for thermoplastic airframe manufacturing to accelerate the mass production of electric air mobility aircraft and reduce overall production costs. Key growth tailwinds include increasing demand for mid mile cargo, urban mobility access, and the inherent commercial efficiency advantages of electric platforms vis-à-vis traditional propulsion systems. Our four big target markets include cargo, passenger, emergency response, and the military, with cargo being our initial focus due to its readily addressable market potential.

 

We believe we are well-positioned to penetrate the eVTOL cargo market due to our certification approach and funding support. We anticipate that our certification strategy under CAR 529 Rules through the TCCA will significantly expedite the certification process. Once certified, our cargo aircraft will immediately be recognized by U.S. and European aviation authorities via FAA/EASA reciprocity, allowing us to bring our eVTOL aircraft to market in both the United States, Europe, and Canada concurrently. We expect to receive significant funding support from multiple sources, including the Canadian government, suppliers, and customer deposits. Additionally, we benefit from supplier cost sharing, whereby our suppliers have agreed to defer the costs of non-recurring engineering expenses until commercialization, which reduces our initial funding requirements prior to commercialization. As a result, we believe we have access to funding to cover most of our aircraft development.

 

We started developing our cargo eVTOL platform in 2024 and expect to enter the preliminary design review phase in 2025. Following completion of preliminary design review, we expect to enter the critical design review phase as early as 2027 and then plan to obtain cargo UAS certification as early as 2028. Once we receive cargo UAS certification, we expect to begin production of our cargo eVTOL. In parallel, we are planning to develop our passenger eVTOL platform but expect the timeline from program launch through production to take longer. This is due to both our initial focus on launching our cargo eVTOL platform and the generally more stringent development requirements for a passenger version. We expect our initial product will be a downscaled cargo-only eVTOL, to be followed by a fullscale multi-role cargo and passenger eVTOL.

 

We have approximately 300 aircraft in our backlog to date, all of which are for our dual-use model that is configurable for both cargo and passenger transportation. Configuration change can be accomplished in less than 15 minutes, which gives operators flexibility to perform either mission from any base of operation.

 

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Customers

 

Our customer relationships underpin the strength and growth potential of our business. We service a wide variety of end markets, with a diverse mix of customers ranging from blue-chip OEMs to NATO. Our track record of success, innovative products, tight customer relationships, and excellent service have driven strong customer retention.

 

Drones. We sell our drones to military and defense entities worldwide, including NATO member countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, which procure the drones through their sovereign funds at the country level, and then donate the majority of the drones to Ukraine. European demand is robust, as NATO countries continue to procure RQ-35s for their own use with the majority of drones subsequently donated to Ukraine for in-field use. We believe that drones can be a key component of NATO countries’ defense spending plans to meet their 2% GDP contribution target and that we have a unique opportunity for our products to take a share of these countries’ defense spending, particularly with our mUAS. Expansion of the RQ-35 into the U.S. market is in process, and we believe we will obtain certification as we have already demonstrated the RQ-35’s capabilities to U.S. forces overseas in Europe. We plan to use the funds from this offering to begin manufacturing in the United States to certify for sales to the DoD. In the future, we aim to serve the commercial end markets through our drone services and AIRO Link offerings, targeting Fortune 500 companies.

 

Avionics. We sell our avionics solutions through our network of more than 650 dealers to sell products to owner-operators of general aviation aircraft and directly as an OEM solution to Robinson Helicopters, Pilatus, and Honeywell. In addition, the Drones and Electric Air Mobility segments use our avionics and electronics components on their platforms.

 

Training. We have contracts with the U.S. government to provide military training and simulation services.

 

Electric Air Mobility. We intend to sell directly to middle mile cargo logistics providers and UAM operators.

 

Corporate History

 

We were formed on August 30, 2021 for the purpose of acquiring and integrating various companies engaged in the aerospace and defense industry. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we completed our “Put-Together Transaction” to acquire six companies which are now organized into our four reportable segments: (i) Drones, through our subsidiaries, AIRO Drone and Sky-Watch; (ii) Avionics, through our subsidiary, Aspen Avionics; (iii) Training, through our subsidiaries, Agile Defense and CDI; and (iv) Electric Air Mobility, through our subsidiary, Jaunt.

 

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Competition

 

We operate in highly competitive markets that are sensitive to technological advances. In each of our market segments, some of our competitors are larger and can maintain higher levels of expenditures for R&D. In each of our markets, we concentrate on the opportunities that we believe suit our resources, overall technological capabilities, and objectives. Principal competitive factors in these markets are product quality and reliability; technological capabilities, including reliable, resilient, and innovative cyber capabilities; service; past performance; ability to develop and implement complex, integrated solutions; ability to meet delivery schedules; the effectiveness of third-party sales channels in international markets; and cost-effectiveness. We frequently “partner” or are involved in subcontracting and teaming relationships with companies that are, from time to time, competitors on other programs.

 

Avionics. We have several competitors in the avionics market. Those major competitors include companies such as Honeywell International Inc. (HON), Avidyne Corporation, Collins Aerospace, Dynon Avionics, Inc., uAvionix Corporation, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., and Garmin Ltd. (“Garmin”). In the display and integrated avionics segment, the primary competitor is Garmin, which has the largest market share in the aftermarket segment. Garmin, Honeywell, and Collins Aerospace are the leaders in the OEM segment. As the eVTOL market emerges, we expect new market competitors as well as the existing competitors in the avionics segment. Our primary competitors in the Connected Panel market include Honeywell, Garmin, and Teledyne. In the GPS market space, the NexNav system has few direct competitors. NexNav products include licensing, Circuit Card Assemblies (“CCA”), and Line Replaceable Units or boxes (“LRU”). Competitors include Honeywell’s wholly owned division, Bendix/King, CMC Electronics Inc./Esterline Technologies Corp., FreeFlight Systems Inc. (“FreeFlight”) Trig Avionics Ltd. (“Trig Avionics”), and uAvionix Corporation. FreeFlight and Trig Avionics also license our design. Other manufacturers of GPS components such as Garmin, Honeywell, and Collins Aerospace do not sell standalone GPS devices in our markets and typically provide that functionality embedded in an integrated product.

 

Training. Our Training segment is part of an industry that is highly concentrated with several well capitalized competitors including, without limitation, Draken International, Inc. (“Draken”), Top Aces Inc. (“Top Aces”), Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, LLC (“ATAC”), and Tactical Air Defense Services Inc. (“TacAir”). Draken has a large inventory of domestic and foreign-built aircraft including A4 Skyhawk, L-159G Alca, Aermacchi MB 339, MiG 21, L-39 Albatros, F1 Mirage, and Atlas Cheetah. A current contractor with the U.S. Air Force (“USAF”) and the U.S. Navy (“Navy”), Top Aces, is a Canadian-based company with an inventory of domestic and foreign-built aircraft, including A4 Skyhawk and Dornier Alpha Jet, and is set to acquire F-16 Falcons through its acquisition of Advanced Training Systems International in Mesa, Arizona. ATAC is a current contractor with the USAF and Navy, and has a large inventory of foreign-built fighter jets, including F21 Kfir, MK-58 Hawker, L-39 Albatros, and F1 Mirage, of which the newest aircraft was operational in 1968. TacAir has a medium inventory of domestic built F-5 Freedom Fighters and also operates customer-owned domestic and foreign-built aircraft, including F-16 Falcon and SU-27. We also compete with simulation training.

 

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Drones. We anticipate the defense market for sUAS continues to evolve in response to changing technologies, shifting customer needs and expectations, and the potential introduction of new products. We believe that a number of established domestic and international defense contractors have developed or are developing sUAS that continue to compete, or will compete, directly with our products. Some of these contractors have significantly greater financial and other resources than we possess. Our current principal sUAS competitors include Elbit Systems Ltd., Teledyne Technologies, Inc., L3 Technologies, Inc., and Lockheed Martin Corporation. The U.S. defense market for mUAS has been addressed primarily by Boeing’s ScanEagle and Textron Inc.’s Shadow UAS. Our current principal mUAS competitors include those competing with us for the U.S. Army’s Future Tactical UAS Program: Martin UAV, LLC and Northrop Grumman Corporation’s V-Bat, Textron Inc.’s Aerosonde, and L3Harris Technologies, Inc.’s FVR-90. International mUAS competitors include Elbit Systems Ltd. and Israel Aircraft Industries International, Inc. We do not view large UAS, such as Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Global Hawk or General Atomics, Inc.’s Predator and its derivatives, as direct competitors to the sUAS because they perform different missions, do not typically deliver their information directly to front-line ground forces, and are not hand launched and controlled. However, we cannot be certain that these platforms will not become direct competitors in the future. Potential competition from consumer-focused drone manufacturers is emerging as their capabilities increase and their prices remain low relative to existing defense solutions, which is resulting in some level of military consideration even if such drones do not meet traditional military performance or security specifications. Such potential competitors include Skydio Inc. and Shield AI, Inc.

 

The market for commercial UAS products and services is in an early stage of development, but is evolving rapidly, generating a great deal of interest as government regulations evolve to accommodate commercial UAS operations in the NAS and in the airspace systems of other countries. Given the breadth of applications and the diversity of industries that could benefit from UAS technology, a growing number of potential competitors in this market include consumer drone manufacturers such as Da Jiang Innovations (although regulation is trending toward further restrictions against Chinese made drones, Da Jiang Innovations remains a global industry leader and continues to serve markets on which we are focused), who seek to enhance their systems’ capabilities over time; other sUAS manufacturers, including large aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, and drone and aerial surveying and mapping service providers such as PrecisionHawk, Inc., Sentera LLC, and SlantRange, Inc.; ground-based surveying and mapping service providers; satellite imagery providers; and specialty system manufacturers, software as a service and other service providers aiming to address specific market segments. The emerging non-military market is attracting numerous additional competitors and significant venture capital funding given perceived lower barriers to entry and a much more fragmented marketplace as compared to the military market. Potential additional competitors include start-up companies providing low-cost solutions.

 

Electric Air Mobility. Unlike our competitors, we anticipate utilizing existing certification rules for our aircraft configuration, which we believe will give us a clearer path to commercial service. The Jaunt Journey air taxi is certifying at the highest level of commercial transport, allowing it to fly under existing rotorcraft rules and to utilize existing aviation infrastructure.

 

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Our main sources of competition in the Electric Air Mobility segment fall into three categories:

 

  companies, including other eVTOL manufacturers and UAM service providers, that have entered, or plan to enter, the commercial electric vehicle market, such as publicly traded competitors Archer Aviation Inc., Eve UAM, LLC (an Embraer S.A. company), Joby Aviation, Inc., Lilium N.V., and Vertical Aerospace Ltd.;
     
  incumbent aircraft charter services that have served a similar market for years with hydro-carbon-based combustion engines; and
     
  ground vehicle transportation, including personal vehicles and asset-light businesses, such as Uber Technologies, Inc. and Lyft, Inc., with whom we expect some amount of competitive overlap despite our belief that the traditional ground vehicle will be largely complementary to our electric air mobility offerings.

 

We believe the principal competitive factors in this market include, but are not limited to:

 

  certification approach and timeline;
     
  cost;
     
  customer experience;
     
  integrated business model;
     
  manufacturing efficiency;
     
  product quality, reliability, and safety;
     
  product performance;
     
  service capabilities;
     
  supplier partnerships and cost sharing; and
     
  technological innovation.

 

Because of our focus on eVTOL aircraft design for safety and commercialization, we believe that we are able to compete favorably across these factors.

 

Research and Development

 

We benefit from the intellectual experience and capacity of visionary leadership and a robust R&D culture linked directly to our operating business model. We leverage this to continue our thought and innovation leadership among industries, government, military, academic, aviation, and other market segments.

 

Business survival and evolution of best systems demand comprehensive self-assessment and disruption analysis to be a true leader in the industry. Accordingly, we characterize our company and our people as an “innovation and invention machine.”

 

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To this end, we promote company-wide experimentation, partnering and client/customer collaboration to assimilate and harness the best ideas. We plan to induce R&D through big data collection, an internal architecture for participation and an enablement process to absorb external innovation resources extensively and assimilate them into our indigenous business. Our R&D process is matrixed internally with operating segments and engineering efforts. It involves management and oversight from idea conception to prototyping, to commercialization and sales; then cycles to improve products and services continuously.

 

Additionally, we partner with appropriate industry leaders, scientific and technology communities, academia, government entities and others to foster simultaneous research, design, development, and maintenance of both new and existing products.

 

Our R&D focuses in five areas that correspond to government and industry needs: (1) Advanced Avionics and Sensors, Displays and Integrations; (2) Electric Air Mobility System; (3) UAS and sUAS Critical Systems; (4) Drone Command, Control, and Communication Systems; and (5) U.S. and Global Standards.

 

Advanced Avionics and Sensors, Displays and Integration. We design and engineer advanced systems that include, but are not limited to:

 

  Cockpit display system functions for primary flight and multi-functional devices installed in general aviation cockpits;
     
  connectivity and health monitoring between ground-based and flight-based systems; and
     
  sensor payloads for specific missions.

 

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Electric Air Mobility Systems. We design and engineer safe, efficient, low-carbon, reliable and functional platforms and systems for passengers through stringent flight testing and evaluation. This includes, but is not limited to the research, development or analysis of:

 

  efficient energy management system, flight control computers, and fly-by-wire systems with industry partners to enable the development of our all-electric aircraft; and
     
  robotic automation technologies for thermoplastic airframe manufacturing to accelerate the mass production of electric air mobility aircraft and reduce production costs.

 

UAS and sUAS Critical Systems. We design and engineer safe, efficient, low-carbon-emission, reliable and functional platforms and systems for multi-mission roles through stringent flight testing and evaluation. This includes, but is not limited to the research, development or analysis of:

 

  sense and avoid systems and standards necessary to comply with the Code of Federal Regulations that apply to operating and flight rules (14 C.F.R. pt. 91);
     
  de-risking operations by AI-enhanced on-board autonomy and decision-making for collision avoidance, mapping and path-planning, particularly in confined and largely inaccessible areas;
     
  enabling the scale of UAS missions and services by minimizing UAS training lead-time via on-board AI/algorithm modification and hardware modularity to enhance flight safety and performance across broader applications;
     
  disposable and recyclable drones; and
     
  partner to design leading-edge vertiports and operations.

 

Drone Command, Control and Communications Systems. We develop a global Command, Control and Communications network for safe, efficient and seamless air platform interoperability termed, “AIRO-NET;” through which we will:

 

  explore operation, data exchange requirements and the supporting framework to enable multiple BVLOS drone operations at low altitudes (under 400 feet above ground level) in airspace where FAA air traffic services are not provided;
     
  demonstrate and prove the feasibility of using a small radio or communications link in sUAS, UAS, and UAM airframes, while evaluating the operating compatibility with existing avionics equipment;
     
  develop secure Command and Control links with interference mitigation among satellite, drone-to-drone, and drone-to-controllers;
     
  design command centers for BVLOS Drone and Advanced Air Mobility missions and services; and
     
  absorb, assimilate and develop best services, roles and responsibilities, information architecture, data exchange protocols, software functions, infrastructure, and performance requirements systems for a drone “traffic management” ecosystem for uncontrolled operations complementary to FAA’s Air Traffic Management system.

 

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U.S. and Global Standards. Our goal is to be a leader of standard setting in the new aerosphere, such that it will support the development of regulations, policies, procedures, guidance, and standards for manned and unmanned aircraft operations, including but not limited to function allocation, control station requirements, pilot training and certification requirements. To accomplish that goal, we:

 

  provide information from flight tests, modeling and simulation, technology evaluations, risk assessments, and data gathering and analysis to provide the FAA and other global authorities with critical information in areas such as Detect and Avoid, UAS communications, Human Factors, System Safety, and Certification;
     
  support the FAA and industry with ongoing participation with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the American Society for Testing and Materials in the development of standards for UAS and electric aircraft systems; and
     
  address human factors, maintenance and safety concerns that are unique to manned and unmanned aircraft.

 

Intellectual Property and Brand Protection

 

Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property. To establish and protect our proprietary rights, we rely on a combination of intellectual-property rights (e.g., patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets including know-how and expertise) and contracts (e.g., license agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with third parties, and employee and contractor disclosure and invention assignment agreements).

 

We own or have exclusive rights to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and/or other intellectual property rights in the United States and abroad that support us and the respective brands, products and services of each of our four segments. We have 34 issued patents worldwide (of which 27 are U.S. patents and 7 of which are British, French, German, and Italian validations of European patents). Without accounting for any potential patent term adjustments or extensions or other forms of exclusivity with respect to our U.S. issued patents, 4 expire before 2026, 13 expire between the beginning of 2026 and the end of 2030, and 10 expire between the beginning of 2031 and the end of 2039. The European patents are expected to expire between the beginning of 2027 and the end of 2032.

 

Of the above referenced patents and applications, approximately 20 of the issued U.S. patents are related to electronic flight display technologies. Approximately 7 of the issued U.S. patents are related to vertical take-off and landing aircraft technologies. We also have 5 U.S. trademark registrations and 1 pending U.S. trademark applications. Our various portfolio companies regularly file for patent and trademark protection, and we have also acquired intellectual property by way of corporate acquisition.

 

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We believe that our differentiated and balanced portfolio of intellectual property rights in the aerospace, defense and drone technologies spaces, our diversified product portfolio, ranging from established and mature product offerings to innovative drone and eVTOL solutions, and the brand reputation of our companies, provide us with a competitive advantage.

 

In the future, we intend to continue to seek intellectual property protection for our new products, technologies and designs, and exercise our rights to exclusively use these valuable assets.

 

Properties

 

Our corporate headquarters and U.S. manufacturing plant are located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our manufacturing plant is leased and comprises approximately 18,000 square feet and primarily supports our Avionics segment. In addition, our Drones segment leases property in Soevring, Denmark that is used for office space, manufacturing and inventory storage which comprises approximately 43,185 square feet. Over time, we expect that we will need additional engineering and manufacturing facilities to support the design and production of our Electric Air Mobility and Avionics segments products.

 

Employees and Human Capital Management

 

As of December 31, 2024, we had 151 full-time employees across our platform, including 99 in the Drones segment, 34 in the Avionics segment, nine in the Training segment, and nine in the Electric Air Mobility segment. Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating existing and new employees, advisors and consultants. We anticipate additional hiring activity across our four segments as we continue to scale our operations.

 

Fifty-one employees based in Denmark in the Drones segment are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Danish Industry union. Apart from such employees, no other employees are currently covered by collective bargaining agreements or represented by labor unions.

 

We anticipate increased hiring activity as we continue to scale operations. In particular, our Electric Air Mobility segment anticipates substantial hiring activity, although it will also augment staffing using third-party service providers. We intend to hire operational management and engineering staff for R&D.

 

Government Regulation

 

We are subject to various local, state, federal and international laws and regulations relating to the development, manufacturing, sale and distribution of our products, systems and services, and it is our policy to comply with the applicable laws in each jurisdiction in which we conduct business. Regulations include but are not limited to those related to import and export controls, corruption, bribery, environment, government procurement, wireless communications, competition, product safety, workplace health and safety, employment, labor and data privacy.

 

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Drones

 

Because it contracts with the DoD and other agencies of the U.S. government—and, for certain of those contracts, requires access to classified information—our Drones segment is subject to extensive federal statutes and regulations, including the FAR, the DFARS, the Truthful Cost and Pricing statute, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the False Claims Act, and the regulations implementing the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (“NISPOM”). The NISPOM regulations establish the security requirements applicable to classified contracts and programs, facility security clearances, and personnel security clearances. The federal government audits and reviews contractors’ performance on contracts, pricing practices, cost accounting systems and practices, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. Like most government contractors, the Drones segment’s contracts are audited and reviewed regularly by federal agencies, including the Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

 

Certain of these statutes and regulations impose substantial penalties for violations, including significant financial liability and suspension or debarment from government contracting or subcontracting for a period of time. Our management monitors its government business to reduce the risk of such violations occurring.

 

In addition, the Drones segment is subject to industry-specific regulations due to the nature of the products and services it provides. For example, certain aspects of its business are subject to further regulation by additional U.S. government authorities, including: (i) the FAA, which regulates airspace for all air vehicles in the NAS; (ii) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, which regulate the wireless communications upon which its UAS depend in the U.S.; (iii) the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the U.S. Department of State, which administers the International Traffic in Arms Regulations that regulate the export of controlled technical data, defense articles and defense services and (iv) the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which regulates matters relating to U.S. national security and technology.

 

On June 21, 2016, the FAA released its final rules that allow routine use of certain sUAS in the NAS. The FAA rules, which went into effect in August 2016, provide safety rules for sUAS (under 55 pounds) conducting non-recreational operations. The rules limit flights to visual-line-of-sight daylight operation, unless the UAS has anti-collision lights in which case twilight operation is permitted. The final rule also addresses height and speed restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking and operational limits, including prohibiting flights over unprotected people on the ground who are not directly participating in the operation of the UAS. Current FAA regulations require drone operators to register their systems with the FAA and secure operating licenses for their drones as per the Part 107 specifications. These regulations continue to evolve to accommodate the integration of UAS into the NAS for commercial applications, including High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite UAS.

 

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In December 2019, the FAA proposed rules requiring the remote identification of UAS. Remote identification, which provides for a UAS in flight to provide identification that can be received by other parties, is designed to enhance safety and security by allowing the FAA and other agencies to identify a UAS that appears to be flying unsafely or in an area in which flight is not permitted. The public comment period for the proposed rules expired on March 2, 2020. On April 21, 2021, the final rule for remote identification of UAS went into effect. On the same day, the final rule for operation of sUAS over people also went into effect. This rule permits routine operations of sUAS over people, moving vehicles, and at night under certain conditions. The final rule also makes changes to the recurrent testing framework and expands the list of persons who may request the presentation of a remote pilot certificate. Additionally, in February 2020, the FAA issued a public request for comment on its proposed policy for the creation of a new type certification of certain UAS as a special class of aircraft under FAA regulations. Currently the Part 107 Rules allow for the operation of sUAS without the need for FAA airworthiness certification as long as the UAS meets certain specified criteria and certain flight rules are followed; larger UAS and operations of sUAS outside the scope of the Part 107 Rules require a waiver from the FAA. The FAA’s proposed policy proposes a new special class of UAS for which airworthiness certification can be obtained, however, the proposed policy only applies to the procedures for the type certification of the new class of UAS, not the criteria that will be needed for the UAS or the flight operations to be followed to operate. Further rulemaking by the FAA is anticipated regarding the particular criteria for the airworthiness certification standards under the new special class proposed by the new policy. The comment period for the FAA’s proposed policy expired on March 4, 2020.

 

While it is currently anticipated that the enactment of remote identification, operation of sUAS over people, and a new airworthiness certification process for a newly created special class of UAS will help formalize the process for manufacturing and obtaining airworthiness certification for UAS within the newly created class and accelerate the development of commercial UAS in the U.S., it is uncertain whether the FAA’s actions, if any, will have such effects. Additionally, it is unclear when, if ever, the FAA will implement final rules regarding remote UAS identification and whether they will differ from the proposed rules. It is also unclear when, if at all, the FAA will create a new class of UAS and what the final rules regarding the certification of such UAS will look like. We cannot be certain as to how its business will be affected by the FAA’s proposals until the final rules for such matters are issued by the FAA.

 

Furthermore, our non-U.S. operations are subject to the laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions, which may include regulations that are more stringent than those imposed by the U.S. government on our U.S. operations.

 

The defense and security mUAS segment, most often represented by government clients, has, in our opinion, the best possibility to utilize mUAS systems, as both armed forces and security agencies often times have access to restricted airspace in which to train, build capabilities, and operate. Nevertheless, the extent to which the mUAS market—defense, security and civilian professional—can be accessed, expanded, and commercially exploited is tied to clients’ ability to fly in non-restricted airspace and, moreover, the ability to fly BVLOS. National and international regulation, such as the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management initiative implemented by the FAA and NASA in the U.S. or the “U-Space” initiative implemented by the EASA to address UAS traffic management in the EU, is still underway, as is standardization of operator certification and platform (airworthiness) certification. Until these standards, certifications, and traffic management are effectively clarified and ratified systematically and internationally, certain clients of the targeted customer segment may be hesitant, or even prevented, in acquiring and utilizing our mUAS solutions. Accordingly, the nature of and the speed with these regulations are completed and implemented pose a risk for both our financial performance and condition, timing of growth and (short-term) growth potential.

 

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Government Contracting Process

 

Our Drones segment sells the significant majority of its small and medium UAS and traffic management system products and services as the prime contractor under contracts with the U.S. government. Certain important aspects of its government contracts are described below.

 

Proposal Process

 

Most of the Drones segment’s current government contracts were awarded through a competitive proposal process. The U.S. government awards competitive contracts based on solicitations that describe the procuring agency’s needs and establish proposal evaluation and source selection criteria. Each interested supplier prepares a proposal in response to the agency’s solicitation. Proposals usually must be prepared in a short time period in response to a deadline identified in the solicitation, and the proposal effort requires extensive involvement of numerous technical and administrative personnel. Following award announcements, unsuccessful offerors may challenge the agency’s award decision in a proceeding known as a “bid protest.”

 

Funding

 

The funding of U.S. government programs is subject to congressional appropriations. Although multi-year contracts may be authorized in connection with major procurements, Congress generally appropriates funds on a fiscal year basis, even though a program may continue for many years. Consequently, programs are often only partially funded initially, and additional funds are committed only as Congress makes further appropriations.

 

The U.S. military funds its contracts for full-rate production UAS either through operational need statements or as programs of record. Operational need statements require allocations of discretionary spending or reallocations of funding from other government programs. We define a program of record as a program that, after undergoing extensive DoD review and product testing, is included in the five-year government budget cycle, meaning that funding is allocated for purchases under these contracts during the five-year cycle, absent affirmative action by the customer or Congress to change the budgeted amount. Despite being included in the five-year budget cycle, funding for these programs is subject to annual approval.

 

Material Government Contract Clauses

 

All contracts with the U.S. government contain clauses, and are subject to laws and regulations, that give the government rights and remedies not typically found in commercial contracts, including rights that allow the government to:

 

  terminate existing contracts for convenience, in whole or in part, when it is in the interest of the government to do so;
     
  terminate contracts for default upon the occurrence of certain enumerated events;
     
  unilaterally modify contracts with regard to certain performance requirements;
     
  terminate contracts (including multi-year contracts) and related orders if funds for contract performance become unavailable;
     
  obtain rights in, or potentially ownership of, intellectual property developed or delivered by a contractor as a result of its performance of the contract;
     
  adjust contract costs and fees on the basis of audits completed by its agencies;
     
  suspend or debar a contractor from doing business with the U.S. government; and
     
  control or prohibit the export of certain items.

 

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Generally, government contracts are subject to oversight audits by government representatives. Compensation, if any, in the event of a termination for default is limited to payment for work completed at the time of termination. In the event of a termination for convenience, the contractor may receive the contract price for completed work, as well as its costs of performance of terminated work including an allowance for profit and reasonable termination settlement costs.

 

NATO Foreign Drone Contracting Process

 

While similar to U.S. government processing, the NATO acquisition process for defense products and services differs in a few key ways, as discussed below. NATO coordinates capability development and engagement with the defense industry through the Conference of National Armaments Directors (“CNAD”), the principal committee that brings together the top national officials responsible for defense procurement in NATO member and partner countries. The CNAD is the senior NATO committee responsible for promoting cooperation between countries in the armaments field. The CNAD implements decisions taken by member countries as part of the NATO Defense Planning Process (“NDPP”). Through the NDPP, NATO identifies the capabilities that it requires and promotes their development and acquisition by member countries. It facilitates the timely identification, development and delivery of the necessary range of forces that are interoperable and adequately prepared, equipped, trained and supported, as well as the associated military and non-military capabilities, to undertake NATO’s full spectrum of missions.

 

The Defense Industrial Production Board (“DIPB”), created as a result of the Defense Production Action Plan in 2023, brings together experts from NATO member countries on defense industrial planning and procurement, to share best practices on defense planning and other relevant issues such as procurement and supply chains. The DIPB meets regularly and reports to the CNAD. The DIPB addresses challenges related to defense industrial capacity, integration of industry into defense planning, as well as broader obstacles related to enhancing defense industrial cooperation. The DIPB also serves as a forum for identifying measures to step up defense production and increase national capabilities for deterrence and defense, replenish depleted stockpiles and operationalize NATO’s support for Ukraine.

 

The NATO Industrial Advisory Group is a high-level consultative body comprised of senior industrialists from NATO member countries and partner countries. It advises the CNAD on how to foster government-to-industry and industry-to-industry armaments co-operation within NATO. Furthermore, it provides advice to the CNAD on how to foster government-to-industry and industry-to-industry armaments co-operation within NATO.

 

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (“NSPA”) also plays a role in NATO’s logistics and procurement activities. It acquires, operates and maintains a wide range of capabilities that support NATO, its member countries, partners and other international organizations. The NSPA brings together NATO’s logistics support and procurement activities, providing effective and cost-efficient multinational support solutions. The NSPA is a sponsoring country customer-funded agency, operating on a “no profit - no loss” basis.

 

Government Contract Categories

 

There are three primary types of government contracts in the commercial drones industry, each of which involves a different payment methodology and level of risk related to the cost of performance. These basic types of contracts are typically referred to as fixed-price contracts, cost reimbursable contracts (including cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-plus-award fee, and cost-plus-incentive fee), and time-and-materials contracts.

 

In some cases, depending on the urgency of the project and the complexity of the contract negotiation, one of our Drones segment subsidiaries will enter into a Letter Contract prior to finalizing the terms of a definitive fixed-price, cost reimbursable or time-and-materials contract. A Letter Contract is a written preliminary contractual instrument that provides limited initial funding and authorizes the contractor to begin immediately performing while negotiating the definitive terms of the definitive contract.

 

Fixed-Price. These contracts are not subject to adjustment by reason of costs incurred in the performance of the contract. With this type of contract, the contractor assumes the risk that it will not be able to perform at a cost below the fixed price, except for costs incurred because of contract changes ordered by the customer. Upon the U.S. government’s termination of a fixed-price contract, generally the contractor would be entitled to payment for items delivered to and accepted by the U.S. government and, if the termination is at the U.S. government’s convenience, for payment of fair compensation for work performed plus the costs of settling and paying claims by any terminated subcontractors, other settlement expenses and a reasonable allowance for profit on the costs incurred.

 

Cost Reimbursable. Cost reimbursable contracts include cost-plus-fixed fee contracts, cost-plus-award fee contracts and cost-plus-incentive fee contracts, each of which is described below. Under each type of cost reimbursable contract, the contractor may recover allowable and allocable costs incurred in performing the contract, but it assumes the risk that it may not be able to recover costs if they are not allowable or allocable under the contract terms or applicable regulations, or if the costs exceed the contract funding.

 

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  A cost-plus-fixed fee contract is a cost reimbursable contract that provides for payment of a negotiated fee that is fixed at the inception of the contract. This fixed fee does not vary with actual cost of the contract, but may be adjusted as a result of changes in the work to be performed under the contract. This contract type poses less risk of loss than a fixed-price contract, but a contractor’s ability to win future contracts from the procuring agency may be adversely affected if it fails to perform within the maximum cost set forth in the contract.
     
  A cost-plus-award fee contract is a cost reimbursable contract that provides for a fee consisting of a base amount, which may be zero, fixed at inception of the contract and an award amount, based upon the government’s satisfaction with the performance under the contract. With this type of contract, the contractor assumes the risk that it may not receive the award fee, or only a portion of it, if it does not perform satisfactorily.
     
  A cost-plus-incentive fee contract is a cost reimbursable contract that provides for an initially negotiated fee to be adjusted later by a formula based on the relationship of total allowable costs to total target costs.

 

Our Drones segment typically experiences lower profit margins and lower risk under cost reimbursable contracts than under fixed-price contracts. Upon the termination of a cost reimbursable contract, generally the contractor would be entitled to reimbursement of its allowable costs and, if the termination is at the U.S. government’s convenience, a total fee proportionate to the percentage of work completed under the contract.

 

Time-and-Materials. Under a time-and-materials contract, compensation is based on a fixed hourly rate established for specified labor or skill categories. Contractors are paid at the established hourly rates for the hours it expends performing the work specified in the contract. Labor costs, overhead, general and administrative costs and profit are included in the fixed hourly rate. Materials, subcontractors, travel and other direct costs are reimbursed at actual costs plus an amount for material handling. Contractors make critical pricing assumptions and decisions when developing and proposing time-and-materials labor rates, risking reduced profitability if actual costs exceed the costs incorporated into the fixed hourly labor rate. One variation of a standard time-and-materials contract is a time-and-materials, award fee contract. Under this type of contract, a positive or negative incentive can be earned based on achievement against specific performance metrics.

 

Electric Air Mobility

 

A transport category type certification is the highest level in safety provided by the Civil Aviation Authorities. Jaunt intends to certify under CAR 529, single pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) and comply with Category Enhanced of EASA SC-VTOL-01 by:

 

  using System Safety Assessment processes (Aerospace Recommended Practice “ARP” 4761 with ARP 4754A) that are industry standard for commercial transport aircraft (Exposure Draft (ED) 79A);
     
  designing flight critical systems to meet the requirements of a probability of catastrophic failure of less than 10-9 per flight hour (less than once every billion flight hours);
     
  developing robust software design processes to meet Development Assurance Level A for functions that could exhibit catastrophic failures; and
     
  meeting requirements for bird strike, fatigue and damage tolerance, lightning strike, fire protection, and designing and incorporating elements for crashworthiness right from conceptual stage.

 

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We believe that this approach puts the design of the Jaunt Journey air taxi in line with the commercial transport category aircraft and rotorcraft in terms of safety and robustness. We also believe it provides Jaunt with a clear, low risk path to certification by using existing eVTOL regulations, thereby removing any guesswork from the certification approach.

 

Government Regulations and Compliance

 

In the near-term, the efforts of the Electric Air Mobility segment will focus on obtaining FAA certification of its aircraft and engaging with key decision makers in the cities in the United States in which it anticipates its aircraft and UAM service will initially operate. Its aircraft will be required to comply with regulations governing aircraft design, production and airworthiness. In the United States, this primarily includes regulations put forth by the FAA and the Department of Transportation (“DOT”). Outside the United States, similar requirements are generally administered by the national civil aviation and transportation authorities of each country.

 

Producing the Aircraft

 

Production certification is the FAA’s approval for aircraft manufacturers to be able to manufacture aircraft under an FAA approved type design. To obtain production certification from the FAA, the manufacturer must demonstrate that its organization and its personnel, facilities, and quality system can produce the aircraft such that they conform to the approved design. Jaunt is working to develop the systems and processes it will need to obtain FAA production certification with the goal of obtaining such certification shortly following completion of the aircraft type certificate.

 

Operating the Aircraft

 

Airworthiness certification from the FAA signifies that an aircraft meets its approved type design and is in a condition for safe operation in the NAS. As is the industry standard, each of the aircraft manufactured by Jaunt will need to be issued an airworthiness certificate. We expect that the airworthiness certificates issued to Jaunt’s aircraft will be a Standard Airworthiness certificate in the Normal Category, as such terms are defined by the FAA.

 

Operating the UAM Service

 

The DOT and the FAA have regulatory authority over air transportation operations in the United States. To operate its UAM in air taxi service, Jaunt will be required to hold an FAA Air Carrier Certificate and operate under Part 135 of the FARs and register as an air taxi operator at the DOT. In addition, takeoff and landing locations (e.g., airports and heliports) typically require state and local approval for zoning and land use and their ongoing use are subject to regulations by local authorities. We expect that as Jaunt builds out its UAM service there will be additional local, state and federal laws, regulations and other requirements that will cover its operations. Therefore, Jaunt has already begun and will continue to grow its engagement and collaboration with the cities in which it intends to operate its service in an effort to ensure that it operates in a safe and sustainable manner.

 

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Regulatory Approvals Relating to Passenger-grade AAVs

 

Jaunt operates in a new and rapidly evolving industry, which is subject to extensive legal and regulatory requirements. While regulations governing this industry are evolving, currently in the jurisdictions where Jaunt plans to sell its products, the commercial use of its passenger-grade AAVs, if approved, and in some cases its non-passenger-grade AAVs, is subject to an uncertain or lengthy approval process. In order for customers to use Jaunt’s passenger-grade AAVs, Jaunt is working on obtaining, or working closely with customers to obtain, relevant approvals and permits in the jurisdictions where it sells and plans to sell its products. We are unable to estimate the average length of time required to obtain the applicable regulatory approvals due to the nascent nature of AAV-related regulations and the lack of relevant precedents. For example, we are not aware of any operator having been granted all required approvals for the commercial operations of passenger-grade AAVs in China or the United States. See the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business.” In the jurisdictions where Jaunt plans to sell its products, the commercial use of its passenger-grade AAVs, and in some cases of its non-passenger-grade AAVs, is subject to an uncertain or lengthy approval process. We cannot predict when regulations will change, and any new regulations may impose onerous requirements and restrictions with which Jaunt, its AAVs and its potential customers may be unable to comply. As a result, Jaunt may be limited in, or completely restricted from, growing its business in the foreseeable future.

 

Avionics

 

Aspen Avionics designs and manufactures equipment under worldwide aviation regulatory agency approvals. These include but are not limited to FAA, EASA, TCCA, and ENAC (Brazil) regulations. These govern the design test, certification, installation, and manufacturing of Aspen’s equipment.

 

The FAA regulates the manufacture, repair and operation of all aircraft and aircraft parts operated in the United States. Its regulations are designed to ensure that all aircraft and aviation equipment are continuously maintained in proper condition to ensure safe operation of the aircraft. Similar rules apply in other countries. All aircraft must be maintained under a continuous condition monitoring program and must periodically undergo thorough inspection and maintenance. The inspection, maintenance and repair procedures for the various types of aircraft and equipment are prescribed by regulatory authorities and can be performed only by certified repair facilities utilizing certified technicians. Certification and conformance is required prior to installation of a part on an aircraft. Aircraft operators must maintain logs concerning the utilization and condition of aircraft engines, life-limited engine parts and airframes. In addition, the FAA requires that various maintenance routines be performed on aircraft engines, some engine parts, and airframes at regular intervals based on cycles or flight time. Engine maintenance must also be performed upon the occurrence of certain events, such as foreign object damage in an aircraft engine or the replacement of life-limited engine parts. Such maintenance usually requires that an aircraft engine be taken out of service. Aspen Avionics’ operations may in the future be subject to new and more stringent regulatory requirements. In that regard, Aspen Avionics closely monitors the FAA and industry trade groups in an attempt to understand how possible future regulations might impact it. Our businesses that sell defense products directly to the U.S. government or for use in systems delivered to the U.S. government can be subject to various laws and regulations that govern pricing and other factors.

 

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Import/Export Regulations. Aspen Avionics sells products and solutions to customers all over the world and is required to comply with U.S. Export Administration Regulations and U.S., EU and other economic and trade sanctions programs limiting or banning sales into certain countries. Countries outside of the United States have implemented similar controls and sanction regulations. Together these controls and regulations may impose licensing requirements on exports of certain technology and software from the United States and the EU and may impact Aspen Avionics’ ability to transact business in certain countries or with certain customers. Aspen Avionics has developed compliance programs and training to prevent violations of these programs and regulations, and regularly monitors changes in the law and regulations and create strategies to deal with changes. Changes in the law may restrict or further restrict Aspen’s ability to sell products and solutions.

 

Anti-Corruption Regulations. Because Aspen Avionics has significant international operations, it must comply with complex regulations, including U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and other local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to governmental officials, and anticompetition regulations. Aspen Avionics has compliance policies, programs and training to prevent non-compliance with such anti-corruption regulations in the United States and outside the United States. Aspen Avionics monitors pending and proposed legislation and regulatory changes that may impact its business and develops strategies to address the changes and incorporate them into existing compliance programs.

 

Environmental Regulations. Aspen Avionics’ facilities and operations are subject to numerous domestic and international laws and regulations designed to protect the environment, particularly with regard to waste and emissions. The applicable environmental laws and regulations are common within the industries and markets in which Aspen Avionics operates and serves. Aspen Avionics believes that it has complied with these requirements and that such compliance has not had a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or equity. Aspen Avionics has installed waste treatment facilities and pollution control equipment to satisfy legal requirements and to achieve its waste minimization and prevention goals.

 

Electronic products are subject to governmental environmental regulation in a number of jurisdictions, such as domestic and international requirements requiring end-of-life management and/or restricting materials in products delivered to customers, including the European Union’s Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Directive 2011/65/EU on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, as amended. Other jurisdictions have adopted similar legislation. Such requirements typically are not applicable to most equipment produced by Aspen Avionics. Aspen Avionics believes that it has complied with such rules and regulations, where applicable, with respect to its existing products sold into such jurisdictions. Aspen Avionics intends to comply with such rules and regulations with respect to its future products.

 

Wireless Communications Regulations. Wireless communications, whether radio, satellite or telecommunications, are also subject to governmental regulation. Equipment produced in Aspen Avionics’ Communication Systems and Space and Airborne Systems segments, in particular, is subject to domestic and international requirements to avoid interference among users of radio and television frequencies and to permit interconnection of telecommunications equipment. Aspen Avionics is also required to comply with technical operating and licensing requirements that pertain to its wireless licenses and operations. Aspen Avionics believes that it has complied with such rules and regulations and licenses with respect to its existing products and services, and it intends to comply with such rules and regulations and licenses with respect to its future products and services. Governmental reallocation of the frequency spectrum could impact Aspen Avionics’ business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Environmental Regulation

 

Operations in all of our segments are subject to extensive, and frequently changing, federal, state and local environmental laws and substantial related regulation by government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Among other matters, these regulatory authorities impose requirements that regulate the operation, handling, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials; protect the health and safety of workers; and require us to obtain and maintain licenses and permits in connection with our operations. This extensive regulatory framework imposes significant compliance burdens and risks on us. Notwithstanding these burdens, we believe that we are in material compliance with all federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing our operations. To date, there have been no material adverse effect to our consolidated financial statements nor competitive positions as a result of these environmental regulations.

 

Other Regulation

 

We are also subject to a variety of other regulations including work-related and community safety laws. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 mandates general requirements for safe workplaces for all employees and established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) in the Department of Labor. In particular, OSHA provides special procedures and measures for the handling of certain hazardous and toxic substances. In addition, specific safety standards have been promulgated for workplaces engaged in the treatment, disposal or storage of hazardous waste. Requirements under state law, in some circumstances, may mandate additional measures for facilities handling materials specified as extremely dangerous. We believe that our operations are in material compliance with OSHA’s health and safety requirements.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

A civil action was filed against Old AGI, Inc. in the Circuit Court of Cook County, State of Illinois in February 2022. The claimant alleges that an agreement for certain services entered into in March 2020 was breached and resulted in damages to claimant. This case was dismissed on July 5, 2022. However, the court allowed the claimant to amend its complaint. On August 5, 2022, the claimant filed its amended complaint, and we filed our response on October 12, 2022. The parties have engaged in discovery and mandatory arbitration. The arbitration resulted in an award in our favor, which was contested by the claimant. On December 19, 2024, the Circuit Court denied our motion for summary judgment. At this time, it is not possible to estimate the amount of loss or probable losses, if any, that might result from an adverse resolution of this matter. We intend to continue to vigorously defend against the complaint.

 

Civil actions were filed against CDI and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, FCCB, alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and the claimant is seeking recovery of the outstanding amounts. The claimant obtained judgments against all named defendants. We are in negotiations with the claimant and, in the meantime, has negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent the claimant from enforcing the judgments.

 

A civil action was filed against us, Old AGI, Inc., AIRO Group (Illinois), AIRO Drone, Agile Defense, Joseph Burns, Chirinjeev Kathuria and John Uczekaj in Chancery Court in Delaware in September 2023. The claimant, Robert Perrin, one of our stockholders, alleges that these entities failed to pay him for services allegedly rendered under an Employment Agreement with AIRO Group (Illinois), that the individual defendants have breached their fiduciary duties as members of our board of directors, and that defendants violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. On November 17, 2023, we filed a motion to dismiss. In response, the claimant filed an Amended Complaint on February 22, 2024 in which he dropped AIRO Group (Illinois) as a defendant, dropped the breach of contract claim and added a wage claim under Delaware statute. On April 5, 2024, we filed a Partial Answer and Affirmative Defenses as well as a Partial Motion to Dismiss. In response, the claimant filed a Second Amended Complaint on May 16, 2024 in which he dropped the wage claim under Delaware statute and added a civil conspiracy claim against all defendants. We filed an Amended Answer on November 15, 2024 and intends to continue to vigorously defend against all claims asserted in the complaint.

 

Aside from the above matters, we are not a party to any material legal proceedings and are not aware of any pending or threatened claims. From time to time, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. Legal contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss or the measurement of a loss can be complex. To the extent applicable, we will accrue losses that are both probable and reasonably estimable. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no accruals related to litigation.

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

Executive Officers and Directors

 

The following table provides information regarding our current executive officers, directors and director nominees as of February 21, 2025:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Executive Officers        
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   60   Executive Chairman, Co-Founder and Director
Captain Joseph D. Burns   63   Chief Executive Officer and Director
John Uczekaj   66   President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Dr. Mariya Pylypiv   36   Chief Financial Officer
         
Non-Employee Director and Director Nominees        
John M. Belcher   83   Director
Elizabeth Ng(1)   68   Director Nominee

 

 

(1) Appointed to serve as a director immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

(2) Member of our audit committee.

(3) Member of our compensation committee.

(4) Member of our nominating and corporate governance committee.

 

Executive Officers

 

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria has served our Executive Chairman since our inception in 2020. Dr. Kathuria is an Indian-American investor, businessperson, and philanthropist. He is co-founder and serves on the board of directors of UpHealth, Inc. (OTC: UPH), a digital health company founded in 2020. Dr. Kathuria also co-founded Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCEA), a biopharmaceutical company, and serves as the executive chairman of its board of directors, a position he has held since its inception in 2019. In addition, Dr. Kathuria co-founded New Generation Power, an energy company, in February 2009 and American Teleradiology NightHawks, Inc., a telemedicine company, in March 2003. American Teleradiology NightHawks, Inc. merged with NightHawk Radiology Holdings, Inc. and the combined company went public on Nasdaq in October 2006. From March 1998 to March 2000, Dr. Kathuria served as a director of The X-Stream Networks Inc., an internet service provider, that was sold to Liberty Surf Group S.A. and subsequently went public on the Paris Stock Exchange. Dr. Kathuria has also been involved in space exploration and, in January 1999, became the founding director of MirCorp, the first commercial company to privately launch and fund manned space programs. Dr. Kathuria received a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University.

 

We believe that Dr. Kathuria is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive knowledge of our business and public company experience.

 

Captain Joseph D. Burns has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since our inception in 2020. Captain Burns is a 40-year veteran of the aviation, technology, and communications industries. Captain Burns was an executive at United Airlines from 1992 to 2020, most recently serving as the Managing Director of Technology and Flight Test at United Airlines responsible for over $250 million in annual NextGen programs. Captain Burns held several positions at United Airlines, including Managing Director – Flight Standards, FAA Certificate Director of Operations, Director Flight Standards, Chief Pilot FFDO Program, Manager Automation Systems, and Pilot Instructor. His engineering and management experience also includes CEO positions at Sensurion Aerospace, an avionics company, from 2014 to 2018 and ATN Systems, Inc., an optics company, from 2001 to 2014. Captain Burns currently serves on the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board and Emeritus for EMS Technologies. He is also a prior member of the NextGen Advisory Council Subcommittee and he is the Chairman Emeritus for the Airline Operations Committee and the Air Traffic Control Council of Airlines for America, formerly known as the Air Transport Association of America. Captain Burns received a Master of Business Administration in Management from the Miami University Farmer School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics/Aeronautical Engineering from Miami University.

 

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We believe that Captain Burns is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his aerospace experience, including regulations governing the aerospace industry.

 

John Uczekaj has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since July 2022. In addition to his position as our President and Chief Operating Officer, he has led Aspen Avionics as Chief Executive Officer since February 2007. Prior to joining Aspen Avionics, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of The NORDAM Group. He received the Aviation Industry Leader of the Year in 2012 from the Living Legends of Aviation and was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2013. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Mr. Uczekaj has over 35 years of experience in the avionics industry, starting out as an engineer at The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and moving into key management positions at Sperry and Honeywell International Inc. (Nasdaq: HON). Mr. Uczekaj holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oregon State University and an M.B.A. from City University, Seattle, Washington.

 

We believe that Mr. Uczekaj is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive industry and management experience, his previous board memberships, and his officer-level corporate experience.

 

Dr. Mariya Pylypiv has served as our Chief Financial Officer since May 2024 and, prior to that, as our interim Chief Financial Officer from June 2023 to May 2024. She also served as Director and President of Maven Execs, a CFO services firm she co-founded, from September 2022 to May 2024. In addition, she currently serves as a director for UpHealth, Inc. (OTC: UPH), a digital health company, where she previously held several executive positions, including Vice President of Finance from May 2022 to August 2022 and Chief Strategy Officer from June 2021 to May 2022. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Investment Banking and Corporate Development at Sikich LLP, a professional services firm specializing in accounting, technology, investment banking and advisory services, from January 2021 to August 2021 and as an Investment Banking and Corporate Development Associate from March 2018 to December 2020. Her early career includes roles as Senior Research Analyst at Acrospire Investment Management LLC, from February 2016 to March 2018, and Quantitative Research Analyst at Rotella Capital Management from, July 2014 to January 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Business Economics in Accounting and Audit and a Master’s in Accounting and Audit from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, as well as B.A. and M.A. degrees in International Economics from Ternopil National Economic University. Additionally, she earned her Ph.D. in Consumer and Family Economics with a focus on Finance from Purdue University. She has also completed multiple certifications in financial accounting, ESG, corporate governance, and cybersecurity.

 

Non-Employee Directors

 

John M. Belcher has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2024. Mr. Belcher currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of JMCB Enterprise Solutions, a management consulting firm, which he founded in 2017. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ARINC, a provider of transport communications and systems engineering solutions, from 1998 to 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Belcher served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Aircraft of Canada and the President/Chief Executive Officer of Thomson Hickling Aviation. He held several executive positions with Canada’s Federal Government, including Executive Director of Facilities, Engineering and Systems Development, Transport Canada, Director General of Office Automation Services and Information Systems, and Director General of Corporate Systems, Supply and Services Canada. He has over 40 years of experience in aviation, aerospace, airports, information technology, communications, and defense. He previously served as Chairman of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association and Chairman of the Advisor Board for the University of Waterloo. He also served on the board of directors for several trade associations and aerospace technology companies. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Canadian National Transportation Award, the Maryland International Business Leadership Award, Business Leader of the Year for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Excellence Award, and the Anne Arundel Excellence in Leadership Award. He is a member of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. Most recently he was awarded the USA Ellis Island Medals of Honor for his contribution to aviation, aerospace, and information technology as well as his successes as an entrepreneur and community leader. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a B.S.C. in Applied Science and earned a graduate degree in Systems Engineering and Business Management from Queens University. 

 

We believe that Mr. Belcher is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive industry and regulatory experience, his previous board memberships, and his officer-level corporate experience.

 

Elizabeth Ng has been appointed to serve as a member of our board of directors, effective upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Ms. Ng previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Biomedical, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, from January 2019 to October 2024 and currently serves as a member of the Ocean Biomedical, Inc.’s board of directors since January 2019. Ms. Ng previously served as Vice President/Head of Strategy and Business Development at Bioelectric Devices Inc. starting in 2018. Previously, she served as Senior Director of Portfolio Strategy at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. from 2010 to 2017 and prior to that, as Director Strategy Development Group at Merck & Co. Inc., and Director of Commercial/Portfolio Strategy at Gilead Sciences. Ms. Ng holds a B.S. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

 

We believe Ms. Ng is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of her business experience as a chief executive officer and her public company board membership.

 

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Family Relationships and Other Arrangements

 

There are no family relationships among our directors, director nominees and executive officers.

 

Board Composition

 

Our business and affairs are organized under the direction of our board of directors, which currently consists of            members and will consist of           members immediately prior to the closing of this offering. The primary responsibilities of our board of directors are to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling and direction to our management. Our board of directors meets on a regular basis and on an ad hoc basis as required.

 

In accordance with the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, we will divide our board of directors into three classes, as follows:

 

  Class I, which will consist of                                      and                      , whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2026;
     
  Class II, which will consist of                                         and                    , whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027; and
     
  Class III, which will consist of                    ,                     and                    , whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028.

 

At each annual meeting of stockholders to be held after the initial classification, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will serve until the third annual meeting following their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Our amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of a majority of our board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed between the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. This classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in our control or management. Our directors may be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of our voting stock.

 

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Director Independence

 

Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship that, in the opinion of the board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a member of our board. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning such director’s background, employment, and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that         ,         ,         ,                  and                       , representing                      of our                      directors following this offering, are “independent directors” as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director and the transactions described in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.” Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Kathuria, Captain Burns and Mr. Uczekaj, by virtue of their roles as our executive officers, are not independent directors under the current rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our board of directors is currently chaired by Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria who has authority, among other things, to call and preside over board of directors meetings, to set meeting agendas and to determine materials to be distributed to the board of directors. Accordingly, the Chairperson has substantial ability to shape the work of the board of directors. We believe that separation of the positions of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer reinforces the independence of the board of directors in its oversight of our business and affairs. In addition, we intend to have a separate chair for each committee of our board of directors. The chair of each committee is expected to report annually to our board of directors on the activities of their committee in fulfilling their responsibilities as detailed in their respective charters or specify any shortcomings should that be the case.

 

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

 

The audit committee of our board of directors, which we will establish in connection with this offering, will be primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes on behalf of our board of directors. Going forward, we expect that our audit committee will receive reports from management periodically regarding our assessment of risks. In addition, our audit committee will report regularly to our board of directors, which also considers our risk profile. Our audit committee and our board of directors will focus on the most significant risks we face and our general risk management strategies. While our board of directors oversees our risk management, management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. Our board of directors expects management to consider risk and risk management in each business decision, to proactively develop and monitor risk management strategies and processes for day-to-day activities and to effectively implement risk management strategies adopted by our audit committee and our board of directors. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks we face and that our board of directors’ leadership structure, which also emphasizes the independence of our board of directors in its oversight of its business and affairs, supports this approach.

 

Board Committees

 

Our board of directors will establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. The composition and functions of each committee are described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors. Each committee will operate under a written charter, to be effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, that satisfies the applicable rules and regulations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the SEC and Nasdaq Listing Rules.

 

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Audit Committee

 

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our audit committee will consist of                 ,                                        and                     . Our board of directors has determined that each of the members of our audit committee satisfies the Nasdaq and SEC independence requirements.                            serves as the chair of our audit committee. The functions of this committee include, among other things:

 

  evaluating the performance, independence and qualifications of our independent registered public accounting firm and determining whether to retain our existing independent registered public accounting firm or engage a new independent registered public accounting firm;
     
  reviewing and approving the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit services and any permissible non-audit services;
     
  monitoring the rotation of partners of our independent registered public accounting firm on our engagement team as required by law;
     
  prior to engagement of any independent registered public accounting firm, and at least annually thereafter, reviewing relationships that may reasonably be thought to bear on their independence, and assessing and otherwise taking the appropriate action to oversee the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm;
     
  reviewing our annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements and reports, including the disclosures contained under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and discussing the statements and reports with our independent registered public accounting firm and management;
     
  reviewing, with our independent registered public accounting firm and management, significant issues that arise regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation and matters concerning the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of our financial controls;
     
  reviewing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding material developments;
     
  establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding financial controls, accounting or auditing matters and other matters;
     
  preparing the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement;
     
  reviewing and providing oversight of any related-person transactions in accordance with our related-person transaction policy and reviewing and monitoring compliance with legal and regulatory responsibilities, including our code of business conduct and ethics;
     
  reviewing our major financial, information security and cybersecurity risk exposures, including the guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management are implemented;
     
  reviewing on a periodic basis our investment policy and related-person transactions policy; and
     
  reviewing and evaluating on an annual basis the performance of our audit committee and the charter of our audit committee.

 

Our board of directors has determined that                       qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC regulations and meets the financial sophistication requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In making this determination, our board has considered prior experience, business acumen and independence. Both our independent registered public accounting firm and management will periodically meet privately with our audit committee.

 

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We believe that the composition and functioning of our audit committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our compensation committee will consist of                     ,                      and                   .                        serves as the chair of our compensation committee. Our board of directors has determined that each of the members of our compensation committee is a non-employee director, as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and satisfies the Nasdaq independence requirements. The functions of this committee include, among other things:

 

  reviewing, modifying and approving (or if it deems appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) our overall compensation strategy and policies;
     
  reviewing and approving or, in the case of our chief executive officer’s compensation, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the compensation and other terms of employment of our executive officers;
     
  reviewing and approving (or if it deems it appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers and assessing their performance against these goals and objectives;
     
  reviewing and approving (or if it deems it appropriate, making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding) the equity incentive plans, compensation plans and similar programs advisable for us, as well as modifying, amending or terminating existing plans and programs;
     
  evaluating risks associated with our compensation policies and practices and assessing whether risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us;
     
  overseeing workplace diversity initiatives and progress;
     
  reviewing and making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded to our non-employee board members;
     
  establishing policies with respect to votes by our stockholders to approve executive compensation as required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and determining our recommendations regarding the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation, to the extent required by law;

 

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  reviewing and assessing the independence of compensation consultants, legal counsel and other advisors as required by Section 10C of the Exchange Act;
     
  administering our equity incentive plans;
     
  establishing policies with respect to equity compensation arrangements;
     
  reviewing the competitiveness of our executive compensation programs and evaluating the effectiveness of our compensation policy and strategy in achieving expected benefits to us;
     
  reviewing and making recommendations to the full board of directors regarding the terms of any employment agreements, severance arrangements, change in control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers;
     
  reviewing with management and approving our disclosures under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in our periodic reports or proxy statements to be filed with the SEC, to the extent such caption is included in any such report or proxy statement;
     
  preparing the report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement; and
     
  reviewing and assessing on an annual basis the performance of our compensation committee and the charter of our compensation committee.

 

We believe that the composition and functioning of our compensation committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of                ,                                       and            .                   serves as the chair of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors has determined that each of the members of this committee satisfies the Nasdaq independence requirements. The functions of this committee include, among other things:

 

  identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve on our board of directors consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors;
     
  determining the minimum qualifications for service on our board of directors;
     
  evaluating director performance on the board and applicable committees of the board and determining whether continued service on our board is appropriate;
     
  evaluating, nominating and recommending individuals for membership on our board of directors;
     
  evaluating nominations by stockholders of candidates for election to our board of directors;

 

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  considering and assessing the independence of members of our board of directors;
     
  reviewing and recommending updates to the list of executive officers who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act;
     
  developing a set of corporate governance policies and principles, including a code of business conduct and ethics, periodically reviewing and assessing these policies and principles and their application and recommending to our board of directors any changes to such policies and principles;
     
  reviewing and recommending updates to our insider trading policy;
     
  overseeing our environmental, social and governance strategies, targets, policies, performance and reporting;
     
  considering questions of possible conflicts of interest of directors as such questions arise; and
     
  reviewing and assessing on an annual basis the performance of the nominating and corporate governance committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee charter.

 

We believe that the composition and functioning of our nominating and corporate governance committee complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and all applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules and regulations. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our current or former executive officers serve as a member of our compensation committee. None of our officers serve, or have served during the last completed fiscal year, on the board of directors or compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or our compensation committee. For a description of transactions between us and members of our compensation committee and affiliates of such members, see the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

In connection with this offering, we intend to amend our written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or person performing similar functions. Following this offering, a current copy of the code will be available on the Corporate Governance section of our website, www.theairogroup.com.

 

Director Independence

 

Under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of our board of directors as a public company within one year of listing.

 

Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of each director. Based on information provided by each director concerning the director’s background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that, with the exception of                   ,                    and                   , none of our directors have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that all directors are “independent” as that term is defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 were:

 

  Captain Joseph D. Burns, Chief Executive Officer;
     
  John Uczekaj, President and Chief Operating Officer; and
     
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Executive Chairman.

 

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024

 

The following table presents all of the compensation awarded to our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year  Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Option
Awards
($)
  Nonequity Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  All Other
Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
Captain Joseph D. Burns
Chief Executive Officer(1)
   2024                         
John Uczekaj
President and Chief Operating Officer
   2024    255,071(3)                   255,071 
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
Executive Chairman(2)
   2024                         

 

(1) Captain Burns did not receive a base salary, was not granted equity, and did not receive any compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

(2) Dr. Kathuria did not receive a base salary, was not granted equity, and did not receive any compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

(3) Amount disclosed represents the base salary earned by Mr. Uczekaj with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. However, as of December 31, 2024, $46,153 of this amount had not yet been, but will be, paid to Mr. Uczekaj. In addition, Mr. Uczekaj was entitled to a $300,000 base salary pursuant to the Uczekaj Employment Agreement, which is discussed further below, but agreed to a reduction in salary and earned $255,071 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Other than base salary, Mr. Uczekaj did not receive any compensation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table

 

Annual Base Salary

 

The 2024 annual base salary rates for our named executive officers are set forth in the table below. As noted above, neither Captain Burns nor Dr. Kathuria received a base salary in 2024.

 

Name  2024 Base Salary
Captain Joseph D. Burns   

 
John Uczekaj  $300,000(1) 
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria    

 

 

(1) As discussed above in the Summary Compensation Table, Mr. Uczekaj was entitled to a $300,000 base salary for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, but agreed to a reduction in his base salary and earned $255,071 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

 

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Equity-Based Incentive Awards

 

Our equity-based incentive awards are designed to align our interests and those of our stockholders with those of our employees, including our executive officers. The board of directors or an authorized committee thereof is responsible for approving equity grants.

 

We did not grant any equity awards to our named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Following this offering, we will grant equity awards under the terms of our 2025 Plan. The terms of our equity plans are described below under the subsection titled “—Equity Benefit Plans.”

 

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2024

 

None of our named executive officers have outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2024.

 

Employment Arrangements with our Named Executive Officers

 

In 2022, we entered into offer letters with each of Captain Burns, Mr. Uczekaj and Dr. Kathuria, each of which will become effective upon the completion of this offering. In 2007, Mr. Uczekaj entered into an employment agreement with Aspen Avionics that governs the current terms of his employment with us. The terms of these offer letters and this employment agreement are described below. Following the completion of this offering, we expect to enter into new employment agreements with Captain Burns, Mr. Uczekaj and Dr. Kathuria.

 

Captain Burns

 

On May 18, 2022, we entered into an at-will employment offer letter with Captain Burns (the “Burns Offer Letter”), which will become effective upon the completion of this offering. The Burns Offer Letter provides that, subject to approval by our compensation committee, Captain Burns will be entitled to annual total compensation of $825,000, of which 60% will be comprised of annual base salary and 40% will be comprised of annual equity awards under our then current equity plan. The Burns Offer Letter further provides that subject to approval by our compensation committee, the finalized terms of Captain Burns’ employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, with such agreement controlling the terms of his employment.

 

Mr. Uczekaj

 

On January 12, 2007, Aspen Avionics and Mr. Uczekaj entered into an employment agreement (the “Uczekaj Employment Agreement”), which governs the terms of his employment with us. The Uczekaj Employment Agreement provided for an initial base salary of $250,000 and an annual bonus of up to $50,000 based on the achievement of objectives mutually determined by Mr. Uczekaj and the board of directors, with his base salary subsequently increased by Aspen Avionics to $300,000 and his annual bonus opportunity removed. The Uczekaj Employment Agreement also provided Mr. Uczekaj an initial option grant, which vested in full in 2011 and which Mr. Uczekaj subsequently exercised in full. In addition, in the event Mr. Uczekaj is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (each as defined in the Uczekaj Employment Agreement) within 12 months of a “change of control” (as defined in the Uczekaj Employment Agreement), Mr. Uczekaj will be eligible to receive a cash severance payment equal to six months of his then current base salary. If Mr. Uczekaj is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason other than in connection with a change in control, Mr. Uczekaj will be eligible to receive a cash severance payment equal to six months of his then current base salary and COBRA premiums for up to six months following his termination or resignation.

 

On April 1, 2022, we entered into an at-will employment offer letter with Mr. Uczekaj (the “Uczekaj Offer Letter”), which will become effective upon the completion this offering and supersede the Uczekaj Employment Agreement once effective. The Uczekaj Offer Letter provides that, subject to approval by our compensation committee, Mr. Uczekaj will be entitled to annual total compensation of $550,000, of which 60% will be comprised of annual base salary and 40% will be comprised of annual equity awards under our then current equity plan. The Uczekaj Offer Letter further provides that subject to approval by our compensation committee, the finalized terms of Mr. Uczekaj’s employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, with such agreement controlling the terms of his employment.

 

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Dr. Kathuria

 

On May 18, 2022, we entered into an at-will employment offer letter with Dr. Kathuria (the “Kathuria Offer Letter”), which will become effective upon the completion of this offering. The Kathuria Offer Letter provides that, subject to approval by our compensation committee, Dr. Kathuria will be entitled to annual total compensation of $500,000, of which 60% will be comprised of annual base salary and 40% will be comprised of annual equity awards under our then current equity plan. The Kathuria Offer Letter further provides that following approval by our compensation committee, the finalized terms of Dr. Kathuria’s employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, with such agreement controlling the terms of his employment.

 

2021 Management Carveout Plan

 

In December 2021, Aspen Avionics adopted the 2021 Management Carveout Plan, which was most recently amended in December 2024 (as amended, the “Management Carveout Plan”). The Management Carveout Plan establishes a benefit pool for designated employees and consultants, including Mr. Uczekaj, payable upon the occurrence of a change in control, which is defined as two steps consisting of (1) the closing of the merger of between us and Aspen and (2) our initial public offering or merger with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) by March 31, 2025. The amount to be paid as benefits under the Management Carveout Plan is determined by the plan administrator pursuant to Section 2(e) therein and is based upon percentages of the total net proceeds calculated at the closing of our initial public offering or a SPAC, ranging from 0% to 5%. The net proceeds are calculated as the net sum of cash and the fair value of equity securities available for distribution to the stockholders of Aspen after all liabilities, exclusive of the subordinated convertible notes or other loans from the stockholders and transaction costs are paid, capped at $2.3 billion. As amended, all participants in the Management Carveout Plan have agreed to convert a portion of the amount owed to them under the Management Carveout Plan into an aggregate 121,244 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering which includes the conversion of $0.8 million of the principal owed to certain former Aspen Avionics shareholders pursuant to the Aspen Merger Agreement into an aggregate of 34,018 shares of our common stock, with the remaining amount to be paid in cash at the closing of this offering. Our merger with Aspen closed on April 1, 2022, and the closing of this offering will constitute an initial public offering for purposes of the Management Carveout Plan. Therefore, upon closing of this offering, in satisfaction of his award opportunity under the Management Carveout Plan, we expect to issue Mr. Uczekaj approximately 48,498 shares of our common stock and pay Mr. Uczekaj approximately $35,318 in cash. None of our other named executive officers participate in the Management Carveout Plan.

 

Other Compensation and Benefits

 

Mr. Uczekaj is eligible to participate, and following the closing of our initial public offering, our other named executive officers will be eligible to participate, in our employee benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, health savings and flexible spending accounts, and life and accidental dismemberment insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as all of our other employees. We pay a portion of the premiums for the medical, dental and short-term disability insurance, and the full premiums for life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance for all our employees, including Mr. Uczekaj. We generally do not provide perquisites or personal benefits to our named executive officers. In addition, we provide the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan to our employees, including Mr. Uczekaj, as discussed in the subsection titled “—401(k) Plan” below.

 

Dr. Kathuria may also be entitled to certain stock and cash amounts pursuant to the Amended and Restated Success Fee Arrangement in connection with this offering. For more information, see the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Success Fee Arrangement.”

 

401(k) Plan

 

Mr. Uczekaj is eligible to participate in a defined contribution retirement plan that provides eligible employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax advantaged basis. Eligible employees may defer eligible compensation on a pre-tax or after-tax (“Roth”) basis, up to the statutorily prescribed annual limits on contributions under the Code. Contributions are allocated to each participant’s individual account and are then invested in selected investment alternatives according to the participants’ directions. The 401(k) plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code with the 401(k) plan’s related trust intended to be tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to the 401(k) plan (except for Roth contributions) and earnings on those contributions are not taxable to the employees until distributed from the 401(k) plan. Our board of directors may elect to adopt qualified or nonqualified benefit plans in the future, if it determines that doing so is in our best interests.

 

Equity Benefit Plans

 

The principal features of our equity incentive plans are summarized below. These summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual text of the applicable plan, each of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

2025 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Our board of directors adopted our 2025 Plan in               and our stockholders approved our 2025 Plan in               . Our 2025 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (“ISOs”) to employees, including employees of any parent or subsidiary, and for the grant of non-statutory stock options (“NSOs”), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards and other forms of stock awards to employees, directors, and consultants, including employees and consultants of our affiliates. Our 2025 Plan is a successor to and continuation of our Legacy Plan (referred to in the 2025 Plan as our Prior Plan) and will become effective on the execution of the underwriting agreement related to this offering.

 

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Authorized Shares

 

Initially, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under our 2025 Plan after it becomes effective will not exceed                shares of our common stock (the “Share Reserve”), which is the sum of (1)                new shares of our common stock, plus (2) up to                shares available for issuance under our Legacy Plan, plus (3) up to                shares of our common stock subject to outstanding stock awards granted under our Legacy Plan that, on or after the 2025 Plan becomes effective, expire or otherwise terminate prior to exercise or settlement; are not issued because the stock award is settled in cash; are forfeited or repurchased because of the failure to vest; or are reacquired or withheld to satisfy a tax withholding obligation or the purchase or exercise price, if any, as such shares become available from time to time. In addition, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2025 Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, starting on January 1, 2026, through and including January 1, 2035, in an amount equal to (1) 5% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last day of the preceding calendar year, or (2) a lesser number of shares of our common stock determined by our board of directors prior to the date of the increase. The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs under our 2025 Plan will be three times the Share Reserve.

 

Shares subject to stock awards granted under our 2025 Plan that expire or terminate without being exercised or otherwise issued in full or that are paid out in cash rather than in shares do not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under our 2025 Plan. Shares withheld under a stock award to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price of a stock award or to satisfy a tax with-holding obligation do not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under our 2025 Plan. If any shares of our common stock issued pursuant to a stock award are forfeited back to or repurchased or reacquired by us (1) because of the failure to vest, (2) to satisfy the exercise, strike or purchase price, or (3) to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with an award, the shares that are forfeited or repurchased or reacquired will revert to and again become available for issuance under the 2025 Plan.

 

Plan Administration

 

Our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, will administer our 2025 Plan and is referred to as the “plan administrator” herein. Our board of directors may also delegate to one or more persons or bodies the authority to (1) designate recipients (other than officers) to receive specified stock awards; (2) determine the number of shares subject to such stock awards; and (3) determine the terms of such awards. Under our 2025 Plan, our board of directors has the authority to determine award recipients, grant dates, the numbers and types of stock awards to be granted, the applicable fair market value, and the provisions of each stock award, including the period of exercisability and the vesting schedule applicable to a stock award.

 

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Under the 2025 Plan, the board of directors also generally has the authority to effect, with the consent of any materially adversely affected participant, (1) the reduction of the exercise, purchase, or strike price of any outstanding option or stock appreciation right; (2) the cancellation of any outstanding option or stock appreciation right and the grant in substitution therefore of other awards, cash, or other consideration; or (3) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Stock Options

 

ISOs and NSOs are granted under stock option agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the exercise price for stock options, within the terms and conditions of the 2025 Plan, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2025 Plan vest at the rate specified in the stock option agreement as determined by the plan administrator.

 

The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the 2025 Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years. Unless the terms of an optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases for any reason other than disability, death, or cause, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options for a period of three months following the cessation of service. This period may be extended in the event that exercise of the option is prohibited by applicable securities laws. If an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases due to death, or an optionholder dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested options for a period of 18 months following the date of death. If an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases due to disability, the optionholder may generally exercise any vested options for a period of 12 months following the cessation of service. In the event of a termination for cause, options generally terminate upon the termination date. In no event may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.

 

Acceptable consideration for the purchase of our common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the plan administrator and may include (1) cash, check, bank draft or money order, (2) a broker-assisted cashless exercise, (3) the tender of shares of our common stock previously owned by the optionholder, (4) a net exercise of the option if it is an NSO, or (5) other legal consideration approved by the plan administrator.

 

Unless the plan administrator provides otherwise, options and stock appreciation rights generally are not transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to approval of the plan administrator or a duly authorized officer, an option may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement, or other divorce or separation instrument.

 

Tax Limitations on ISOs

 

The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of our common stock with respect to ISOs that are exercisable for the first time by an award holder during any calendar year under all of our stock plans may not exceed $100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any of our parent or subsidiary corporations unless (1) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant, and (2) the term of the ISO does not exceed five years from the date of grant.

 

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Restricted Stock Unit Awards

 

Restricted stock unit awards are granted under restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. Restricted stock unit awards may be granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to our board of directors and permissible under applicable law. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of shares of our common stock, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock as determined by the plan administrator, or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock unit awards that have not vested will be forfeited once the participant’s continuous service ends for any reason.

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

Restricted stock awards are granted under restricted stock award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. A restricted stock award may be awarded in consideration for cash, check, bank draft or money order, past services to us, or any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to our board of directors and permissible under applicable law. The plan administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted stock awards, including vesting and forfeiture terms. If a participant’s service relationship with us ends for any reason, we may receive any or all of the shares of common stock held by the participant that have not vested as of the date the participant terminates service with us through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Stock appreciation rights are granted under stock appreciation right agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. A stock appreciation right granted under the 2025 Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the plan administrator. Stock appreciation rights may be settled in cash or shares of our common stock or in any other form of payment, as determined by our board of directors and specified in the stock appreciation right agreement.

 

The plan administrator determines the term of stock appreciation rights granted under the 2025 Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years. If a participant’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases for any reason other than cause, disability, or death, the participant may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of three months following the cessation of service. This period may be further extended in the event that exercise of the stock appreciation right following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws. If a participant’s service relationship with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases due to disability or death, or a participant dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the participant or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested stock appreciation right for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18 months in the event of death. In the event of a termination for cause, stock appreciation rights generally terminate immediately upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination of the individual for cause. In no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised beyond the expiration of its term.

 

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Performance Awards

 

The 2025 Plan permits the grant of performance awards that may be settled in stock, cash or other property. Performance awards may be structured so that the stock or cash will be issued or paid only following the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals during a designated performance period. Performance awards that are settled in cash or other property are not required to be valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, our common stock.

 

The performance goals may be based on any measure of performance selected by our board of directors. The performance goals may be based on company-wide performance or performance of one or more business units, divisions, affiliates, or business segments, and may be either absolute or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise by our board of directors when the performance award is granted, our board of directors will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of performance goals as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any portion of our business which is divested achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of our common stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under our bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Other Stock Awards

 

The plan administrator may grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to our common stock. The plan administrator will set the number of shares under the stock award (or cash equivalent) and all other terms and conditions of such awards.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit

 

The aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid to any non-employee director with respect to any calendar year that begins on or after the effective date of this offering, including awards granted and cash fees paid by us to such non-employee director, will not exceed (1) $             in total value or (2) if such non-employee director is first appointed or elected to our board of directors during such calendar year, $                 in total value.

 

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Changes to Capital Structure

 

In the event there is a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, or recapitalization, appropriate adjustments will be made to (1) the class and maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2025 Plan, (2) the class and maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may increase automatically each year, (3) the class and maximum number of shares that may be issued on the exercise of ISOs, and (4) the class and number of shares and exercise price, strike price, or purchase price, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards.

 

Corporate Transactions

 

The following applies to stock awards under the 2025 Plan in the event of a corporate transaction (as defined in the 2025 Plan), unless otherwise provided in a participant’s stock award agreement or other written agreement with us or one of our affiliates or unless otherwise expressly provided by the plan administrator at the time of grant.

 

In the event of a corporate transaction, any stock awards outstanding under the 2025 Plan may be assumed, continued or substituted for by any surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to the stock award may be assigned to our successor (or its parent company). If the surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume, continue or substitute for such stock awards, then (i) with respect to any such stock awards that are held by participants whose continuous service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction, or current participants, the vesting (and exercisability, if applicable) of such stock awards will be accelerated in full (or, in the case of performance awards with multiple vesting levels depending on the level of performance, vesting will accelerate at 100% of the target level) to a date prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction (contingent upon the effectiveness of the corporate transaction), and such stock awards will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to such stock awards will lapse (contingent upon the effectiveness of the corporate transaction), and (ii) any such stock awards that are held by persons other than current participants will terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction, except that any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us with respect to such stock awards will not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the corporate transaction.

 

In the event a stock award will terminate if not exercised prior to the effective time of a corporate transaction, the plan administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, that the holder of such stock award may not exercise such stock award but instead will receive a payment equal in value to the excess (if any) of (i) the per share amount payable to holders of common stock in connection with the corporate transaction, over (ii) any per share exercise price payable by such holder, if applicable. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earn-out or similar provisions in the definitive agreement for the corporate transaction may apply to such payment to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of our common stock.

 

Under the 2025 Plan, a corporate transaction is generally defined as the consummation of: (1) a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, (2) the sale or disposition of at least 50% of our outstanding securities, (3) a merger or consolidation where we do not survive the transaction, or (4) a merger or consolidation where we do survive the transaction but the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately before such transaction are converted or exchanged into other property by virtue of the transaction.

 

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Change in Control

 

Awards granted under the 2025 Plan may be subject to acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a change in control as may be provided in the applicable stock award agreement or in any other written agreement between us or any affiliate and the participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will automatically occur.

 

Under the 2025 Plan, a change in control is generally defined as: (1) the acquisition by any person or company of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our then outstanding stock; (2) a consummated merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which our stockholders immediately before the transaction do not own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (or the parent of the surviving entity) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction; (3) a consummated sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets other than to an entity more than 50% of the combined voting power of which is owned by our stockholders in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of our outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction; or (4) when a majority of our board of directors becomes comprised of individuals who were not serving on our board of directors on the date the 2025 Plan was adopted by the board of directors, or the incumbent board, or whose nomination, appointment, or election was not approved by a majority of the incumbent board still in office.

 

Plan Amendment or Termination

 

Our board of directors has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate our 2025 Plan at any time, provided that such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. Certain material amendments also require the approval of our stockholders. No ISOs may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date our board of directors adopts our 2025 Plan. No stock awards may be granted under our 2025 Plan while it is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

Legacy Plan

 

In connection with the acquisition of Jaunt on March 10, 2022, we assumed the Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC 2021 Option Plan, which was renamed the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. Option Plan (the “Legacy Plan”). The Legacy Plan provides for the grant of options to employees, directors and consultants, including employees and consultants of our affiliates. No further grants have been made under our Legacy Plan since it was assumed, and no further grants will be made once our 2025 Plan becomes effective. Any outstanding awards granted under our Legacy Plan will remain subject to the terms of our Legacy Plan and applicable award agreements.

 

Authorized Shares

 

Subject to certain capitalization adjustments, the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock awards under the Legacy Plan will not exceed                 shares. Shares subject to stock awards granted under our Legacy Plan that expire, are forfeited or otherwise terminate without being exercised in full do not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under our Legacy Plan.

 

Plan Administration

 

Our board of directors administers our Legacy Plan and is referred to as the “plan administrator” herein. Under our Legacy Plan, the plan administrator has the authority to, among other things, in consultation with our chief executive officer, determine who will be granted options, determine the number of shares subject to the options and when the options will vest and become exercisable, and to construe and interpret the terms of our Legacy Plan.

 

Options

 

The plan administrator determines the exercise price for stock options, within the terms and conditions of the Legacy Plan, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the Legacy Plan vest at the rate specified in the stock option agreement as determined by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the Legacy Plan, up to a maximum of 10 years.

 

Acceptable consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by the plan administrator as specified in the award agreement and may include payment by delivery of cash, shares of our common stock or other consideration having a fair market value equal to the exercise price, or any combination thereof, including exercise by means of a cashless exercise arrangement.

 

Unless the plan administrator provides otherwise in an award agreement, options may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in any way.

 

Changes in Capital Structure

 

In the event of any change in our capitalization by reason of any dividend, split, spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination, reorganization or other similar change, the terms and number of any outstanding awards under the Legacy Plan shall be adjusted by the plan administrator if it determines that the change in capitalization would adversely impact such awards.

 

Change in Control

 

Upon a change in control, options may be cancelled for the amount paid in connection with the change in control for a share of common stock less the exercise price. If the acquisition price is less than the exercise price, the option may be cancelled for no consideration. In addition, the plan administrator may provide for the substitution or assumption of options by the acquiror in a change in control.

 

Plan Amendment or Termination

 

The plan administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Legacy Plan at any time. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Legacy Plan will alter or impair any awards inn adverse manner to the applicable participation without the consent of the participant. Unless terminated sooner, the Legacy Plan will automatically terminate on July 27, 2031. No stock awards may be granted under our Legacy Plan while it is suspended or after it is terminated. Once the 2025 Plan is effective, no further grants will be made under the Legacy Plan.

 

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2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

Our board of directors adopted our ESPP in                      and our stockholders approved our ESPP in                     . The ESPP will become effective immediately prior to and contingent upon the date of the underwriting agreement related to this offering. The purpose of the ESPP is to secure the services of new employees, to retain the services of existing employees and to provide incentives for such individuals to exert maximum efforts toward our success and that of our affiliates. Our ESPP will be designed to allow eligible U.S. employees to purchase our common stock in a manner that may qualify for favorable tax treatment under Section 423 of the Code.

 

Share Reserve

 

Following this offering, the ESPP will authorize the issuance of                      shares of our common stock pursuant to purchase rights granted to our employees or to employees of any of our designated affiliates. The number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, from January 1, 2026 through and including January 1, 2035, by the lesser of (1)                  % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding on the last day of the preceding calendar year, and (2)                      shares of our common stock; provided, that prior to the date of any such increase, our board of directors may determine that such increase will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (1) and (2).

 

Administration

 

Our board of directors intends to delegate concurrent authority to administer the ESPP to our compensation committee. The ESPP is implemented through a series of offerings under which eligible employees are granted rights to purchase shares of our common stock on specified dates during such offerings. Under the ESPP, we may specify offerings with durations of not more than 27 months, and may specify shorter purchase periods within each offering. Each offering will have one or more purchase dates on which shares of our common stock will be purchased for employees participating in the offering. An offering under the ESPP may be terminated under certain circumstances.

 

Payroll Deductions

 

Generally, all regular employees, including executive officers, employed by us or by any of our designated affiliates, may participate in the ESPP and may contribute, normally through payroll deductions, up to a specified percentage of their earnings (as set forth in, and as defined in, the offering memorandum our board of directors or compensation committee may adopt from time to time with respect to offerings under our ESPP) for the purchase of our common stock under the ESPP. Unless otherwise determined by our board of directors, common stock will be purchased for the accounts of employees participating in the ESPP at a price per share equal to the lower of (a) 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading date of an offering or (b) 85% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of purchase.

 

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Limitations

 

Employees may have to satisfy one or more of the following service requirements before participating in the ESPP, as determined by our board of directors, including: (1) being customarily employed for more than 20 hours per week; (2) being customarily employed for more than five months per calendar year; or (3) continuous employment with us or one of our affiliates for a period of time (not to exceed two years). No employee may purchase shares under the ESPP at a rate in excess of $25,000 worth of our common stock based on the fair market value per share of our common stock at the beginning of an offering for each year such a purchase right is outstanding. Finally, no employee will be eligible for the grant of any purchase rights under the ESPP if immediately after such rights are granted, such employee has voting power over 5% or more of our outstanding capital stock measured by vote or value pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code.

 

Changes to Capital Structure

 

In the event that there occurs a change in our capital structure through such actions as a stock split, merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or similar transaction, the board of directors will make appropriate adjustments to (1) the number of shares reserved under the ESPP, (2) the maximum number of shares by which the share reserve may increase automatically each year, (3) the number of shares and purchase price of all outstanding purchase rights and (4) the number of shares that are subject to purchase limits under ongoing offerings.

 

Corporate Transactions

 

In the event of a corporate transaction (as defined in the ESPP), any then-outstanding rights to purchase our stock under the ESPP may be assumed, continued or substituted for by any surviving or acquiring entity (or its parent company). If the surviving or acquiring entity (or its parent company) elects not to assume, continue or substitute for such purchase rights, then the participants’ accumulated payroll contributions will be used  to purchase shares of our common stock within 10 business days prior to such corporate transaction, and such purchase rights will terminate immediately after such purchase.

 

Under the ESPP, a corporate transaction is generally the consummation of: (1) a sale of all or substantially all of our assets; (2) the sale or disposition of more than 50% of our outstanding securities; (3) a merger or consolidation where we do not survive the transaction; and (4) a merger or consolidation where we do survive the transaction but the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately before such transaction are converted or exchanged into other property by virtue of the transaction.

 

ESPP Amendments, Termination

 

Our board of directors has the authority to amend or terminate our ESPP, provided that except in certain circumstances such amendment or termination may not materially impair any outstanding purchase rights without the holder’s consent. We will obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to our ESPP, as required by applicable law or listing requirements.

 

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Director Compensation

 

None of our directors received compensation for their services on our board of directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Post-IPO Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy

 

Our board of directors is expected to adopt a non-employee director compensation policy (the “Post-IPO Compensation Policy”) that will become effective upon the execution and delivery of the underwriting agreement related to this offering and will be applicable to all of our non-employee directors. This Post-IPO Compensation Policy provides that each such non-employee director will receive the following compensation for service on our board of directors:

 

an annual cash retainer of $                    ;
   
an additional annual cash retainer of $                     for service as lead independent chair of the board of directors;
   
an additional annual cash retainer of $                    , $                     and $                     for service as a non-chair member of the audit committee, compensation committee, and the nominating and corporate governance committee, respectively;
   
 audit committee, chair of the compensation committee, and chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee, respectively (in lieu of the committee member retainer above);
 
an initial option grant to purchase                      shares of our common stock, vesting in               equal monthly installments; and
   
an annual option grant to purchase                      shares of our common stock, vesting on the earlier of (i)               and (ii) the              .

 

Each of the option grants described above will be granted under our 2025 Plan, the terms of which are described in more detail above under “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans—2025 Equity Incentive Plan.” Each such option grant will vest and become exercisable subject to the director’s continuous service with us, provided that each option will vest in full upon a change in control (as defined in the 2025 Plan) of the company. The term of each option will be 10 years, subject to earlier termination as provided in the 2025 Plan.

 

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, will contain provisions that limit the liability of our current and former directors and officers for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors and officers of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors or officers, except liability for:

 

  any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
   
  any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
   
  as a director, unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions;
   
  as an officer, derivative claims brought on behalf of the corporation by a stockholder; or
   
  any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Such limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

 

148

 

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will be in effect immediately prior to the closing of this offering will authorize us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect immediately prior to the closing of this offering will provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and may indemnify our other employees and agents. Our amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect immediately prior to the closing of this offering will also provide that, on satisfaction of certain conditions, we will advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee, or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under the provisions of Delaware law. We have entered into, or will enter into in connection with this offering, agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by the board of directors. With certain exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in connection with any action, proceeding or investigation.

 

We believe that our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and these amended and restated bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain customary directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect immediately prior to the closing of this offering may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for directors, executive officers, or persons controlling us, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

149

 

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The following includes a summary of transactions since January 1, 2022, to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock at the time of such transaction, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described under “Executive and Director Compensation.”

 

Success Fee Arrangement

 

In June 2022, we executed a previously arranged contingent fee agreement with New Generation Aerospace, Inc. (“NGA”) to compensate NGA for past services rendered and future services rendered through December 31, 2022 related to the acquisitions and financing of the Acquired Companies in the amount of $1.5 million (the “Contingent Fee”). The Contingent Fee is payable upon the closing of an initial public offering. In October 2023, we signed an Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement, whereby all of the holders agreed to convert $1.4 million of the principal owed to them into 57,792 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $0.1 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, in connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to issue 57,792 shares of our common stock and use proceeds of $0.1 million to satisfy our obligations to the holders under the Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement. Dr. Kathuria, our Executive Chairman, Co-Founder and a member of our board of directors, is the managing member of NGA and beneficially owns more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock.

 

150

 

 

Employment Arrangements and Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the closing of this offering, we will enter into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers. For more information regarding these agreements with our named executive officers, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Employment Arrangements with our Named Executive Officers.”

 

We have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. For more information, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification.”

 

Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons

 

Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt a written related person transactions policy that sets forth our policies and procedures regarding the identification, review, consideration and continuing oversight of “related person transactions.” For purposes of our policy only, a “related person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any “related person” are participants involving an amount that exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, consultant or director are not considered related person transactions under this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, nominee to become a director or a holder of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, including any of their immediate family members and affiliates, and entities owned or controlled by such persons or entities in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

 

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Under the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related person transaction, management must present information regarding the proposed related person transaction to our audit committee (or, where review by our audit committee would be inappropriate for reasons of conflict of interest or otherwise, to another independent body of our board of directors) for review. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, all of the parties thereto, the direct and indirect interests of the related persons, the purpose of the transaction, the material facts, the benefits of the transaction to us and whether any alternative transactions are available, an assessment of whether the terms are comparable to the terms available from unrelated third parties or to employees generally and management’s recommendation. To identify related person transactions in advance, we rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related person transactions, our audit committee or another independent body of our board of directors takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:

 

  the risks, costs and benefits to us;
   
  the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated;
   
  the terms of the transaction;
   
  the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and
   
  the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties.

 

In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself from the deliberations and approval.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 31, 2025, and as adjusted to give effect to this offering by:

 

  each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;
   
  each of our directors and director nominees;
   
  each of our named executive officers; and
   
  all of our current executive officers and directors as a group.

 

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares of our common stock as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. Applicable percentage ownership before this offering is based on 27,858,276 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024. Applicable percentage ownership after this offering is based on shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, after giving effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                     shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $                    per share which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering; (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of             shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming               shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iv) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the closing of this offering. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of our common stock subject to options held by such person that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 2025, are considered outstanding, although these shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Unless noted otherwise, the address of all listed stockholders is c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., 5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110.

 

Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

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    Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
    Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned
 
    Before
Offering
    After
Offering
    Before
Offering
    After
Offering
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner                                
Greater than 5% Stockholders:                       %       %
New Generation Aerospace, LLC(1)     6,895,786                 %       %
Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC(2)     4,938,786                 %       %
Brian Haynes     1,653,272                 %       %
Directors, Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers:                                
Captain Joseph D. Burns(3)     3,054,905                 %       %
John Uczekaj(4)     3,230,317                 %       %
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria(5)     8,659,249                 %       %
John Belcher     20,024                 %       %
Elizabeth Ng                     %        %
All current executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons)     14,964,495                 %       %

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

 

(1) Consists of (i) 6,837,994 shares of our common stock held by NGA and (ii) 57,792 shares of our common stock issuable at the closing of this offering pursuant to the Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement. Dr. Kathuria is the managing member and may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares of our common stock held by NGA. Dr. Kathuria disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address for NGA is 19W060 Avenue LaTour, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523.
(2) Consists of (i) 3,030,643 shares of our common stock held by Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC and (ii) 1,908,143 shares of our common stock held by Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC issuable, in connection with the completion of this offering, upon the conversion of $44.6 million of the obligations owed to Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC in partial satisfaction of the Jaunt Contingent Arrangement. The principal business address for Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC is 2730 Commerce St., Ste 600, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.
(3) Consists of 3,054,905 shares of our common stock held by the Joe and Kim Burns Trust (the “Burns Trust”). Captain Burns is the trustee of the Burns Trust and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by the Burns Trust.
(4) Consists of (i) 606,061 shares of our common stock held by the JS DM Uczekaj Family Trust (the “Uczekaj Trust”), (ii) 48,498 shares of our common stock issuable at the closing of this offering pursuant to the 2021 Management Carveout Plan and (iii) 2,575,758 shares of our common stock issuable at the closing of this offering pursuant to the conversion of the Aspen Notes (the “Aspen Shares”) that are currently held in escrow and for which Mr. Uczekaj acts as the shareholder representative. Mr. Uczekaj is the trustee of the Uczekaj Trust and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of our common stock held by the Uczekaj Trust. With respect to the Aspen Shares, Mr. Uczekaj has sole voting power, but not dispositive power, over all of the Aspen Shares prior to the completion of this offering. Following the completion of this offering, Mr. Uczekaj will have sole voting and dispositive power over 2,210 Aspen Shares. Mr. Uczekaj disclaims beneficial ownership of the Aspen Shares prior to the completion of this offering except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(5) Consists of (i) 1,763,463 shares of our common stock held by Dr. Kathuria, (ii) 6,837,994 shares of our common stock held by NGA and (ii) 57,792 shares of our common stock issuable at the closing of this offering pursuant to the Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement. Dr. Kathuria is the managing member of NGA and may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by NGA. Dr. Kathuria disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

154

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Upon the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of                     shares of our common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, and                     shares of preferred stock, par value $0.000001 per share. All of our authorized preferred stock upon the closing of this offering will be undesignated. The following is a summary of the rights of our common and preferred stockholders and some of the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, and of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This summary is not complete. For more detailed information, see our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as well as the relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Common Stock

 

Outstanding Shares

 

As of December 31, 2024, there were             shares of our common stock outstanding, after giving effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering and (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of             shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Our common stock was held by              stockholders of record as of December 31, 2024.

 

As of December 31, 2024, there were                 shares of our common stock subject to outstanding options under the Legacy Plan and                 shares of our common stock underlying restricted stock awards outstanding under the Legacy Plan.

 

Additionally, up to an aggregate of             shares of our common stock are issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants, which are exercisable at an exercise price equal to 110% of the initial public offering price of the shares of common stock sold in this offering.

 

Voting

 

Our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and does not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.

 

Liquidation

 

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

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Rights and Preferences

 

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

 

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

 

All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of our common stock to be issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of December 31, 2024, there were no shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding.

 

Immediately prior to the closing of this offering, our certificate of incorporation will be amended and restated. Under the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to                     shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.

 

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control that may otherwise benefit holders of our common stock and may adversely affect the market price of the common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

 

Stock Options

 

As of December 31, 2024, 591,131 shares of our common stock were issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, issued under the Legacy Plan, at a weighted-average exercise price of $5.05 per share. For information regarding the terms of our equity incentive plans, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

As of December 31, 2024, 431,818 shares of our common stock were subject to outstanding restricted stock awards issued under the Legacy Plan. For information regarding the terms of our equity incentive plans, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”

 

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Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”). Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

  prior to such time the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
     
  upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
     
  at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
     
  Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include:
     
  any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
     
  any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;
     
  subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;
     
  subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and
     
  the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person who beneficially owns, or within the three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

 

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective immediately prior to the closing of this offering, may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws:

 

  permit our board of directors to issue up to                     shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate (including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in our control);
     
  provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;
     
  provide that the board of directors or any individual director may only be removed with cause and the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding common stock;
     
  provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
     
  divide our board of directors into three classes;
     
  require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent;
     
  provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;
     
  do not provide for cumulative voting rights (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose);
     
  provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the Chairperson of the board, our Chief Executive Officer or by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors;

 

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  provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative claim or cause of action brought on our behalf, (ii) any claim or cause of action that is based upon a violation of a duty owed by any of our current or former director, officer, employees or stockholder, to us or our stockholders; (iii) any claim or cause of action against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; (iv) any claim or cause of action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; (v) any claim or cause of action as to which the Delaware General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any claim or cause of action or proceeding asserting a claim against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal-affairs doctrine or otherwise related to our internal affairs, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants; provided, however, that if the designation of such court as the sole and exclusive forum for a claim or action referred to in foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) would violate applicable law, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for such claim or cause of action; and
     
  provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant named in such complaint. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by us, our officers and directors, the underwriters for any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering.

 

The amendment of any of these provisions, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, preferences and privileges thereto, would require approval by the holders of at least 66-2/3% of our then-outstanding common stock.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We have applied to list our common stock on Nasdaq under the symbol “AIRO.” We believe that upon the closing of this offering, we will meet the standards for listing on Nasdaq, and the closing of this offering is contingent upon such listing.

 

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters

 

See the section titled “Executive Compensation—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 48 Wall Street, Floor 23, New York, New York 10005.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

Immediately prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices. Furthermore, since only a limited number of shares will be available for sale shortly after this offering because of contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the restrictions lapse could adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common stock as well as our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

 

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024, upon the closing of this offering and giving effect to (i) the conversion of the Fixed Conversion Obligations into an aggregate of 3,753,244 shares of our common stock in connection with the closing of this offering, (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of                     shares of our common stock pursuant to the Investor Notes, assuming an initial public offering price of $          per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, in connection with the closing of this offering, (iii) the issuance of an aggregate of                  shares of our common stock pursuant to the Dangroup Incentive Agreement, assuming              shares of our common stock are outstanding immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (iv) no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our common stock and (v) no exercise of outstanding options, or the vesting and settlement of outstanding restricted stock awards, an aggregate of                     shares of our common stock will be outstanding. All of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable in the public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless held by an affiliate of ours. Except as set forth below, the remaining shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering will be restricted as a result of securities laws or lock-up agreements. In addition, any shares sold in this offering to entities affiliated with our existing stockholders and directors will be subject to lock-up agreements. These remaining shares will generally become available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

  no restricted shares will be eligible for immediate sale upon the closing of this offering;
   
  up to                     restricted shares will be eligible for sale under Rule 144 or Rule 701 upon expiration of lock-up agreements 180 days after the date of this prospectus; and
   
  the remainder of the restricted shares will be eligible for sale from time to time thereafter upon expiration of their respective holding periods under Rule 144, as described below, but could be sold earlier if the holders exercise any available registration rights.

 

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Rule 144

 

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, any person who is not an affiliate of ours and has held their shares for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, may sell shares without restriction, provided current public information about us is available. In addition, under Rule 144, any person who is not an affiliate of ours and has held their shares for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares immediately upon the closing of this offering without regard to whether current public information about us is available. Beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, a person who is an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, is entitled to sell a number of restricted shares within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of:

 

  1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately                     shares immediately after this offering; or
     
  the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

 

Sales of restricted shares under Rule 144 held by our affiliates are also subject to requirements regarding the manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information about us. Rule 144 also provides that affiliates relying on Rule 144 to sell shares of our common stock that are not restricted shares must nonetheless comply with the same restrictions applicable to restricted shares, other than the holding period requirement.

 

Notwithstanding the availability of Rule 144, the holders of substantially all of our restricted shares have entered into lock-up agreements as described below and their restricted shares will become eligible for sale at the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements.

 

Rule 701

 

Under Rule 701, shares of our common stock acquired upon the exercise of currently outstanding options or pursuant to other rights granted under our stock plans may be resold by:

 

  persons other than affiliates, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, subject only to the manner-of-sale provisions of Rule 144; and
     
  our affiliates, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, subject to the manner-of-sale and volume limitations, current public information and filing requirements of Rule 144, in each case, without compliance with the six-month holding period requirement of Rule 144.

 

As of December 31, 2024, options to purchase a total of                     shares of our common stock were outstanding, of which                     were vested. Of the total number of shares of our common stock issuable under these options, substantially all are subject to contractual lock-up agreements with us or the underwriters described below under “Underwriting” and will become eligible for sale at the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements unless held by an affiliate of ours.

 

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Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our officers, directors, and holders of substantially all of our common stock have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. This agreement does not apply to any existing employee benefit plans. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. advised us that they have no current intent or arrangement to release any of the shares subject to the lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreements.

 

After this offering, certain of our employees, including our executive officers and/or directors, may enter into written trading plans that are intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. Sales under these trading plans would not be permitted until the expiration of the lock-up agreements relating to the offering described above.

 

Equity Incentive Plans

 

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering the shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Legacy Plan, the 2025 Plan and the ESPP. The registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the closing of this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under the registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following its effective date, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations and the lock-up agreements described above, if applicable.

 

Underwriters’ Warrants

 

We have agreed to issue to certain of the underwriters, upon the closing of this offering, warrants exercisable for the number of shares of our common stock equal to 5% of the total number of shares of our common stock sold in this offering (which we refer to as the “Underwriters’ Warrants”). The Underwriters’ Warrants will be exercisable at an exercise price equal to 110% of the initial public offering price of our common stock sold in this offering, will be exercisable, in whole or in part, from time to time after six months following the date of this prospectus, and will expire on the date that is five years following the date of this prospectus. The Underwriters’ Warrants and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants are also being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Underwriting—Underwriters’ Warrants.”

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering. This discussion is not a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences relating thereto, does not address the potential application of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income, or the alternative minimum tax, and does not address any estate or gift tax consequences or any tax consequences arising under any state, local or foreign tax laws, or any other U.S. federal tax laws. This discussion is based on the Code, and applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), all as in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities are subject to differing interpretations and may change, possibly retroactively, resulting in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.

 

This discussion is limited to non-U.S. holders who purchase our common stock pursuant to this offering and who hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of such holder’s circumstances. This discussion also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may be relevant to holders subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including:

 

  U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
     
  partnerships or other pass-through entities (and investors therein);
     
  “controlled foreign corporations”;
     
  “passive foreign investment companies”;
     
  corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
     
  banks, other financial institutions, investment funds, insurance companies, brokers, dealers or traders in securities;
     
  tax-exempt organizations and governmental organizations;
     
  tax-qualified retirement plans;
     
  “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds;

 

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  persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;  
     
  persons who hold or receive our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
     
  persons that own, or have owned, actually or constructively, more than 5% of our common stock at any time; and
     
  persons holding our common stock as part of a hedging or conversion transaction, straddle, synthetic security, constructive sale, or other risk reduction strategy or integrated investment.

 

If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their tax advisors about the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of holding and disposing of our common stock.

 

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS AND ANY OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS AND UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

 

Definition of Non-U.S. Holder

 

For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is not a “U.S. person” or a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

  an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
     
  a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
     
  an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
     
  a trust (i) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

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Distributions on Common Stock

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. However, if we do make cash or other property distributions on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and will first be applied against and reduce a non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in our common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock and will be treated as described under the section titled “Gain on Disposition of Common Stock” below.

 

Subject to the discussions below regarding effectively connected income, backup withholding and Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (commonly referred to as FATCA), dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must furnish us or our paying agent with a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. This certification must be provided to us or our paying agent before the payment of dividends and must be updated periodically. If the non-U.S. holder holds the stock through a financial institution or other intermediary, the non-U.S. holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the intermediary, which then will be required to provide certification to us or our paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

 

Non-U.S. holders that do not provide the required certification on a timely basis, but that qualify for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

 

If a non-U.S. holder holds our common stock in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and dividends paid on our common stock are effectively connected with such holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and are attributable to such holder’s permanent establishment in the United States if required by an applicable tax treaty), the non-U.S. holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the non-U.S. holder must generally furnish a valid IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) to the applicable withholding agent, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business within the United States.

 

However, any such effectively connected dividends paid on our common stock generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such holder were a resident of the United States. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for different treatment) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Gain on Disposition of our Common Stock

 

Subject to the discussions below regarding backup withholding and FATCA, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock, unless:

 

  the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States;

 

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  the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition, and certain other requirements are met; or
     
  our common stock constitutes a “United States real property interest” by reason of our status as a United States real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for our common stock, and our common stock is not “regularly traded” on an established securities market (as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations).

 

Determining whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our U.S. real property interests relative to the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests and our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe that we are not currently and do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although there can be no assurance we will not in the future become a USRPHC. If we are or become a USRPHC and the “regularly traded” exception noted above does not apply to the disposition, a non-U.S. holder will generally be taxed on any gain in the same manner as gain that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, except that the branch profits tax generally will not apply. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible consequences to them if we are, or were to become, a USRPHC.

 

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if such holder were a resident of the United States. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for different treatment) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items. A non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a flat 30% rate (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for different treatment) on gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock, but may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided that the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Annual reports are required to be filed with the IRS and provided to each non-U.S. holder indicating distributions on our common stock paid to such holder and the amount of any tax withheld with respect to those distributions. These information reporting requirements apply regardless of whether such distributions constitute dividends and even if no withholding was required because the distributions were effectively connected with the holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, or withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. This information also may be made available under a specific treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established. Backup withholding, currently at a 24% rate, generally will not apply to payments to a non-U.S. holder of dividends on or the gross proceeds of a disposition of our common stock provided the non-U.S. holder furnishes the required certification for its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Backup withholding may apply if the payor has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person.

 

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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. If any amount is withheld under the backup withholding rules, the non-U.S. holder should consult with a U.S. tax advisor regarding the possibility of and procedure for obtaining a refund or a credit against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any.

 

Withholding on Foreign Entities

 

Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “FATCA”) imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (as specially defined under these rules) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities certain information regarding certain U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or an exemption applies. FATCA also generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent a certification certifying it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or identifying certain direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity or an exemption applies. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. FATCA currently applies to dividends paid on our common stock. The U.S. Treasury released proposed Treasury Regulations which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the federal withholding tax of 30% applicable to the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our common stock. In its preamble to such proposed Treasury Regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that taxpayers may generally rely on such proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

 

Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the potential implications of FATCA on their investment in our common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, dated        , 2025 between us and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”), as representative of the underwriters named below (the “Representative”), we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the shares of our common stock shown opposite its name below:

 

Underwriter   Number of Shares 
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.     
BTIG, LLC     
Mizuho Securities USA LLC     
Bancroft Capital, LLC     
Total     

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions and approval of certain legal matters by their counsel. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters will purchase all of the shares of our common stock if any of them are purchased. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and certain of their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

The underwriters are offering the shares of our common stock subject to their acceptance of the shares of our common stock from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. In addition, the underwriters have advised us that they do not intend to confirm sales to any account over which they exercise discretionary authority.

 

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

 

We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of                      shares from us at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares approximately proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment as indicated in the table above.

 

Commission and Expenses

 

The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares of our common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers, which may include the underwriters, at that price less a concession not in excess of $                     per share of our common stock. The underwriters may allow, and certain dealers may reallow, a discount from the concession not in excess of $                     per share of our common stock to certain brokers and dealers. After the initial offering, the Representative may change the offering price and other selling terms.

 

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The following table shows the public offering price, the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us in connection with this offering. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

   Per Share   Total 
   Without
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
   With
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
   Without
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
   With
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
 
Public offering price  $                 $            $                 $               
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)  $   $   $   $ 
Proceeds to us, before expenses  $   $   $   $ 

 

(1) The underwriting discounts and commissions reflected in this table do not include (i) the issuance by us of the Underwriters’ Warrants to certain of the underwriters (see “—Underwriters’ Warrants” below) or (ii) the reimbursement by us of certain expenses as described below.

 

We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions referred to above, will be approximately $           . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses up to $             .

 

Determination of Offering Price

 

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock. Consequently, the initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the representative. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the underwriters believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.

 

We offer no assurances that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which the common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to the offering or that an active trading market for the common stock will develop and continue after the offering.

 

Cantor’s Right of First Refusal

 

We have agreed to grant Cantor the right to act as a managing underwriter, initial purchaser or placement agent in connection with certain future public offerings, private placements or other financings, subject to certain conditions. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), this right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three (3) years from the commencement of sales of this offering or the termination of the agreement between us and Cantor. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, such right is deemed to be underwriting compensation for this offering, the value of which will be 1% of the proceeds from this offering.

 

Underwriters’ Warrants

 

We have agreed to issue to certain of the underwriters, upon the closing of this offering, warrants exercisable for the number of shares of our common stock equal to 5% of the total number of shares of common stock sold in this offering (which we refer to as the “Underwriters’ Warrants”). The Underwriters’ Warrants will be exercisable at an exercise price equal to 110% of the initial public offering price of the shares of common stock sold in this offering. Subject to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), the Underwriters’ Warrants will be exercisable, in whole or in part, from time to time after six months following the date of this prospectus, until the expiration of the Underwriters’ Warrants on the date that is five (5) years following the commencement of this offering, in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A). The Underwriters’ Warrants and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants are also being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and this prospectus also relates to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants.

 

In addition, pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, the Underwriters’ Warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the Underwriters’ Warrants are deemed by FINRA to be underwriting compensation for this offering, and, as such, they will be subject to lock-up restrictions, as required by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), and may not be sold during this offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person, for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or the commencement of sales under this offering, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).

 

The exercise price and the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances, including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. You should review a copy of the form of the Underwriters’ Warrants, which is included as Exhibit 4.2 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Underwriters’ Warrants.

 

Listing

 

We have applied to list our common stock on Nasdaq under the trading symbol “AIRO.” The approval of our common stock for listing on Nasdaq is a condition to the closing of this offering.

 

No Sales of Similar Securities

 

We, our officers and our directors have agreed, subject to certain specified exceptions, not to directly or indirectly, for a period of 180 days after the date of the underwriting agreement:

 

sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-l(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise dispose of, any shares of common stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of common stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of common stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially,
   
enter into any swap, hedge or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of common stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of common stock, or
   
publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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In addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, we or such other person will not, during the restricted period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock.

 

The restrictions in the immediately preceding paragraph do not apply to, among other things, and subject in certain cases to various conditions:

 

(a) transfers in certain circumstances, including:

 

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, or charitable contribution, or for bona fide estate planning purposes,

 

(ii) by will or intestacy or any other testamentary document,

 

(iii) to any member of the holder’s immediate family,

 

(iv) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the holder or the immediate family of the holder,

 

(v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv) above,

 

(vi) by a business entity (A) to an affiliated or controlled entity or (B) as part of a distribution to current or former general or limited partners, managers or members, shareholders or other equityholders,

 

(vii) by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement,

 

(viii) to us upon death, disability, or if the holder is our employee, termination of employment,

 

(ix) as part of a sale of common stock acquired (A) from the underwriters in this offering or (B) in open market transactions after the closing date of this offering,

 

(x) to us in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of common stock (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments due as a result of the vesting, settlement, or exercise of such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights, held pursuant to an agreement or equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan described in this prospectus, or

 

(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, that is approved by our board of directors and made to all holders of our capital stock;

 

(b) the exercise of outstanding options, settle restricted stock units or other equity awards or the exercise of warrants pursuant to plans described in this prospectus;

 

(c) the conversion of outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock or convertible securities into shares of common stock or warrants to acquire shares of common stock;

 

(d) the establishment or amendment of trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act; provided that (1) no transfers occur under such plan during such lock-up period and (2) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment or amendment of such trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1, provided that if a filing under the Exchange Act or other public announcement is required, such announcement or filing shall include a statement that a transfer, sale or other disposition is not permitted under such trading plan during the lock-up period; and

 

(e) the transfer or disposition of shares of common stock pursuant to “sell-to-cover” transactions in connection with the issuance of shares pursuant to a benefit pool or as deferred compensation described in this prospectus, provided that, any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of common stock in connection with such sell-to-cover transaction that is legally required during the lock-up period shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transaction.

 

The Representative may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the 180-day period release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements.

 

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

 

The underwriters may make a market in the common stock as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so, and the underwriters may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice in their sole discretion. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the common stock, that you will be able to sell any of the common stock held by you at a particular time or that the prices that you receive when you sell will be favorable.

 

The underwriters have advised us that they, pursuant to Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and certain persons participating in the offering, may engage in short sale transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering. These activities may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Establishing short sales positions may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales.

 

“Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in this offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock or purchasing shares of our common stock in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares.

 

“Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional shares of our common stock. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.

 

A stabilizing bid is a bid for the purchase of shares of our common stock on behalf of the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the common stock. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of shares of our common stock on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the common stock originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.

 

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Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, may end any of these activities at any time.

 

Passive Market Making

 

The underwriters may also engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of shares of our common stock in this offering and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may cause the price of our common stock to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of those transactions. The underwriters are not required to engage in passive market making and, if commenced, may end passive market making activities at any time.

 

Electronic Distribution

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available by e-mail or on the web sites or through online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters, selling group members (if any) or their affiliates. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of shares of our common stock for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ websites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by any of the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

Other Activities and Relationships

 

The underwriters and certain of their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in a wide range of activities for their own accounts and the accounts of customers, which may include, among other things, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, merchant banking, equity and fixed income sales, trading and research, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, asset management, custody, clearance and securities lending. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various investment banking and financial advisory services for us and our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

 

In addition, in the ordinary course of its business, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may, directly or indirectly, hold long or short positions, trade and otherwise conduct such activities in or with respect to debt or equity securities and/or bank debt of, and/or derivative products. Such investment and securities activities may involve our securities and instruments. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

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Stamp Taxes

 

If you purchase shares of our common stock offered in this prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the securities, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or the securities in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other material or advertisements in connection with the securities may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

 

United Arab Emirates

 

The securities have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United Arab Emirates, except: (1) in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the United Arab Emirates; and (2) through persons or corporate entities authorized and licensed to provide investment advice and/or engage in brokerage activity and/or trade in respect of foreign securities in the United Arab Emirates. The information contained in this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 (as amended)) or otherwise and is not intended to be a public offer and is addressed only to persons who are sophisticated investors.

 

Canada

 

This prospectus constitutes an “exempt offering document” as defined in and for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this prospectus or on the merits of the securities and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

 

Canadian investors are advised that this prospectus has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”). Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33-105, this prospectus is exempt from the requirement that the issuer and the underwriters provide investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships that may exist between the issuer and the underwriters as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33-105.

 

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Resale restrictions

 

The offer and sale of the securities in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the issuer prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of the securities acquired by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements, pursuant to a statutory exemption from the prospectus requirements, in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the securities outside of Canada.

 

Representations of purchasers

 

Each Canadian investor who purchases the securities will be deemed to have represented to the issuer and the underwriters that the investor (i) is purchasing the securities as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, for investment only and not with a view to resale or redistribution; (ii) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”) or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) is a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.

 

Taxation and eligibility for investment

 

Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this prospectus does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the securities and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the securities or with respect to the eligibility of the securities for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.

 

Rights of action for damages or rescission

 

Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum (such as this prospectus), including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the offering memorandum, or other offering document that constitutes an offering memorandum, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defenses under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.

 

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Language of documents

 

Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur Canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

 

Australia

 

This document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Australia’s Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”) of Australia. This document has not been lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and is only directed to the categories of exempt persons set out below. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:

 

You confirm and warrant that you are either:

 

a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;
   
a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to the company which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made; or
   
a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act.

 

To the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance.

 

You warrant and agree that you will not offer any of the securities issued to you pursuant to this document for resale in Australia within 12 months of those securities being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.

 

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European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a “Member State”), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein in that Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that the securities may be offered to the public in that Member State at any time:

 

(i)to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation;
   
(ii)to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
   
(iii)in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

 

provided that no such offer of securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

 

Each person in a Member State who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

 

In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in a Member State to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.

 

The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase, or subscribe for, any securities and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

 

In Member States, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in any Member State by persons who are not Qualified Investors. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in any Member State only to Qualified Investors and will be engaged in only with such persons.

 

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France

 

The securities are being issued and sold outside the Republic of France and that, in connection with their initial distribution, the underwriters have not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any securities to the public in the Republic of France, and that they has not distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in the Republic of France this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the securities, and that such offers, sales and distributions have been and will be made in the Republic of France only to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code and decrét no. 98-880 dated October 1, 1998.

 

Germany

 

Each person who is in possession of this prospectus is aware that no German sales prospectus (Verkaufsprospekt) within the meaning of the Securities Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz, the “Act”) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been or will be published with respect to the securities. In particular, the underwriters have represented that they have not engaged and have agreed that they will not engage in a public offering (offentliches Angebot) within the meaning of the Act with respect to any of the securities otherwise then in accordance with the Act and all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Peoples’ Republic of China

 

This prospectus may not be circulated or distributed in the PRC and the securities may not be offered or sold, and will not offer or sell to any person for re-offering or resale directly or indirectly to any resident of the PRC except pursuant to applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. For the purpose of this paragraph only, the PRC does not include Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

 

Hong Kong

 

No securities have been, may be or will be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell securities or debentures, whether as principal or agent; or to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder; or in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O. No document, invitation or advertisement relating to the securities has been issued or may be issued or will be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

 

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This document has not been and will not be registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this document may not be issued, circulated or distributed in Hong Kong, and the securities may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this document and the relevant offering documents and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.

 

Japan

 

The offering has not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948 of Japan, as amended) (the “FIEA”). The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means, unless otherwise provided herein, any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

Singapore

 

This document has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is, amongst others:

 

(a)a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
   
(b)a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

 

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the securities (as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

(1)to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA;
   
(2)where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;
   
(3)where the transfer is by operation of law;
   
(4)as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or
   
(5)as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

 

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA) that the securities are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 of Singapore) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

 

Switzerland

 

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the issuer or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, or FINMA, and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.

 

Israel

 

This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Securities Law, and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In the State of Israel, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the securities is directed only at, investors listed in the first addendum, or the Addendum, to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals”, each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors will be required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.

 

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United Kingdom

 

In relation to the United Kingdom, no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, except that the securities may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:

 

(i)to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
   
(ii)to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
   
(iii)in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the “FSMA”),

 

provided that no such offer of the securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

 

Each person in the United Kingdom who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

 

In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in the United Kingdom to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.

 

The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

 

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For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

 

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also: (i) persons who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2) of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with such persons.

 

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in connection with the issue or sale of the securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. All applicable provisions of the FSMA and the Order must be complied with in respect of anything done by any person in relation to the securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of our common stock being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Cooley LLP. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.’s ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus) of BPM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of our common stock being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.

 

You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110, or calling us at (505) 338-2434.

 

Upon the closing of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.theairogroup.com, at which, following the closing of this offering, you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference in, and is not part of, this prospectus.

 

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AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 207) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss F-5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-8

 

F-1

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s cash and working capital as of December 31, 2024 are not sufficient to complete its planned activities for the next twelve months. These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ BPM LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.

 

San Jose, California

February 21, 2025

 

F-2

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash  $20,740,590   $4,117,875 
Restricted cash   170,088    8,984,437 
Accounts receivable, net   8,960,705    1,377,388 
Related party receivables   790,967    445,033 
Inventory   8,822,721    2,864,170 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,309,676    1,368,123 
Deferred offering costs   798,796    - 
Total current assets   42,593,543    19,157,026 
Property and equipment, net   6,833,817    10,132,103 
Right-of-use operating lease assets   352,486    329,957 
Goodwill   557,508,331    602,602,501 
Intangible assets, net   93,502,277    105,054,245 
Other assets   208,333    246,786 
Total assets  $700,998,787   $737,522,618 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $16,439,760   $17,229,424 
Related party payables   1,099,970    993,023 
Accrued expenses   17,457,155    6,974,174 
Operating lease liabilities, current   212,591    328,560 
Deferred revenue   10,339,978    11,088,153 
Related party borrowings   5,971,281    4,371,239 
Revolving lines of credit   126,589    743,227 
Current maturities of debt   27,992,450    25,014,151 
Investor notes at fair value   13,819,000    - 
Due to seller   3,147,762    18,766,921 
Total current liabilities   96,606,536    85,508,872 
Long-term debt, net of current maturities   688,270    500,000 
Deferred compensation   11,218,573    9,327,168 
Deferred tax liability   767,331    1,475,102 
Long-term deferred revenue   10,158    14,649 
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent   146,214    8,853 
Other long-term liabilities   50,000    50,000 
Contingent consideration   42,782,276    45,182,276 
Total liabilities   152,269,358    142,066,920 
           
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)          
           
Stockholders’ equity:          
Common stock, $0.000001 par value; 35,000,000 shares authorized; 27,858,276 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023   28    28 
Additional paid-in capital   764,691,976    763,975,884 
Stockholder loan   (5)   (5)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (9,509,285)   (761,163)
Accumulated deficit   (206,453,285)   (167,759,046)
Total stockholders’ equity   548,729,429    595,455,698 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $700,998,787   $737,522,618 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2024   2023 
Revenue  $86,935,059   $43,253,815 
Cost of revenue   28,618,322    18,339,915 
Gross profit   58,316,737    24,913,900 
           
Operating expenses:          
Research and development   13,133,488    11,870,771 
Sales and marketing   6,422,000    5,374,332 
General and administrative   18,200,677    17,600,953 
Goodwill impairment   37,994,000    - 
Total operating expenses   75,750,165    34,846,056 
Loss from operations   (17,433,428)   (9,932,156)
Other income (expense):          
Interest expense, net   (14,225,089)   (2,137,234)
Other income (expense), net   2,172,925    (18,093,226)
Total other expense   (12,052,164)   (20,230,460)
Loss before income tax expense   (29,485,592)   (30,162,616)
Income tax expense   (9,208,647)   (2,293,807)
Net loss  $(38,694,239)  $(32,456,423)
           
Net loss per share - basic and diluted  $(1.39)  $(1.17)
           
Weighted-average number of common shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted   27,858,276    27,858,276 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of comprehensive loss

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2024   2023 
Net loss  $(38,694,239)  $(32,456,423)
Other comprehensive income (loss):          
Foreign currency translation, net of tax   (8,748,122)   3,099,837 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)   (8,748,122)   3,099,837 
Comprehensive loss  $(47,442,361)  $(29,356,586)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

   Common Stock   Additional
Paid-In
   Stockholder   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   Accumulated   Total
Stockholders’
 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Loan   Loss   Deficit   Equity 
Balance as of January 1, 2023   27,858,276   $28   $762,160,659   $(5)  $(3,861,000)  $(135,302,623)  $622,997,059 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    1,815,225    -    -    -    1,815,225 
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    -    -    -    3,099,837    -    3,099,837 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (32,456,423)   (32,456,423)
Balance as of December 31, 2023   27,858,276   28   763,975,884   (5)  (761,163)  (167,759,046)   595,455,698 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    716,092    -    -    -    716,092 
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    -    -    -    (8,748,122)   -    (8,748,122)
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (38,694,239)   (38,694,239)
Balance as of December 31, 2024   27,858,276   $28   $764,691,976   $(5)  $(9,509,285)  $(206,453,285)  $548,729,429 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2024   2023 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(38,694,239)  $(32,456,423)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Stock-based compensation   716,092    1,815,225 
Provision (recovery of) for credit losses   (42,237)   12,965 
Non-cash interest    1,421,691    635,684 
Non-cash loss on debt extinguishment   10,461,137     
Change in investor notes at fair value   353,284     
Depreciation and amortization   12,640,166    12,730,779 
Accretion of deferred compensation assumed   -    478,993 
Amortization of right-of-use lease assets   351,704    516,800 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration   (2,400,000)   18,009,278 
Change in deferred taxes   (653,876)   974,754 
Goodwill impairment   37,994,000    - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (7,908,375)   279,539 
Related party receivables   (345,934)   (53,956)
Prepaid expenses and other assets   (1,523,801)   (281,898)
Inventory   (6,362,573)   (663,522)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities   13,878,887    8,914,658 
Related party payables   143,357    55,483 
Lease liabilities   (359,555)   (516,298)
Deferred revenue   (75,975)   10,251,760 
Deferred compensation   1,891,405    1,402,122 
Net cash provided by operating activities   21,485,158    22,105,943 
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property and equipment and investment in intangible assets   (789,131)   (835,922)
Net cash used in investing activities   (789,131)   (835,922)
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Change in lines of credit   (620,805)   (422,333)
Change in related party lines of credit   -    (1,598,188)
Proceeds from borrowings   6,950,000    1,184,500 
Repayments on borrowings   (1,542,179)   (796,665)
Proceeds from related party borrowings   1,373,750    1,580,000 
Repayments on related party borrowings   (50,000)   (25,000)
Debt issuance costs paid   (475,000)   (25,000)
Payment of contingent consideration   -    (3,010,000)
Payment to seller   (16,218,551)   (6,175,808)
Net cash used in financing activities   (10,582,785)   (9,288,494)
Effect of exchange rate changes   (2,304,876)   292,133 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and restricted cash   7,808,366    12,273,660 
Cash and restricted cash as of beginning of period   13,102,312    828,652 
Cash and restricted cash as of end of period  $20,910,678   $13,102,312 
           
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash information:          
Financing of insurance premiums  $268,300   $297,351 

Return of property and cancellation of corresponding accounts payable

  $2,593,740   $ 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities  $380,947   $129,109 
Conversion of accounts payable to debt  $356,795   $ 
Extinguishment of the carrying value of principal and interest  $1,405,000     

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7

 

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Nature of Operations

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings” or the “Company”), is a technologically differentiated aerospace, autonomy, and air mobility platform targeting 21st century aerospace and defense opportunities. The Company is organized into four operating segments: (i) Drones, (ii) Avionics, (iii) Training and (iv) Electric Air Mobility. The Drones segment develops, manufactures, and sells drones and expects to provide drone services, such as Drone as a Service (“DaaS”), for military and commercial end users. The Avionics segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics for military and general aviation aircraft, drones, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft. The Training segment currently provides military pilot training and expects to provide commercial pilot training in the future. The Electric Air Mobility segment is developing a rotorcraft eVTOL for cargo and passenger use for fixed route flights, on-demand trips, and cargo operations.

 

In October 2021, Holdings entered into agreements and plans of merger (the “Merger Agreements”) with AIRO Drone, LLC (“AIRO Drone”), Agile Defense, LLC (“Agile Defense”), Coastal Defense, Inc. (“Coastal Defense”), Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC (“Jaunt”), and Aspen Avionics, Inc. (“Aspen Avionics”). Holdings also entered into an equity purchase agreement (“Equity Purchase Agreement”) with Sky-Watch A/S (“Sky-Watch”). AIRO Drone, Agile Defense, Coastal Defense, Jaunt, Aspen Avionics and Sky-Watch together represent the “Merger Entities.” Under the Merger Agreements and Equity Purchase Agreement, the parties entered into a series of transactions in which Holdings acquired all of the equity of the Merger Entities. The acquisitions of the Merger Entities by Holdings were completed between February and April 2022.

 

On March 3, 2023, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement, as amended by that certain First Amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated August 29, 2023, that certain Second Amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated January 16, 2024, that certain Third Amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated February 5, 2024, and that certain Fourth Amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated June 24, 2024, with Kernel Group Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Kernel”), AIRO Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ParentCo”), Kernel Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of ParentCo, AIRO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of ParentCo, VKSS Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in the capacity as the representative for the stockholders of Kernel and ParentCo and also in the capacity as Kernel’s sponsor, and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, in the capacity as the representative for the stockholders (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which a series of transactions would have occurred that would have resulted in the Company becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of ParentCo with ParentCo becoming a publicly listed company (collectively, the “BCA Transactions”). On August 5, 2024, the Business Combination Agreement was terminated and, as a result, none of the BCA Transactions were effectuated.

 

Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Old AGI, Inc. f/k/a AIRO Group, Inc. (“AIRO Group”), AIRO Drone, Agile Defense, Jaunt, Sky-Watch, Coastal Defense, and Aspen Avionics. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

F-8

 

 

Liquidity and Management’s Plans

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred losses since inception. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and restricted cash of $20.9 million, of which $0.2 million was either restricted or was designated solely for use in Sky-Watch operations, and a working capital deficit of $47.6 million. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The Company is actively seeking additional funding through equity and debt financing, including an initial public offering. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. Failure to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, raise additional capital and reduce discretionary spending could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to achieve its intended business objectives. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These judgments, estimates and assumptions are used to determine litigation and claims and other asset and liability amounts. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience along with other pertinent information available at the time the estimate is made. However, future events are subject to change and the estimates and judgments may require adjustments. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and these differences may be material.

 

Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions

 

The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition date. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as part of the purchase price allocation process to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed, these estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. Examples of estimates and assumptions in valuing certain of the intangible assets and goodwill the Company has acquired include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows from acquired developed technologies, customer relationships, and tradenames. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.

 

The authoritative guidance allows a measurement period of the purchase price allocation that ends when the entity has obtained all relevant information about facts that existed at the acquisition date, and that cannot exceed one year from the date of acquisition. As a result, during the measurement period, the Company may record adjustments to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill to the extent that it identifies adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation. Upon conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments will be recorded to the consolidated statements of operations.

 

F-9

 

 

Where the purchase of an entity or net assets does not meet the definition of a business, the Company accounts for the transaction as an asset acquisition. In an asset acquisition, the purchase price is allocated to the net assets acquired on a relative fair value basis, and no goodwill is recognized in the transaction. Direct costs for asset acquisitions are generally considered part of the purchase price.

 

Business Risk and Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. Cash is maintained with financial institutions and the composition and maturities are regularly monitored by management. Deposits at any time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral for accounts receivable. A large portion of the Company’s sales result in partial prepayments prior to shipment from customers. Otherwise, customer invoices generally have payment terms of net 30 days and do not have a significant financing component. During the year ended December 31, 2024, two customers accounted for 72% of the Company’s revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2023, two customers accounted for 61% of the Company’s revenue. As of December 31, 2024, one customer accounted for 86% of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2023, two customers accounted for 52% of accounts receivable.

 

The Company’s operational structure includes an existing operating business and early-stage businesses in emerging and developing markets that are concentrated in an industry characterized by rapid technological advances, changes in customer requirements, and evolving regulatory requirements and industry standards. Any significant delays in the development or introduction of products or services, or any failure by the Company to anticipate or to respond adequately to technological developments in its industry, changes in customer requirements, or changes in regulatory requirements or industry standards, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and operating results.

 

The Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition for the foreseeable future will likely continue to depend on sales to a relatively small number of customers. In the future, these customers may decide not to purchase the Company’s products, may purchase fewer products than in previous years, or may alter their purchasing patterns. Further, the amount of revenue attributable to any single customer or customer concentration generally may fluctuate in any given period. In addition, a decline in the production levels of one or more of the Company’s major customers could reduce revenue. The loss of one or more key customers, a reduction in sales to any key customer, or the Company’s inability to attract new significant customers could negatively impact revenue and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Supply Risk

 

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, purchases from three vendors constituted 61% and 51%, respectively, of total inventory purchases.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Restricted Cash

 

The Company had $0.2 million and $9.0 million in restricted cash as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, restricted cash was primarily collateral held for credit cards. As of December 31, 2023, restricted cash was primarily deposits from a customer contract that have been placed in an escrow account to be released upon shipment of orders.

 

Accounts Receivable, Net

 

Accounts receivable are reported on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at the gross outstanding amount adjusted for a provision for credit losses. The Company determines the provision for credit losses by regularly evaluating expected loss as well as individual customer receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history, and current economic conditions. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company provided a provision for credit losses of $0.1 million for amounts that may ultimately be uncollectible. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.

 

F-10

 

 

Inventory

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is primarily determined based on standard cost and approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. Work-in-process and finished goods include materials, labor and allocated overhead. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Reductions to the carrying value of inventory are charged to cost of revenue and a new, lower cost basis for that inventory is established. Subsequent changes to facts or circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in the related inventory value. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

 

Deferred Offering Costs

 

The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional, accounting, and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity issuances as deferred offering costs until such equity issuances are consummated. After consummation of the equity issuance, these costs are recorded as a reduction in the capitalized amount associated with the equity issuance. Should the equity issuance be delayed or abandoned, the deferred offering costs will be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2024, $0.8 million of offering related costs were capitalized and included on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company applies the requirements of the fair value measurements framework, which establishes a hierarchy for measuring fair value and requires enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements. The fair value measurement guidance clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement guidance also requires disclosure about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy in which these assets and liabilities must be grouped based on significant levels of inputs as follows:

 

  Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
  Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability.
  Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following is a summary of the financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by caption and by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   Fair value as of December 31, 2024 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Liabilities:                      
Contingent consideration  $   $   $42,782,276   $42,782,276 
Investor Notes at fair value           13,819,000    13,819,000 
Total financial liabilities  $   $   $56,601,276   $56,601,276 

 

   Fair value as of December 31, 2023 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Liabilities:                    
Debt  $        —   $       —   $19,426,848   $19,426,848 
Contingent consideration           45,182,276    45,182,276 
Total financial liabilities  $   $   $64,609,124   $64,609,124 

 

There were no financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2, or 3 within the fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2024 or 2023.

 

Debt

 

As discussed in Note 2. Revolving Lines of Credit and Long-Term Debt, the Company modified certain debt arrangements as of March 31, 2022. The debt was recorded at present value to estimate the fair value of the debt obligation as of December 31, 2023. The effective interest rate in the fair value shown above for December 31, 2023 was 12.5%. Since the debt was fully accreted to its expected value during the year ended December 31, 2024, the debt is no longer measured at fair value on a recurring basis and was transferred out of Level 3 fair value measurements.

 

F-11

 

 

Contingent Consideration

 

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, contingent consideration includes an obligation assumed from the Jaunt acquisition that is contingent on future cash receipts (the “Jaunt Contingent Arrangement”) and promissory notes issued in conjunction with the acquisitions of Agile Defense, Airo Drone, and Coastal Defense.

 

The contingent consideration liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which there was no available quoted market prices or principal markets. The inputs for this measurement were unobservable and were, therefore, classified as Level 3 inputs.

 

The Jaunt Contingent Arrangement was valued using discounted cash flow models. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the significant inputs included discount factors ranging from 21% to 45% and a 67% initial public offering (“IPO”) likelihood to arrive at a total fair value of $33.4 million and $35.8 million, respectively.

 

The fair value of the contingent consideration promissory notes issued to the former equity holders of Agile Defense, AIRO Drone and Coastal Defense totaled $9.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Valuations were based on a 67% probability of an IPO closing and a discount rate of 3% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 based on proximity to an estimated closing date.

 

As of January 1, 2023, the contingent consideration liabilities included an earnout liability with a fair value of $5.9 million and a promissory note issued in conjunction with the acquisition of Sky-Watch with a fair value of $7.8 million. During the first quarter of 2023, the contingent promissory note was amended such that it was payable no later than December 31, 2023. As the contingency was resolved, the difference between the December 31, 2022 fair value of $7.8 million and the face value of the promissory note of $12.9 million was recorded to other income (expense), net during the year ended December 31, 2023 and the $12.9 million liability was reclassified to due to seller. See Note 18 for additional considerations related to due to seller.

 

The Sky-Watch earnout liability was originally payable up to $6.5 million, of which up to a maximum of $3.0 million was payable on a dollar-for-dollar basis on revenue earned within the first two years following the acquisition and $3.5 million would become due and payable if Sky-Watch earned a minimum of $13.8 million in revenue during the period from the acquisition date through June 2024. In December 2022, the Equity Purchase Agreement was amended to increase the second earnout amount to $7.5 million and to extend the earnout period to include the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024. In March 2023, the Equity Purchase Agreement was further amended to add a third earnout of $4.0 million if revenue during the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024 reached $17.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the change in fair value related to this earnout totaled $8.7 million. As of December 31, 2023, the earnout liability was recorded to the full amount owed net of $3.0 million in payments made to date totaling $11.5 million and was classified as due to seller as all contingencies had been resolved. See Note 18 for additional considerations related to due to seller.

 

F-12

 

 

Investor Notes at fair value

 

The Company has historically issued Investor Notes which have included various interest features in the form of both stock and contingently payable upon the closing of an IPO or qualified financing.. The Company has evaluated these features and determined that they do not meet the criteria for being accounted as an embedded derivative under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815. During 2024, certain Investor Notes were amended such that when the Company performed a significance test as of the modification date in accordance with ASC 470-50. The Company determined that the change in terms of these Investor Notes were substantially different than the previous terms such that the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $10.5 million.

 

As this significant modification created an election date for the fair value option and as the fair value election is applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis, the Company chose to record these Investor Notes at fair value beginning on the modification date in October 2024. Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of debt. Accordingly, we typically obtain the assistance of third-party valuation specialists for valuations. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management but are inherently uncertain.

 

To determine the fair value of Investor Notes, we incorporated the probability of both an IPO and non-IPO scenario of 67% and 33%, respectively, as of October 14, 2024 and December 31, 2024 and estimated stock pricing. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect a consideration of other marketplace participants and include the amount and timing of future cash flows. The Company used a a present value model for the expected cash payments, and a probability- weighted calculation to fair value the contingent interest shares to be paid. This probability-weighted calculation incorporated expectations to complete an IPO as well as a probability derived from a lattice model with key assumptions being equity volatility and discount for lack of marketability (“DLOM”). Equity volatility rates utilized were 65% and 70% and DLOM rates selected were 13% and 10% for October 14, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The increase in equity volatility was determined reasonable given that the upper quartile of the peer group increasing by 5% from October 14, 2024 to December 31, 2024 while the decrease in DLOM was determined appropriate given the midpoint of put option models and the closer proximity to an IPO.

 

The changes in fair value of the Level 3 financial liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

 

   Debt   Investor Notes at fair value   Contingent Consideration 
Balance as of January 1, 2023  $19,098,741   $   $54,807,319 
Change in fair value   328,107        17,764,957 
Settlement           (3,010,000)
Transfers to due to seller liability           (24,380,000)
Balance as of December 31, 2023   19,426,848        45,182,276 
Addition       13,465,716     
Change in fair value   13,672    353,284    (2,400,000)
Transfers out   (19,440,520)        
Balance as of December 31, 2024  $   $13,819,000   $42,782,276 

 

The change in the fair value of the debt, which represents the amortization of the debt discount is included in “Interest expense, net” on the consolidated statements of operations. The change in the fair value of the Investor Notes at fair value is included in “Interest expense, net” on the consolidated statements of operations. The change in the fair value of the contingent consideration for 2023 includes the effect of translating the contingent consideration with Sky-Watch from local currency to reporting currency and is included in “Other income (expense), net” on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying value of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short time to maturity. The carrying value of the Company’s borrowings approximates fair value based on current rates available to the Company.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method of accounting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as for net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax amounts are determined by using the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance reduces the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized.

 

F-13

 

 

The Company evaluates its tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions will more-likely-than-not be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are not recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Interest and penalties, if applicable, are recorded in the period assessed as income tax expense. No interest or penalties have been accrued for as of December 31, 2024 or 2023.

 

Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is provided primarily utilizing the straight-line method for consolidated financial statement purposes at rates based on the following useful lives:

 

Aircraft equipment   5 - 20 years
Machinery and equipment   2 - 15 years
Furniture and fixtures   3 - 10 years
Leasehold improvements   The shorter of the useful life or term of the lease
Software   3 - 7 years

 

Additions, improvements, and expenditures that significantly add to the productivity or extend the economic life of assets are capitalized. Any amounts incurred as recurring expenditures or that do not extend or improve the economic life of the asset are expensed as incurred.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested at the reporting unit level for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company has selected October 1st as the date to perform its annual impairment test. In the valuation of goodwill, management must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows to be derived from the Company’s business. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment for these assets. Management may first evaluate qualitative factors to assess if it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and to determine if an impairment test is necessary. Management may choose to proceed directly to the evaluation, bypassing the initial qualitative assessment. The impairment test involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to which goodwill is allocated to its net book value, including goodwill. A goodwill impairment loss would be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. See Note 5 for additional considerations related to goodwill impairment recorded in 2024.

 

Definite-lived Intangible Assets

 

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and allocates the purchase price of the acquired business to the respective net tangible and intangible assets. The Company determines the appropriate useful life by performing an analysis of expected cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed. The Company capitalizes third-party legal costs and filing fees, if any, associated with obtaining patents. Once the patent asset has been placed in service, the Company amortizes these costs over the shorter of the asset’s legal life, generally 20 years from the initial filing date, or its estimated economic life using the straight-line method.

 

F-14

 

 

The estimated useful lives for the Company’s intangible assets are as follows:

 

    Estimated useful life
Developed technology   8 to 13 years
Tradenames - definite-lived   4 to 8 years
Customer relationships   3 to 7 years
Patents   up to 20 years

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If such evaluation indicates that the carrying amount of the asset or the asset group is not recoverable, any impairment loss would be equal to the amount the carrying value exceeds the fair value. See Note 6 for additional considerations related to impairment.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when, or as, it satisfies performance obligations by transferring promised products or services to its customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive. The Company applies the following five steps: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied. The Company accounts for a contract with a customer when there is a legally enforceable contract, the rights of the parties are identified, the contract has commercial terms, and collectibility of the contract consideration is probable.

 

For certain sales, the Company has contracts with customers that include multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, the Company accounts for individual performance obligations separately, by allocating the contract’s total transaction price to each performance obligation in an amount based on the relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) of each distinct good or service in the contract. The Company determines the SSP based on its overall pricing objectives, taking into consideration market conditions. Determining whether products or services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those services. The Company’s contracts do not include highly variable components. The timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections can result in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and deferred revenue (contract liabilities). The costs to obtain contracts, primarily commission expenses, are expensed when incurred.

 

Amounts that are invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and revenues or deferred revenue, depending on whether the revenue recognition criteria have been met. A large portion of the Company’s sales result in partial prepayments prior to shipment from customers. Otherwise customer invoices generally have payment terms of net 30 days and do not have a significant financing component.

 

The Company’s revenues are derived from various sources: (i) avionics products consisting primarily of hardware with embedded firmware sold to an authorized dealer network and avionics and global navigation satellite system technologies (“GNSS”) products sold to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), (ii) research and development (“R&D”) projects, (iii) sales-based royalties related to GNSS technology licensed to OEMs, (iv) consultation and training services related to aerial integration and close air support providing the latest tactics, technique, and procedures (“TTP”) to incorporate contract close air support/intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (“CCAS/ISR”) with video downlink systems into tactical operations, (v) technology and equipment sales (vi) mini unmanned aerial systems (“MUAS” or “commercial drones”) sales, including hardware, software, training, support and product service, and (vii) drone services, including surveys, imaging, security, and other drone applications.

 

F-15

 

 

The Company expenses costs to obtain a contract as incurred when the amortization period is one year or less.

 

In general, revenue is disaggregated by segment and geography. See Note 13. Segment Information.

 

Product Revenue

 

Product revenue, which includes avionics, MUAS/commercial drones and other equipment sales, is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised products to the customer in an amount that represents the consideration the Company is entitled to for the related products. Product revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery and title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer.

 

Service and Extended Warranty Revenue

 

Service revenue includes drone services, support, training, consultations, and out-of-warranty repairs. Revenue from services rendered is recognized over time in amounts that correspond directly with the value to the customer when performance is completed. Support revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the support period, which is generally one year.

 

Extended warranties are service-type warranties and are typically sold under separate contracts. Revenue for those extended warranties is recognized over the contractual service period, which is typically two or three years.

 

Research and Development Contracts

 

Revenue from engineering development projects is recognized over a period of time based on the input method and is measured by the percentage of total labor and materials cost incurred to date to estimated total labor and materials cost at completion for each contract. The input method of accounting involves considerable use of estimates in determining revenues, costs, and profits and in assigning the amounts to accounting periods; as a result, there can be a significant disparity between earnings as reported and actual cash received by the Company during any reporting period.

 

Sales-based Royalties

 

Revenue for sales-based royalties is recognized at a point in time as subsequent sales occur.

 

The following table summarizes the revenue recognition based on time periods:

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2024   2023 
Point in time  $84,052,553   $41,979,671 
Over time   2,882,506    1,274,144 
   $86,935,059   $43,253,815 

 

The contract liabilities as of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 were $10.4 million, $11.1 million, and $0.7 million respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $10.9 million in revenue previously included in contract liabilities as of December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $0.5 million in revenue previously included in contract liabilities as of December 31, 2022. The Company had no significant contract assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue includes labor cost and direct material cost, including freight and duties. Indirect production costs comprise of consumables, cost of sales freight, quality related costs and production maintenance costs are also included in cost of revenue.

 

Advertising Costs

 

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0.1 million.

 

F-16

 

 

Shipping and Handling

 

Shipping charges billed to customers are included in revenue and related costs are included in cost of revenue.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development costs are expensed when incurred.

 

Product Warranty

 

Drone Product Warranty

 

The Company provides a one-year warranty on drone sales. Estimated future warranty obligations related to those products are recorded as a component of cost of revenue in the consolidated statements of operations at the time of sale.

 

Avionics Product Warranty

 

The Company establishes warranty reserves based on estimates of avionics product warranty return rates over two or three years depending on the product and the related warranty period and the expected costs to repair or to replace the avionics products under warranty. The warranty provision is recorded as a component of cost of revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not offer returns unless special circumstances exist and the return is approved by the Company.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the grant-date estimated fair value of the awards. Options and restricted stock awards may be granted as time-based awards, performance-based awards or combinations of the time-based and performance-based awards. The Company expenses the fair value of its options to employees and non-employees on a straight-line basis over the associated service period for time-based awards, which is generally the vesting period. The performance-based awards begin their period of ratable vesting at the time that the Company determines that the achievement of the performance thresholds is probable. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur and does not estimate forfeitures at the time of grant. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will be for only those options that vest.

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Comprehensive loss generally represents all changes in the equity of a business except those resulting from investments or contributions by stockholders. Unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax are included in the Company’s components of comprehensive loss, which are excluded from net loss.

 

Lease Accounting

 

At contract inception, the Company determines whether the contract is, or contains, a lease and whether the lease should be classified as an operating or a financing lease and reassesses that conclusion if the contract is modified. Operating leases are recorded in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease liability, current and lease liability, noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company did not have any finance leases during the periods presented.

 

The Company recognizes operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The lease ROU asset is reduced for tenant incentives, if any, and excludes any initial direct costs incurred, if any. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future payments and the appropriate lease classification. In determining the inputs to the incremental borrowing rate calculation, the Company makes judgments about the value of the leased asset, its credit rating and the lease term including the probability of its exercising options to extend or terminate the underlying lease. The Company defines the initial lease term to include renewal options determined to be reasonably certain. If the Company determines the option to extend or terminate is reasonably certain, it is included in the determination of lease assets and liabilities. The Company reassesses the lease term if and when a significant event or change in circumstances occurs within the control of the Company, such as construction of significant leasehold improvements that are expected to have economic value when the option becomes exercisable.

 

F-17

 

 

The Company recognizes a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, and the Company classifies all cash payments within operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which it has elected to not combine for all asset classes. In addition, the Company does not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less of all asset classes.

 

Net Loss Per Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is based on the treasury stock method and computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during each period. The potentially dilutive shares are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when the effect is dilutive.

 

The potentially dilutive shares of common stock that have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per share because of the anti-dilutive effect are as follows as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Outstanding stock options   519,131    605,236 
Warrants to purchase common stock   112,246    112,246 
Contingent restricted stock awards   431,818    431,818 
Potential stock issuable for contingent interest payment   1,132,090    253,120 
Potential stock issuable for default shares   

100,000

    

-

 
Potential shares issuable under debt conversion agreements   3,753,244    3,622,316 
Total anti-dilutive securities   6,048,529    5,024,736 

 

The number of potentially dilutive shares is based on the maximum number of shares issuable on exercise or conversion of the related securities as of the period end. Such amounts have not been adjusted for the treasury stock method or weighted-average outstanding calculations as required if the securities were dilutive.

 

Debt Discounts

 

Debt issuance costs are presented as a discount to the related debt and are amortized over the term of the related loan for which the fees were incurred using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. As of December 31, 2024, unamortized debt discount totaled $0.3 million. As of December 31, 2023, unamortized debt discount was not significant.

 

Foreign Currency

 

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiary is its local currency. As such, assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rates on the date of consolidation and related revenues and expenses are generally translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period included in results of operations. Adjustments resulting from foreign currency translation are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations. Losses from foreign currency transactions were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

F-18

 

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), requiring public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and requires retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024. See Note 13. Segment Information  for further detail.

 

On August 5, 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06 Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2024 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

On October 28, 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers which amends Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 to require acquiring entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2024 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU is intended to improve the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. It also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. The ASU’s amendments are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Entities are permitted to early adopt the standard for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. Adoption is either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company will adopt this ASU on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income — Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disclosure of certain costs and expenses on an interim and annual basis in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.  The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027.  Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is to be applied either (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date or (2) retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements.  The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

2. Revolving Lines of Credit and Long-Term Debt

 

Revolving Lines of Credit

 

In February 2020, Aspen Avionics entered into a Loan and Security Agreement for an asset-based loan facility (the “Facility”) with Crestmark, a Division of Pathward (formerly known as Metabank), with a maximum advance limit of $2.5 million. The Facility was due on demand. The Facility carried variable interest at the greater of 9% or prime plus 4.25% (12.75% as of December 31, 2023) and was collateralized by substantially all assets of Aspen Avionics. Cash receipts of Aspen Avionics were submitted to a lockbox, which was subject to a control agreement whereby all cash receipts were received by the lender and applied against the balance of the loan. Aspen Avionics obtained additional advances on the Facility based on eligible accounts receivable and inventory collateral.

 

The terms of the Facility included reporting requirements and a tangible net worth covenant, which Aspen Avionics was not in compliance with as of December 31, 2023. In May 2024, the lender waived compliance with the tangible net worth threshold. The Facility was guaranteed by three subsidiaries of Aspen Avionics: Accord Technology, LLC, Accord Software and Systems, Inc., and AvValues, LLC.

 

As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance on the Facility, net of unamortized debt issuance costs, was $0.3 million. In October 2024, Aspen Avionics terminated the Facility and repaid the Facility in full.

 

F-19

 

 

In November 2018, Coastal Defense obtained two variable rate non-disclosable revolving lines of credit of up to $0.5 million and $0.2 million, due on demand, from First Citizens Community Bank (“FCCB”). These arrangements are collateralized by aircraft security agreements, assignments of life insurance, an assignment of a deposit account, and commercial security agreements dated November 15, 2018, and all associated financing statements. Interest was initially set at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal plus 0.50 percentage points. Commencing in 2022, the Company was in default on these facilities, resulting in an additional 4% in interest per annum. The annual interest rate was 12% and 13% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice-President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings; Kenneth Parker, stockholder of Holdings; and Kyle Stanbro, Coastal Defense’s President and stockholder of Holdings have guaranteed these notes. As part of the Coastal Defense acquisition, the maturity dates of these notes were modified to be in 2022 as opposed to the original maturity date in 2069. No withdrawals were made during the year ended December 31, 2024 or 2023. The total amount outstanding on the lines of credit as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

 

The two lines of credit with FCCB contain certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was not in compliance with these financial covenants. However, the Company has entered into a series of forbearance agreements with FCCB, under which FCCB has agreed not to exercise its rights and remedies arising from such noncompliance through March 31, 2025, subject to the Company’s adherence to the terms of said forbearance agreements. The lines of credit are due on demand and are shown as a current liability under “Revolving lines of credit” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Current Maturities of Debt and Long-Term Debt

 

Current maturities of debt and long-term debt consist of the following as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
         
Bridge Loans  $2,959,500   $3,609,500 
Libertas   2,791,691    - 
WebBank   1,510,179    - 
Muncy Bank & Trust Company 2021-1   651,000    651,000 
Muncy Bank & Trust Company 2021-2   450,000    450,000 
SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”)   500,000    500,000 
Code 1   331,795    - 
Financed Insurance Premiums   173,348    185,619 
First Citizens Community Bank 2018   121,287    535,041 
First Citizens Community Bank 2019-1   16,430    81,729 
First Citizens Community Bank 2019-2   14,989    74,414 
2022 Notes   2,066,396    2,066,396 
2019 Notes   5,022,353    5,022,353 
2018 Notes   12,351,771    12,351,771 
    28,960,739    25,527,823 
Less: unamortized debt discount   (280,019)   (13,672)
Less: current maturities of long-term debt   (27,992,450)   (25,014,151)
Long-term debt, net of current maturities  $688,270   $500,000 

 

Aggregate maturities required on long-term debt as of December 31, 2024 are due in future years as follows:

 

   Amount 
2025  $28,272,469 
2026   188,270 
2027   6,974 
2028   10,891 
2029   11,358 
Thereafter   470,777 
Total  $28,960,739 

 

F-20

 

 

Bridge Loans

 

Since May 2022, the Company has issued unsecured promissory notes, with no collateral or guarantees, to third parties for purposes of funding its operations. The aggregate principal balance of these notes was $3.0 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Prior to August 2024, interest was payable in shares of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions and principal amounts were due within a certain number of days following the closing of the BCA Transactions. During the third and fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, the notes below except for $2.9 million, were amended such that interest would be payable in shares of common stock at the closing of an IPO (“Closing Date”) whereby the number of shares would be based on the trading price and the principal amounts due would be payable within the same number days subsequent to the closing of an IPO as stated in the prior amended note agreements. Bridge Loans were primarily made up of the following as of December 31, 2024:

 

Notes totaling $1.9 million, as amended, accrue an interest charge equal to 100% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock at the Closing Date, with 110% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.2 million carry the same terms except only 100% of the principal is paid 190 days following the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.1 million which include a one-time interest charge equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount, contingently payable in shares of common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the principal to be paid on the maturity date, which is 30 days following the closing of this offering and accruing interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.5 million, as amended, accrue an interest charge equal to 100% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock at the Closing Date, with 120% of the principal paid at the earlier of 30 days following the Closing Date or March 31, 2025 plus 15% interest per annum accruing from October 31, 2022. Notes totaling $0.5 million accrue an interest charge equal to 50% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock at the Closing Date with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.1 million accrue an interest charge equal to 150% of the principal amount, payable in shares of the Company’s common stock at the Closing Date, with the principal to be paid 190 days following the Closing Date and accruing interest at a rate of 12% interest per annum from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.1 million accrue an interest charge equal to 125% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date, with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.7 million which includes a $0.5 million principal due at the earlier of March 31, 2025 or 30 days subsequent to the Closing Date, with 100% contingent stock premium, payable in shares of common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, an additional 20% premium on the principal, and interest at a rate of 15% per annum from either the date of the note through March 31, 2025 or from October 31, 2022 through 30 days subsequent to the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.1 million due at the earlier of March 31, 2025 or 30 days subsequent to an IPO, with 120% contingent stock premium, contingently payable in shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date with an interest rate of 15% per annum from either the date of the note through March 31, 2025 or from the Closing Date to 30 days subsequent to the Closing Date.

 

First Citizens Community Bank 2018

 

On November 15, 2018, Coastal Defense entered into a $2.6 million note payable agreement with FCCB. This arrangement is collateralized by aircraft security agreements, assignments of life insurance, an assignment of a deposit account, a commercial security agreement dated November 15, 2018, and all associated financing statements. The loan includes a provision for a prepayment penalty in the amount of 5% on the current principal balance in year one, 4% of the current principal balance in year two, 3% of the current principal balance in year three, and 2% of the current principal balance in year four. The loan requires that Coastal Defense maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 and had an initial interest rate of 5.75% per year. As part of the Coastal Defense acquisition, the maturity dates of these notes were modified to be in 2022 as opposed to the original maturity date in 2023. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Coastal Defense was in default on the debt service coverage ratio covenant, and the term note became due on demand and is shown as a component of “Current maturities of debt” on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the interest rate was 10.49% per year. Civil actions were filed against Coastal Defense and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, FCCB, alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and FCCB seeks recovery of the outstanding amounts. FCCB obtained judgments against all named defendants. The Company has negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent FCCB from enforcing the judgments through March 31, 2025. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and Treasurer and stockholder of Holdings; the estate of Kenneth Parker, stockholder of Holdings; and Kyle Stanbro, Coastal Defense’s President and stockholder of Holdings have guaranteed this note.

 

First Citizens Community Bank 2019-1

 

On February 25, 2019, Coastal Defense entered into a $0.2 million note payable agreement with FCCB with an initial interest rate of 5.75% per year. The loan is collateralized by aircraft security agreements, an assignment of life insurance, an assignment on a deposit account, commercial security agreements dated February 25, 2019, and all associated financing statements. The loan includes a provision for a prepayment penalty in the amount of 5% of the current principal balance in year one, 4% of the current principal balance in year two, 3% of the current principal balance in year three and 2% of the current principal balance in year four. The loan requires that Coastal Defense maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00. As part of the Coastal Defense acquisition, the maturity dates of these notes were modified to be in 2022 as opposed to the original maturity date in 2026. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Coastal Defense was in default on the debt service coverage ratio covenant, and the term note became due on demand and is shown as a component of “Current maturities of debt” on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the interest rate was 10.49% per year. Civil actions were filed against Coastal Defense and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, FCCB, alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and FCCB seeks recovery of the outstanding amounts. FCCB obtained judgments against all named defendants. The Company has negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent FCCB from enforcing the judgments through March 31, 2025. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings; the estate of Kenneth Parker, stockholder of Holdings; and Kyle Stanbro, stockholder of Holdings have guaranteed this note.

 

F-21

 

 

First Citizens Community Bank 2019-2

 

On May 15, 2019, Coastal Defense entered into a $0.2 million note payable agreement with FCCB. The loan is collateralized by aircraft security agreements, an assignment of life insurance, an assignment on a deposit account, commercial security agreements dated May 15, 2019 and all associated financing statements. The loan includes a provision for a prepayment penalty in the amount of 5% of the current principal balance in year one, 4% of the current principal balance in year two, 3% of the current principal balance in year three and 2% of the current principal balance in year four. The loan requires that Coastal Defense maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 to 1.00 and had an initial interest rate of 5.75% per year. As part of the Coastal Defense acquisition, the maturity dates of these notes were modified to be in 2022 as opposed to the original maturity date in 2026. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Coastal Defense was in default on the debt service coverage ratio covenant, and the term note became due on demand and is shown as a component of “Current maturities of debt” on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the interest rate was 10.49% per year. Civil actions were filed against Coastal Defense and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, FCCB, alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and FCCB seeks recovery of the outstanding amounts. FCCB obtained judgments against all named defendants. The Company has negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent FCCB from enforcing the judgments through March 31, 2025. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings; the estate of Kenneth Parker, stockholder of Holdings; and Kyle Stanbro, stockholder of Holdings have guaranteed this note.

 

2018, 2019 and 2022 Notes

 

The maturity date of the $19.4 million of debt related to that certain (i) Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of March 9, 2018, as amended on July 11, 2024 (the “2018 Notes”), (ii) Note Purchase Agreement dated as of October 18, 2019, as amended on July 11, 2024 (the “2019 Notes”), and (c) Note Purchase Agreement dated as of January 31, 2022, as amended on July 11, 2024, (the “2022 Notes”) was extended to March 31, 2025. On October 6, 2023, the Company signed a Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement, whereby all of the holders agreed to convert $17.5 million of the principal owed to them under the 2018, 2019 and 2022 Notes into 749,007 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $1.9 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, the Company intends to issue 749,007 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $1.9 million to satisfy the obligations to the holders at the closing of an IPO.

 

Muncy Bank & Trust Company 2021-1

 

On September 15, 2021, Coastal Defense entered into a $0.7 million commercial promissory note agreement with Muncy Bank & Trust Company (“Muncy”) for continuing operations. The loan originally carried an annual interest rate of 4.5% per year and matured in March 2022. The maturity date of this promissory note was extended such that the principal amount of $0.7 million is due and payable on April 15, 2025 with interest payments at a rate of 8.5% per year due monthly. This arrangement is collateralized by a life insurance policy and a contract with the Air Force. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings, and Alison D. Parker, Corporate Secretary of Coastal Defense, have guaranteed this note.

 

Muncy Bank & Trust Company 2021-2

 

On January 21, 2021, Coastal Defense entered into a $0.4 million commercial promissory note agreement with the Muncy for continuing operations and for the execution of the Naval Special Warfare task orders. The loan originally carried an annual interest rate of 4.5% per year and matured in October 2021. The maturity date of this promissory note was extended such that the principal amount of $0.4 million is due and payable on April 20, 2025 with interest payments at a rate of 8.5% per year due monthly. This arrangement is collateralized by a contract with the Naval Special Warfare Command. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings has guaranteed this note.

 

F-22

 

 

U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”)

 

On May 28, 2020, Coastal Defense entered into a $0.5 million EIDL agreement with the SBA. The loan matures on May 28, 2050 and has an interest rate of 3.75% per year. The SBA granted a payment deferral and amended the first payment due date to November 2022. These payments first reduce the interest accrued prior to reducing the principal owed. As such, the outstanding loan balance was included as a component of “Long-term debt, net of current maturities” on the consolidated balance sheets. The EIDL is collateralized by all assets of Coastal Defense. Jeffrey F. Parker, Coastal Defense’s former Vice President and stockholder of Holdings; Kenneth Parker, stockholder of Holdings; and Kyle Stanbro, Coastal Defense’s President and Treasurer, and stockholder of Holdings have guaranteed this note.

 

Financed Insurance Premiums

 

During 2023, Coastal Defense entered into financing agreements which totaled $0.4 million in relation to financing its insurance premiums. The financings have various maturity dates during 2023 and 2024 and have interest rates ranging from 8.0% to 13.3% per year. These agreements are collateralized by a security interest in the premium refund due under the policies being purchased.

 

During 2024, Coastal Defense entered into financing agreements which totaled $0.3 million in relation to financing its insurance premiums. The financings have various maturity dates during 2025 and have interest rates ranging from 8.27% to 13.75% per year. These agreements are collateralized by a security interest in the premium refund due under the policies being purchased.

 

Danish Tax Agency Loans

 

Between April and June 2021, Sky-Watch received three interest free loans from the Danish Tax Agency for total proceeds of $0.3 million (DKK 2.1 million). In September 2022, $0.2 million (DKK 1.1 million) was repaid. The amounts were fully repaid during the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Libertas

 

On October 2, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement of Sale of Future Receipts (the “Libertas Agreement”) with Libertas Funding, LLC (“Libertas”). Under the terms of the Libertas Agreement, the Company sold $4.1 million of its future receivables with a factor rate of 1.25 in exchange for immediate cash proceeds net of origination fees of $3.2 million. While there is no repayment term, based on historical revenues, the Company estimates receivables to be remitted in one year. The receivables will be remitted to Libertas as they are collected, subject to a specific percentage deduction from weekly receipts. The Company has the right to pay to end this financing transaction early by repurchasing the future receipts sold to Libertas but not yet delivered. The agreement is collateralized by all Accounts, as defined by Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) Article 9.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $0.4 million in interest expense including amortization of the debt discount. As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding balance under the Libertas Agreement was $2.6 million, net of a debt discount of $0.2 million.

 

WebBank

 

On October 2, 2024, the Company entered into a Business Loan and Security Agreement (the “WebBank Agreement”) with WebBank, with Libertas acting as its servicer. Under the WebBank Agreement, the Company received a loan of $1.8 million collateralized by an interest on the Company’s Accounts, Payment Intangibles and Letter of Credit Rights, as defined under UCC Article 9. The repayment terms are structured to deduct a fixed amount from collected receivables on a weekly basis with maximum term of one year and a factor rate of 1.25. The Company has the right to pay to end this financing transaction early by repurchasing the future receipts sold to WebBank but not yet delivered.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $0.2 million in interest expense including amortization of the debt discount. As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding balance under the WebBank Agreement was $1.4 million, net of a debt discount of $0.1 million.

 

Code 1

 

On November 18, 2024, the Company entered into a Receivables Financing Agreement with Code 1 Aviation, LLC (“Code 1”) whereby the Company financed aircraft maintenance services provided by Code 1 between January 2018 and August 2024 which totaled $0.4 million. The Receivables Financing Agreement has a payment term of two years, an interest rate of 15%, requires monthly payments and can be prepaid without penalty. Code 1 obtained mechanic’s liens and other similar encumbrances on certain Coastal Defense aircraft.

 

F-23

 

 

Investor Notes at Fair Value

 

As a result of the debt extinguishment described in Note 1, the Company determined it appropriate to elect the fair value option for ten individual Investor Notes which had significantly different terms established during the fourth quarter of 2024. Investor Notes at fair value are issued unsecured promissory notes, with no collateral or guarantees, to third parties for purposes of funding its operations. Investor Notes at fair value were made up of the following as of December 31, 2024:

 

Note with a fair value of $3.7 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to the issuance of 0.1 million shares of common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.8 million principal paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 37,500 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $2.5 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.1 million of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.2 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 21,875 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $1.5 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.1 million shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.2 million principal and a $0.2 million additional cash payment to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 9,375 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $1.0 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to .03 million shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.2 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 10,000 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $0.7 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to .03 million shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.2 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 7,500 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $0.8 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.03 million in shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.1 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 6,250 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $0.5 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.02 million in shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.1 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 5,000 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Note with a fair value of $0.2 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.01 million in shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the $0.05 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 and with interest accruing from the date of the note through the earlier of 5 days subsequent to the Closing Date or a capital raise of at least $10 million or March 31, 2025 at a rate of 12% per annum. This note has a term whereby the number of shares issued as interest charge is calculated using an enterprise value of $770 million, which shall be increased by a factor of 1.25x if the Company’s valuation is less than $770 million at the Closing Date. An additional 2,500 shares of common stock will be issued if an IPO is not completed prior to March 31, 2025.

 

Notes with a fair value of $2.9 million which includes a one-time interest charge equal to 0.1 million in shares of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing Date, with the 120% of the combined $1.0 million principal to be paid on the earlier of 30 days subsequent to the Closing Date or December 31, 2024 and with interest accruing from the date of the note or from October 31, 2022 through the earlier of 30 days subsequent to the Closing Date or December 31, 2024 at a rate of 15% per annum.

 

F-24

 

 

3. Common Stock and Warrants

 

Common Stock

 

The Company has reserved the following shares of authorized but unissued common stock as of December 31, 2024: 0.5 million stock options, 0.1 million warrants, 0.4 million of contingent restricted stock awards, 3.8 million shares to be issued in connection with the debt conversion agreements, and 1.0 million of potential shares that are issuable for contingent interest on investor notes based on either (i) a fixed price of $10.00 as specified in certain agreements, (ii) an exact number of shares as stipulated in other agreements, or (iii) a fixed dollar amount to be converted into shares upon issuance. For purposes of these consolidated financial statements, the Company has assumed a price of $10.00 for agreements where a fixed price or conversion methodology has not been determined.

 

Through February 21, 2025, the Investor Notes, except for $3.7 million, were amended such that interest would be payable in shares of common stock at the closing of an IPO (“Closing Date”) whereby the number of shares would be based on the trading price.

 

Warrants

 

The Company assumed warrants to purchase 0.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock as part of the merger with Jaunt. These warrants expire ten years from March 10, 2022, the date of issuance, have an exercise price of $9.90 per share and were outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company determined that these warrants are equity classified.

 

4. Management Carveout Plan

 

In December 2021, the Company adopted the 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Aspen Carveout Plan”), which establishes a benefit pool for designated employees and consultants payable upon the occurrence of a change in control, which is defined as two steps consisting of 1) the closing of the merger with Holdings and 2) an IPO of Holdings or merger with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) by June 30, 2023. The amount to be paid as benefits under the Aspen Carveout Plan are determined based upon percentages of the total net proceeds calculated at the closing of the Holdings’ IPO or a SPAC merger, ranging from 0% to 5%. The net proceeds are calculated as the net sum of cash and the fair value of equity securities available for distribution to the stockholders of the Company after all liabilities, exclusive of the subordinated convertible notes or other loans from the stockholders and transaction costs are paid, capped at $2.3 billion. The benefit payments to the participants in the Aspen Carveout Plan are to be made in the form or forms of payment and in the same proportions as the consideration paid by the purchaser. On October 6, 2023, the Company signed a Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement, whereby all of the holders agreed to convert $0.8 million of the amount owed to them under the Aspen Carveout Plan into 34,018 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining amount of $0.1 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, the Company intends to issue 34,018 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $0.1 million to satisfy the obligations to the holders under the Aspen Carveout Plan at the closing of an IPO. In addition to the $0.8 million cash payment, the Aspen Carveout Plan also includes a $2.0 million payment in stock which equates to 87,226 shares. The Aspen Carveout Plan was amended to extend the termination date to March 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, no amounts have been expensed or accrued in connection with the Aspen Carveout Plan as a change in control was not deemed probable as of December 31, 2024 or 2023.

 

5. Goodwill

 

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill were as follows:

 

   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air
Mobility
   Training   Total 
Balance as of January 1, 2023  $           -   $111,560,480   $451,370,520   $36,511,468   $599,442,468 
Effect of exchange rate   -    3,160,033    -    -    3,160,033 
Balance as of December 31, 2023   -    114,720,513    451,370,520    36,511,468    602,602,501 
Impairment   -    -    (17,024,000)   (20,970,000)   (37,994,000)
Effect of exchange rate   -    (7,100,170)   -    -    (7,100,170)
Balance as of December 31, 2024  $-   $107,620,343   $434,346,520   $15,541,468   $557,508,331 

 

F-25

 

 

As a result of the BCA Transactions being terminated in August 2024 and the continued delays in securing financing, the Company determined it appropriate to test the fair value of each reporting unit for goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2024 for all of its reporting units except Avionics as no goodwill had been allocated to this reporting unit. Management determined that the fair value of the Drones reporting unit substantially exceeded its respective carrying value. The Electric Air Mobility and Training reporting unit fair values indicated goodwill impairment as detailed below.

 

      Drones      

Electric Air

Mobility

      Training  
Goodwill carrying value as of September 30, 2024   $ 115.8 million     $ 451.4 million     $ 36.5 million  
Fair value of reporting unit as of September 30, 2024   $ 185.1 million     $ 510.2 million     $ 25.1 million  
Carrying value of reporting unit as of September 30, 2024   $ 133.5 million     $ 527.2 million     $ 46.1 million  
Impairment as of September 30, 2024   $ -     $ 17.0 million     $ 21.0 million  

 

Estimates and assumptions varied between each reporting unit depending on the facts and circumstances specific to that reporting unit. The discount rate for each reporting unit is influenced by general market conditions as well as factors specific to the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting units for which the Company performed quantitative impairment tests was estimated using an income approach, which incorporates the use of the discounted cash flow method. Projections used require the use of significant estimates and assumptions specific to the reporting unit as well as those based on general economic conditions. Factors specific to each reporting unit include revenue growth, profit margins, terminal value growth rates, capital expenditures projections, assumed tax rates, discount rates and other assumptions deemed reasonable by management. For the 2024 impairment test, the weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) discount rates the Company used for its reporting units was 30%-35% and the terminal value growth rate was 4%. The terminal value growth rate represents the expected long-term growth rate for the Company’s industry, which incorporates the type of services each reporting unit provides as well as global economic conditions. Other factors influencing the revenue growth rates include the nature of the services the reporting unit provides for its customers, the geographic locations in which the reporting unit conducts business and the maturity of the reporting unit.

 

Specific to the Electric Air Mobility segment’s projections as of September 30, 2024, projected revenue was revised to include projected aircraft production timing for the Jaunt Journey in 2031 and a downscaled cargo version of the Jaunt Journey in 2028. Projected revenue in years 1 and 2 of commercialization of the downscaled cargo version of the Jaunt Journey as of September 30, 2024 were increased as compared to prior revenue estimates from the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023 for the same two-year period. Projected revenue in years 1 and 2 of commercialization of the Jaunt Journey as of September 30, 2024 also increased as compared to prior revenue estimates from the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023 for the same two-year period.

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) projections as of September 30, 2024 were developed using revised estimates of manufacturing costs, production hours per unit, learning curves and subsequent efficiencies, and operating costs.

 

F-26

 

 

Mid-term and long-term EBITDA projections at maximum capacity have not significantly changed compared to the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023, but the shifting and corresponding discounting of these projections resulted in a significant decrease in the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment, which indicated impairment.

 

As to the degree of uncertainty associated with the Company’s assumptions, the Company believes its long-term projected revenue is reasonable given a sales price supported by non-binding letters of intent and a relatively small number of units. There is a higher degree of uncertainty in projected EBITDA, as compared to projected revenue as projected EBITDA includes estimates as to future labor and material costs, efficiency rates as to the number of production hours required over time, and synergies.

 

The most sensitive factor in the Company’s analysis was the WACC discount rate. As of September 30, 2024, a 33% WACC discount rate was applied to the Electric Air Mobility segment, which is fairly consistent with the 35% WACC discount rate used as of the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023. The 200 basis-point decrease from prior year was deemed appropriate due to more conservative projected long term EBITDA margins as compared to sales in the prior year, regulatory harmonization that has occurred for the industry between the Federal Aviation Association, Transport Canada Civil Aviation, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, advances in electric propulsion, battery density, and autonomous systems which lower remaining technical development risk. While these factors reduce risk to the Electric Air Mobility segment, a larger decrease in the WACC was not deemed appropriate due to delays in funding for development efforts and overall implementation risk that remains similar to October 1, 2023. As to the sensitivity of the WACC rate, another hypothetical 100-basis-point increase in the WACC discount rate would have yielded an additional $46.0 million in goodwill impairment.

 

The Company believes the factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable; however, significant changes in any one of its assumptions could produce a different result and result in additional impairment charges that could be material to its consolidated financial statements. For example, the fair value of the Electric Air Mobility segment could be adversely affected and may result in an additional impairment of goodwill if this reporting unit is not able to advance the development of its aircraft and other products, obtain regulatory approvals, and launch and commercialize its products at scale, if the estimated production costs are significantly higher than estimated or if the WACC discount rate is increased.

 

Specific to the Training segment’s projections as of September 30, 2024, the Company noted a significant decrease in sales and gross margins as a result of not being able to meet contractual demands due to delays in the funding of aircraft. In prior years, government intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (“ISR”) aircraft contracts did not require that the aircraft be able to employ weapons. As those contracts have aged-out, the new requirements for the re-competitions require assets that have the ability to employ training munitions and have been approved by the government to do so. Coastal Defense does not possess aircraft that can achieve this requirement; thus, the Company has either not been awarded or chose not to bid on certain contracts. The projected revenue and margins were revised to include the timing of projected aircraft and investments to be made in flight schools in the short-term (between 2025 and 2028) and then the acquisition of additional aircraft beginning in years after 2029.

 

EBITDA projections as of September 30, 2024 did not significantly change compared to the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023, and the Company does not anticipate any changes until the Company is able to make more significant investments in aircraft, and at which time the Company can better leverage its operating expenses. At that point, the Company anticipates that mid-term and long-term EBITDA margins would increase. The shifting and corresponding discounting of these projections resulted in a significant decrease in the fair value of the Training segment, which indicated impairment.

 

As to the degree of uncertainty associated with the Company’s assumptions, the Company believes its short-term projected revenue is reasonable given its history with military contract practices and the historical results of flight schools, while the Company’s long-term projected revenue is subject to a higher degree of uncertainty. To mitigate this risk, a 30% WACC discount rate was applied to these projections which was consistent with the Company’s prior year testing date of October 1, 2023. As to the sensitivity of the WACC rate, another hypothetical 100-basis-point increase in the WACC discount rate would have yielded an additional $3.4 million in goodwill impairment.

 

The Company believes the factors considered in the impairment analysis are reasonable; however, significant changes in any one of its assumptions could produce a different result and result in additional impairment charges that could be material to its consolidated financial statements. For example, the fair value of the Training segment could be adversely affected and may result in an additional impairment of goodwill if this reporting unit is not able to purchase the needed aircraft, if the estimated costs for managing the flight schools are significantly higher than estimated or if the WACC discount rate is increased.

 

F-27

 

 

6. Intangible Assets, Net

 

Intangible assets acquired through business combinations were as follows:

 

   As of December 31, 2024 
   Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)   Gross   Accumulated Amortization   Carrying Value 
                 
Developed technology-definite lived   9.9   $99,377,209   $24,818,823   $74,558,386 
Patents pending   N/A    66,216    -    66,216 
Tradenames - definite lived   4.1    1,892,631    824,044    1,068,587 
Tradenames - indefinite lived   N/A    8,737,607    -    8,737,607 
Customer relationships   4.2    20,014,349    11,208,224    8,806,125 
Patents   7.5    569,347    303,991    265,356 
        $130,657,359   $37,155,082   $93,502,277 

 

   As of December 31, 2023 
   Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)   Gross   Accumulated Amortization   Carrying Value 
                 
Developed technology - definite lived   10.8   $99,779,550   $16,922,028   $82,857,522 
Patents pending   N/A    83,713    -    83,713 
Tradenames - definite-lived   4.9    1,911,000    519,006    1,391,994 
Tradenames - indefinite-lived   N/A    8,737,607    -    8,737,607 
Customer relationships   5.0    20,175,918    8,511,311    11,664,607 
Patents   7.3    652,310    333,508    318,802 
        $131,340,098   $26,285,853   $105,054,245 

 

Amortization expense is reported on the consolidated statements of operations line items as shown in the table below for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Cost of revenue  $426,667   $426,667 
Research and development   7,585,985    7,600,294 
Sales and marketing   2,827,390    2,828,058 
General and administrative   351,604    352,529 
   $11,191,646   $11,207,548 

  

F-28

 

 

Total estimated future amortization expense as of December 31, 2024 is as follows:

 

2025  $10,480,584 
2026   10,182,806 
2027   9,959,172 
2028   9,787,446 
2029   8,318,687 
Thereafter   35,969,759 
   $84,698,454 

 

As a result of the BCA Transactions being terminated in August 2024 and the continued delays in financing, the Company determined it appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment considering factors listed in ASC 350 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”) which includes cost factors, financial performance, legal, regulatory, contractual, political, business, or other factors. Based on the Company’s review of these factors, there was no indication of impairment for Avionics or Drones. However, the Company determined it appropriate to perform a quantitative analysis on intangible and long-lived assets within the Electric Air Mobility and Training segments. The fair value of the undiscounted cashflows of both Electric Air Mobility and Training was significantly higher than the respective asset group’s carrying value and therefore no impairment charges were required to be recorded.

 

7. Inventory

 

Inventory consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
         
Raw materials  $8,150,164   $2,292,513 
Work in process   32,449    355,052 
Finished goods   640,108    216,605 
Total  $8,822,721   $2,864,170 

 

 

8. Property and Equipment, Net

 

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Aircraft equipment  $5,220,983   $5,220,983 
Equipment   6,408,031    8,426,113 
Furniture and fixtures   244,016    244,016 
Leasehold improvements   398,747    328,018 
    12,271,777    14,219,130 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (5,437,960)   (4,087,027)
   $6,833,817   $10,132,103 

 

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

 

9. Balance Sheet Details

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Prepaid insurance  $295,462   $334,333 
Value added tax   651,003    416,167 
Vendor prepayments   1,008,759    262,303 
Other   354,452    355,320 
   $2,309,676   $1,368,123 

 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Accrued legal and professional fees  $2,656,421   $1,444,470 
Payroll related expenses   3,380,449    1,693,475 
Accrued warranty   286,874    159,610 
Accrued taxes   9,669,506    1,368,971 
Other accrued expenses   1,463,905    2,307,648 
   $17,457,155   $6,974,174 

 

10. Deferred Compensation

 

The Company has deferred salary arrangements with various employees that allow for a portion of their compensation to be deferred and paid upon a single outside investment of no less than $25 million, or such earlier time as the Company determines in its sole discretion that sufficient funds are available to commence payment of the deferred amounts. Employees must be actively employed, including approved leave, or if a consultant, providing services to the Company. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the accrued deferred compensation was $11.2 million and $9.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not expect the deferred salary arrangements to be paid out in the next 12 months unless the Company completes an IPO. Any unpaid amounts are forfeited upon termination of employment or consultancy with the Company.

 

In October 2023 and July 2024, the Company signed various deferred compensation agreements whereby the holders agreed to convert $7.8 million of the principal owed to them into 332,499 shares of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining principal of $0.9 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, the Company intends to issue 332,499 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $0.9 million to satisfy the obligations to the holders under the Jaunt merger agreement at the closing of an IPO. The deferred compensation balance as of December 31, 2024 also includes an additional accrual of $2.5 million related to amounts earned subsequent to September 30, 2023, which was the date the amount of unpaid compensation started accruing under the deferred compensation agreements, and the estimated taxes for the deferred compensation.

 

F-29

 

 

11. Warranty

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s accrued warranty during the years ended December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Accrued warranty - beginning of period  $159,610   $197,405 
Warranty cost incurred   (87,989)   (61,490)
Provision for warranty   215,253    23,695 
Accrued warranty - end of period  $286,874   $159,610 

 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Consulting Agreement

 

In October 2020, the Company entered into an agreement for market analysis and business strategy consulting. The services were performed in prior periods. The agreement provides for a fee of $0.5 million for the services, due upon the completion of an IPO, SPAC merger, financing raise of at least $100 million or an acquisition of at least 50% of the equity of the Company. The fee for these consulting services was included in “Accrued expenses” on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Contingent Fee Arrangement

 

In June 2022, the Company executed a previously arranged contingent fee agreement with New Generation Aerospace, Inc. (“NGA”) to compensate NGA for past services rendered and future services rendered through December 31, 2022 related to the acquisitions and financing of the Merger Entities in the amount of $1.5 million (the “Contingent Fee”). The Contingent Fee is payable upon the closing of an IPO. On October 2, 2023, the Company signed an Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement, whereby NGA agreed to convert $1.4 million of the amounts owed to it into 57,792 shares of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining amount of $0.1 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, the Company intends to issue 57,792 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $0.1 million to satisfy the obligations under the Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement at the closing of an IPO. As the payment of the Contingent Fee was not deemed probable as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Contingent Fee was not accrued in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”).

 

Contingent Financing Fee Arrangement

 

In September 2024, the Company executed a financing advisor agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as compensation for assistance with an IPO which totals the greater of $2 million and 7% of the gross proceeds in conjunction with an IPO (the “Cantor Contingent Financing Fee”). As the payment of the contingent financing fee was not deemed probable as of December 31, 2024, the Cantor Contingent Financing Fee Arrangement has not been accrued in accordance with ASC 450.

 

KDC IPO Payment Agreement

 

In April 2022, Aspen Avionics and KippsDeSanto & Co. (“KDC”) entered into an amendment (the “KDC IPO Payment Agreement”) to the parties’ prior engagement letter dated August 7, 2018 (the “KDC Agreement”), pursuant to which Aspen Avionics engaged KDC to provide financial advisory services in connection with Holding’s potential acquisition of Aspen Avionics. Pursuant to the terms of the KDC IPO Payment Agreement upon the closing of an IPO, Aspen Avionics is obligated to cause a one-time, final payment of $1.0 million to be made to KDC in satisfaction of Aspen Avionics’ obligations under the KDC Agreement. As the payment of the KDC IPO Payment Agreement was not deemed probable as of December 31, 2024 or 2023, the KDC IPO Payment Agreement has not been accrued in accordance with ASC 450.

 

Non-binding Letters of Intent

 

In November 2023, the Company signed non-binding letters of intent to acquire two businesses for the Training segment, including a flight training school. The parties have undertaken due diligence to determine whether a binding purchase agreement will be negotiated. The total anticipated purchase price for the acquisitions is expected to range from $5.1 million to $7.7 million, which would be paid in a combination of cash and the issuance of equity.

 

Litigation

 

A civil action was filed against Old AGI, Inc. in the Circuit Court of Cook County, State of Illinois in February 2022. The claimant alleges that an agreement for certain services entered into in March 2020 was breached and resulted in damages to claimant. This case was dismissed on July 5, 2022. However, the court allowed the claimant to amend its complaint. On August 5, 2022, the claimant filed its amended complaint, and the Company filed its response on October 12, 2022. The parties have engaged in discovery and mandatory arbitration. The arbitration resulted in an award in favor of the Company, which was contested by the claimant. On December 19, 2024, the Circuit Court denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment. At this time, it is not possible to estimate the amount of loss or probable losses, if any, that might result from an adverse resolution of this matter. The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the complaint.

 

F-30

 

 

Civil actions were filed against Coastal Defense and individual guarantors in the Tioga County Court, State of Pennsylvania, in July 2023. The claimant, FCCB, alleges that payment under certain promissory notes is due, and the claimant is seeking recovery of the outstanding amounts. The claimant obtained judgments against all named defendants. The Company is in negotiations with the claimant and, in the meantime, has negotiated forbearance agreements to prevent the claimant from enforcing the judgments.

 

A civil action was filed against Holdings, AIRO Group, AIRO Group (Illinois), AIRO Drone, Agile Defense, Joseph Burns, Chirinjeev Kathuria and John Uczekaj in Chancery Court in Delaware in September 2023. The claimant, Robert Perrin, a stockholder of the Company alleges that the Company’s entities failed to pay him for services allegedly rendered under an Employment Agreement with AIRO Group (Illinois), that the individual defendants have breached their fiduciary duties as members of the Company’s board of directors, and that defendants violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. On November 17, 2023, the Company filed a motion to dismiss. In response, the claimant filed an Amended Complaint on February 22, 2024 in which he dropped AIRO Group (Illinois) as a defendant, dropped the breach of contract claim and added a wage claim under Delaware statute. On April 5, 2024, the Company filed a Partial Answer and Affirmative Defenses as well as a Partial Motion to Dismiss. In response, the claimant filed a Second Amended Complaint on May 16, 2024 in which he dropped the wage claim under Delaware statute and added a civil conspiracy claim against all defendants. The Company filed an Amended Answer on November 15, 2024 and intends to continue to vigorously defend against all claims asserted in the complaint.

 

Aside from the above matters, the Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings and is not aware of any pending or threatened claims. From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Legal contingencies are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss or the measurement of a loss can be complex. The Company will accrue losses that are both probable and reasonably estimable. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no amounts accrued related to litigation.

 

13. Segment Information

 

The Company reports segment information based on the “management” approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by management for making decisions and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s reportable segments. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the chief executive officer. The Company will continue to reevaluate reportable and operating segments. The Company manages its business primarily based upon four operating segments: Avionics, Drones, Electric Air Mobility and Training. In accordance with the segment reporting accounting standard, the Company evaluated the economic similarity of its operating segments and determined that each of these operating segments represents a reportable segment.

 

The Company has determined that each reportable segment represents a reporting unit and, in accordance with ASC 350, each reporting unit requires an allocation of goodwill.

 

Avionics: This segment develops, manufactures, and sells avionics and GPS sensors for the GA, UAS and eVTOL market segments. The Company’s advanced avionics products are focused on GA aftermarket, OEM display, integration and connected panel solutions.
   
Drones: This segment offers direct operation of drones and drone systems, provision of drone-derived information, and the development of drone-optimized communication services. Additionally, it consists of development and commercialization of market leading MUAS for professional users, primarily in the defense and security markets. The MUAS includes internally developed software, hardware, and mechanical system components. Operations cover sourcing, manufacturing, assembly, quality assurance testing activities and logistics.
   
Electric Air Mobility: This segment includes designing, licensing and ultimately the manufacturing of air vehicles incorporating slowed rotor compound technology that is capable of transporting people and packages operated by pilots or autonomous flight systems.
   
Training: This segment provides and operates military aircraft for U.S. military services and Department of Defense (“DOD”) contractors. Segment revenues are earned from 1) flying training missions as part of armed forces training groups, and 2) providing aircraft and support services to DOD contractors.

 

F-31

 

 

The Company evaluates the performance of its reportable segments based on the net income (loss) for each reporting segment. Presented below are reconciliations of the reportable segment total revenues to the consolidated revenues and the reportable segment total net income (loss) to the consolidated net loss for the years ended December 31:

 

   December 31, 2024 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Revenue  $8,665,292   $74,690,908   $-   $3,578,859   $86,935,059 
Cost of revenue   5,763,876    19,854,051    -    3,000,395    28,618,322 
Gross profit   2,901,416    54,836,857    -    578,464    58,316,737 
Research and development   1,028,119    4,512,054    7,593,315    -    13,133,488 
Sales and marketing   1,286,161    3,145,812    -    1,990,027    6,422,000 
General and administrative   1,868,354    8,190,364    2,114,589    2,599,441    14,772,748 
Goodwill impairment   -    -    17,024,000    20,970,000    37,994,000 
Interest expense   128,536    2,149,874    -    278,757    2,557,167 
Interest income   -    (271,322)   -    -    (271,322)
Other expense (income), net   77,023    204,573    (2,400,756)   (74,176)   (2,193,336)
Income tax benefit (expense)   (7,528,076)   (9,050,789)   4,034,530    4,244,251    (8,300,084)
Segment (loss) profit    $(9,014,853)  $27,854,713    $(20,296,618)   $(20,941,334)   (22,398,092)
Unallocated amounts:                         
Corporate expenses                       3,427,929 
Interest expense, net                       11,939,244 
Other expense, net                       20,411 
Income tax expense                       908,563 
Net loss                      $(38,694,239)

 

   December 31, 2023 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Revenue  $9,387,326   $27,975,073   $258,869   $5,632,547   $43,253,815 
Cost of revenue   5,931,393    8,313,356    182,394    3,912,772    18,339,915 
Gross profit   3,455,933    19,661,717    76,475    1,719,775    24,913,900 
Research and development   1,177,638    3,047,683    7,645,450    -    11,870,771 
Sales and marketing   1,557,924    1,826,612    -    1,989,796    5,374,332 
General and administrative   2,262,399    3,212,414    3,268,710    3,283,761    12,027,284 
Interest expense   422,663    255,195    480,203    544,316    1,702,377 
Interest income   -    (255,838)   -    -    (255,838)
Other expense, net   42,357    14,155,835    3,407,702    469,119    18,075,013 
Income tax benefit (expense)   (341,151)   (2,258,067)   1,250,339    670,775    (678,104)
Segment loss   $(2,348,199)   $(4,838,251)   $(13,475,251)   $(3,896,442)   $(24,558,143)
Unallocated amounts:                         
Corporate expenses                       5,573,669 
Interest expense, net                        690,695 
Other expense, net                        18,213 
Income tax expense                       (1,615,703)
Net loss                      $(32,456,423)

 

The following table presents revenues by geographic area for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
United States  $5,318,469   $1,168,409   $-   $3,578,859   $10,065,737 
Europe   1,792,745    73,522,499    -    -    75,315,244 
Other   1,554,078    -    -    -    1,554,078 
   $8,665,292   $74,690,908   $-   $3,578,859   $86,935,059 

 

   2023 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
United States  $5,575,460   $-   $258,869   $5,632,547   $11,466,876 
Europe   2,328,800    27,975,073    -    -    30,303,873 
Other   1,483,066    -    -    -    1,483,066 
   $9,387,326   $27,975,073   $258,869   $5,632,547   $43,253,815 

 

The Company identified classification errors in the revenues by geographic area table above for the Avionics segment for the year ended December 31, 2023 and corrected these classification errors for comparability to the current period presentation. The Company determined that the errors corrected were not material to any previously issued consolidated financial statements and did not change the Company’s previously reported consolidated financial statements.

 

F-32

 

 

The following table presents revenues by products and services for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Products  $8,617,937   $71,855,758   $      -   $202,010   $80,675,705 
Services   47,355    2,835,150    -    3,376,849    6,259,354 
   $8,665,292   $74,690,908   $-   $3,578,859   $86,935,059 

 

   2023 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Products  $9,341,673   $26,971,641   $-   $1,123,933   $37,437,247 
Services   45,653    1,003,432    258,869    4,508,614    5,816,568 
   $9,387,326   $27,975,073   $258,869   $5,632,547   $43,253,815 

 

The following table presents capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and contingent consideration fair value adjustments for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Depreciation and amortization  $496,268   $1,943,161   $6,801,323   $3,399,414   $12,640,166 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    716,092    -    716,092 
Contingent consideration fair value adjustments   -    -    (2,400,000)   -    (2,400,000)
Capital expenditures   6,570    782,561    -    -    789,131 

 

   2023 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
Depreciation and amortization  $509,848   $1,773,524   $6,801,319   $3,646,088   $12,730,779 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    1,815,225    -    1,815,225 
Contingent consideration fair value adjustments   -    14,102,326    3,410,000    496,952    18,009,278 
Capital expenditures   3,410    832,512    -    -    835,922 

 

The following table presents tangible long-lived assets by geographic area as of December 31:

 

   2024 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
United States  $201,112   $-   $1,822   $5,338,936   $5,541,870 
Europe   -    1,291,947    -    -    1,291,947 
   $201,112   $1,291,947   $1,822   $5,338,936   $6,833,817 

 

   2023 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training   Total 
United States  $218,291   $-   $3,142   $9,089,428   $9,310,861 
Europe   -    821,242    -    -    821,242 
   $218,291   $821,242   $3,142   $9,089,428   $10,132,103 

 

Total segment assets reconciled to consolidated amounts are as follows as of December 31:

 

       Total Segment assets 
   Avionics   Drones   Electric Air Mobility   Training  

Corporate

   Total 
2024  $1,208,363   $150,721,804   $514,151,757   $32,377,740   $2,539,123   $700,998,787 
2023  $3,445,763   $137,523,227   $537,164,290   $58,859,429   $529,909   $737,522,618 

 

Government Regulation

 

The Company is subject to various local, state, federal and international laws and regulations relating to the development, manufacturing, sale and distribution of its products, systems and services, and it is the Company’s policy to comply with the applicable laws in each jurisdiction in which it conducts business. Regulations include but are not limited to those related to import and export controls, corruption, bribery, environment, government procurement, wireless communications, competition, product safety, workplace health and safety, employment, labor and data privacy.

 

Drones

 

Because it contracts with the DoD and other agencies of the U.S. government—and, for certain of those contracts, requires access to classified information—the Company’s Drones segment is subject to extensive federal statutes and regulations, including the FAR, the DFARS, the Truthful Cost and Pricing statute, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the False Claims Act, and the regulations implementing the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (“NISPOM”). The NISPOM regulations establish the security requirements applicable to classified contracts and programs, facility security clearances, and personnel security clearances. The federal government audits and reviews contractors’ performance on contracts, pricing practices, cost accounting systems and practices, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. Like most government contractors, the Drones segment’s contracts are audited and reviewed regularly by federal agencies, including the Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

 

In addition, the Drones segment is subject to industry-specific regulations due to the nature of the products and services it provides. For example, certain aspects of its business are subject to further regulation by additional U.S. government authorities, including: (i) the FAA, which regulates airspace for all air vehicles in the NAS; (ii) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, which regulate the wireless communications upon which its UAS depend in the U.S.; (iii) the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the U.S. Department of State, which administers the International Traffic in Arms Regulations that regulate the export of controlled technical data, defense articles and defense services and (iv) the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which regulates matters relating to U.S. national security and technology.

 

Electric Air Mobility

 

A transport category type certification is the highest level in safety provided by the Civil Aviation Authorities. Jaunt intends to certify under CAR 529, single pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) and comply with Category Enhanced of EASA SC-VTOL-01 by:

 

  using System Safety Assessment processes (Aerospace Recommended Practice “ARP” 4761 with ARP 4754A) that are industry standard for commercial transport aircraft (Exposure Draft (ED) 79A);
     
  designing flight critical systems to meet the requirements of a probability of catastrophic failure of less than 10-9 per flight hour (less than once every billion flight hours);
     
  developing robust software design processes to meet Development Assurance Level A for functions that could exhibit catastrophic failures; and
     
  meeting requirements for bird strike, fatigue and damage tolerance, lightning strike, fire protection, and designing and incorporating elements for crashworthiness right from conceptual stage.

 

In the near-term, the efforts of the Electric Air Mobility segment will focus on obtaining FAA certification of its aircraft and engaging with key decision makers in the cities in the United States in which it anticipates its aircraft and UAM service will initially operate. Its aircraft will be required to comply with regulations governing aircraft design, production and airworthiness. In the United States, this primarily includes regulations put forth by the FAA and the Department of Transportation (“DOT”). Outside the United States, similar requirements are generally administered by the national civil aviation and transportation authorities of each country.

 

F-33

 

 

Avionics

 

Aspen Avionics designs and manufactures equipment under worldwide aviation regulatory agency approvals. These include but are not limited to FAA, EASA, TCCA, and ENAC (Brazil) regulations. These govern the design test, certification, installation, and manufacturing of Aspen’s equipment.

 

The FAA regulates the manufacture, repair and operation of all aircraft and aircraft parts operated in the United States. Its regulations are designed to ensure that all aircraft and aviation equipment are continuously maintained in proper condition to ensure safe operation of the aircraft. Similar rules apply in other countries. All aircraft must be maintained under a continuous condition monitoring program and must periodically undergo thorough inspection and maintenance. The inspection, maintenance and repair procedures for the various types of aircraft and equipment are prescribed by regulatory authorities and can be performed only by certified repair facilities utilizing certified technicians. Certification and conformance is required prior to installation of a part on an aircraft. Aircraft operators must maintain logs concerning the utilization and condition of aircraft engines, life-limited engine parts and airframes. In addition, the FAA requires that various maintenance routines be performed on aircraft engines, some engine parts, and airframes at regular intervals based on cycles or flight time. Engine maintenance must also be performed upon the occurrence of certain events, such as foreign object damage in an aircraft engine or the replacement of life-limited engine parts. Such maintenance usually requires that an aircraft engine be taken out of service. Aspen Avionics’ operations may in the future be subject to new and more stringent regulatory requirements. In that regard, Aspen Avionics closely monitors the FAA and industry trade groups in an attempt to understand how possible future regulations might impact it. Our businesses that sell defense products directly to the U.S. government or for use in systems delivered to the U.S. government can be subject to various laws and regulations that govern pricing and other factors.

 

14. Employee Benefit Plan

 

The employees of Aspen Avionics and Coastal Defense in the U.S. are eligible to participate in a profit-sharing plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k). Participants in the profit-sharing plan may elect to have Aspen Avionics and Coastal Defense contribute a portion of their compensation to the profit-sharing plan. Contributions to be made by Aspen Avionics and Coastal Defense will be at their discretion. No significant contributions were made for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

15. Stock-Based Compensation

 

Option Plan

 

On April 1, 2022, as part of the reverse acquisition with Holdings, the Company adopted the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. Option Plan (the “Plan”), and assumed the outstanding options previously granted prior to the acquisition. The option agreements provide for the purchase of a total of 0.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $5.05 per share. There were no additional common shares available for future grants under the Plan. The options vesting periods range from immediate to four years and expire as determined by the Board of Directors, but not more than 10 years from the date of grant. The exercise price and grant amounts are determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and by the Board of Directors.

 

The total stock-based compensation expense for the Plan during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

 

Unamortized expense as of December 31, 2024 was $0.2 million and will be recognized over an estimated weighted-average period of 0.3 years.

 

A summary of option activity under the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   Number of Shares   Weighted-Average Exercise Price   Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) 
Options outstanding, January 1, 2023   605,236   $5.05    7.4 
Options granted   -   $-      
Options outstanding, December 31, 2023   605,236   $5.05    6.4 
Options forfeited   (86,105)  $5.05      
Options outstanding, December 31, 2024   519,131   $5.05    6.6 
Vested and exercisable, December 31, 2024   434,947   $5.05    6.6 
Vested and exercisable and expected to vest, December 31, 2024   519,131   $5.05    6.6 

 

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the use of a number of complex assumptions including expected volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends of the option.

 

The expected volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model are based on estimates derived from both historical and implied volatility from a group of comparable public companies operating in the same or similar lines of businesses as the Company.

 

The expected term of employee options represents the weighted-average period the options are expected to remain outstanding and was derived using the simplified method for awards that qualify as its “plain-vanilla” options. All awards that are outstanding are qualified for “plain-vanilla” options.

 

The risk-free rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

 

The dividend yield is set to zero as the Company has never paid cash dividends and has no present intention to pay cash dividends.

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

In May 2022, the Company granted restricted stock awards for 0.4 million shares of common stock with performance-based vesting criteria with a grant date fair value of $24.68 per share. The recognition of vesting on the restricted stock awards can vary by reporting period as the recognition of vesting expense is based on the probable outcome of the performance threshold condition and the cumulative progress to those performance conditions. The Company reassesses at each reporting date whether the achievement of the performance threshold condition is probable and accrues compensation expense if and when achievement of the performance threshold condition is probable and the expected achievement and vesting date for the performance tranche.

 

The restricted stock awards granted in May 2022 were granted with three separate performance thresholds with specific amounts of restricted shares attached that vest based on the probable achievement of those performance thresholds. The performance thresholds are attached to contract dollar volumes on Adversary Air task orders from the United States Department of Defense. The restricted stock awards vest ratably at each performance tranche level of aggregate amounts of (1) $25.0 million, (2) $50.0 million and (3) $75.0 million.

 

F-34

 

 

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had concluded that the achievement of the performance thresholds within the measurement period was not probable. Accordingly, during the period from the grant date to December 31, 2022, no compensation expense was recognized. On August 2, 2023, the terms of the restricted stock awards were modified whereby the vesting of the 0.4 million shares of common stock became contingent upon the Company’s common stock being publicly traded. As this contingency was not probable as of the modification date, no charge was recorded as of a result of the modification. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there was no compensation expense recognized as the contingency was not probable.

 

16. Leases

 

Commercial real estate

 

Sky-Watch leases two commercial real estate locations used primarily as office space and for production. One location is leased month to month while the other has terms that end on March 1, 2028.

 

Aspen Avionics has a lease for its office and assembly facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with terms extending through June 30, 2025 and an additional lease for office space in Phoenix, Arizona through April 30, 2025.

 

Coastal Defense has one hangar lease that terminates on February 28, 2026. Other hangar leases are leased on a month-to-month basis.

 

Additional office leases are leased on a month-to-month basis. All of the commercial real estate leases with terms greater than one year described above are classified as operating leases and are included within ROU assets and lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

Automobiles and Aircraft

 

Sky-Watch leases one automobile with a term ending in 2026 and various automobile leases with lease terms of less than one year. All of the automobile and aircraft leases with lease terms greater than one year described above are classified as operating leases and are included within ROU assets and lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

The following table presents supplemental cash flow information related to the Company’s operating leases:

 

   Year ended   Year ended 
   December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities          
Operating cash flows from operating leases  $380,947   $516,801 

 

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2024 were as follows:

 

2025  $218,669 
2026   75,653 
2027   70,717 
2028   18,121 
Total   383,160 
Less: interest   (24,355)
Present value of lease liabilities  $358,805 

 

Total lease expense was $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the weighted-average remaining lease term for the operating leases was 2.1 years and the weighted-average discount rate was 6.22%. As of December 31, 2023, the weighted-average remaining lease term for the operating leases was 0.9 years and the weighted-average discount rate was 5.21%. Short-term lease expense for 2024 and 2023 was not significant.

 

F-35

 

 

17. Income Taxes

 

For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s income tax expense was $9.2 million and the effective tax rate was 31.2%. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s income tax expense was $2.3 million and the effective tax rate was 7.6%.

 

The sources of loss before income tax expense are as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
United States  $(65,862,844)  $(27,196,215)
International   36,377,252   (2,966,401)
Loss before income tax expense  $(29,485,592)  $(30,162,616)

 

Income tax expense is comprised of the following for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Current:          
Federal  $693   $- 
State   (1,050)   - 
International   (9,880,378)   (1,307,908)
Total current   (9,880,735)   (1,307,908)
           
Deferred:          
Federal   (139,389)   (30,606)
State   (18,115)   (5,134)
International   829,592    (950,159)
Total deferred   672,088    (985,899)
Total income tax expense  $(9,208,647)  $(2,293,807)

 

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Federal tax at statutory rate  $6,191,974   $6,334,161 
State income taxes   (18,944)   (5,134)
Stock compensation   (150,379)   (381,198)
Foreign rate differential   (372,507)   (88,725)
Fair value change in contingent liability   504,184    (2,944,588)
GILTI inclusion   -    (2,890,555)
Transaction costs   (300,834)   (824,875)
Goodwill impairment   (7,978,740)   - 
Other permanent differences   (47,700)   - 
Return to provision   (210,873)   (466,925)
Valuation allowance   (6,785,696)   (939,629)
Other   (39,132)   (86,339)
Income tax benefit (expense)  $(9,208,647)  $(2,293,807)

 

The Company’s accounting for deferred taxes involves the evaluation of a number of factors concerning the realizability of its net deferred tax assets. The Company primarily considered the nature of the Company’s deferred tax assets and the timing, likelihood and amount, if any, of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences and carryforwards become deductible. The Company’s accounting for deferred taxes involves the evaluation of a number of factors concerning the realizability of its net deferred tax assets. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

 

F-36

 

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows as of December 31:

 

   2024   2023 
Deferred tax assets:          
Net operating loss carryforwards  $12,342,222   $10,617,277 
Accruals and reserves   3,220,576    2,394,971 
Excess interest expense 163(j)   4,032,840    685,309 
Capitalized research and experimental expenses   864,734    679,496 
Other   1,019,025    672,952 
Gross deferred tax assets   21,479,397    15,050,005 
Valuation allowance   (9,836,089)   (4,573,011)
Net deferred tax assets   11,643,308    10,476,994 
           
Deferred tax liabilities:          
Intangible assets   (10,907,634)   (10,305,720)
Property and equipment   (1,304,767)   (1,465,355)
ROU assets   (198,238)   (181,021)
Total deferred tax liabilities   (12,410,639)   (11,952,096)
Net deferred tax liabilities  $(767,331)  $(1,475,102)

 

As of December 31, 2024, the Company has federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) totaling $50.2 million, $28.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively. If not utilized, federal NOLs of $22.1 million will expire at various dates from 2027 through 2037, and $28.1 million of federal NOLs have indefinite lives. State NOLs of $7.5 million will expire at various dates from 2025 through 2043, and $21.3 million of state NOLs have indefinite lives. Canadian NOLs of $1.0 million begin to expire in 2042.

 

Management regularly assesses the ability to realize deferred tax assets recorded based upon the weight of all available evidence, including such factors as recent earnings history and expected future taxable income on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. In the event that the Company changes its determination as to the amount of realizable deferred tax assets, the Company will adjust its valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The Company’s management believes that, based on a number of factors, it is more likely than not, that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized; and accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company has provided a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets that are expected to be unrealized against the Company’s U.S. and Canada net deferred tax assets. The net change in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was an increase of $5.3 million and an increase of $1.0 million, respectively.

 

Domestic NOLs are subject to an annual limitation as a result of multiple changes of ownership as defined under IRC Section 382. Federal NOLs of $20.7 million and state NOLs of $16.4 million originating after the most recent change are not subject to limitation. IRC §163(j) interest expense carryforwards have indefinite lives and are generally limited to an annual utilization limitation of thirty percent of adjusted taxable income plus business interest income. California NOLs are limited to a member’s contribution to combined California taxable income. The Company has reduced its federal and New Mexico NOLs by the amount expected to be unavailable and expire unutilized as a result of any IRC §382 limitation.

 

F-37

 

 

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2024 or 2023. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in operating expenses. No such interest and penalties were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

The Company expects to file income tax returns in the United States, Canada and Denmark. As of December 31, 2024, Holdings’ tax years 2021 through 2023 remain open to examination. Prior to closing of the acquisitions, AIRO Drone, Agile Defense, and Jaunt were taxed as partnerships and, as a result, the Company is not responsible for pre-acquisition tax authority examinations. All of Aspen Avionics’ tax years remain open to examination. Coastal Defense’s tax years 2021 through 2023 remain open to examination. Denmark’s statute of limitations expires May 1st in the fourth calendar year following the end of the relevant accounting period, and therefore the 2021 through 2023 tax years remain open to tax examination.

 

18. Related Party Transactions

 

Related party transactions include the following:

 

  Aspen Avionics has a Commercialization Agreement with Centro Italiano Richerche Aerospaziali S.c.p.A (“CIRA”), a stockholder of Aspen Avionics, whereby CIRA licensed certain technology to Aspen Avionics. As consideration for the license, CIRA will receive a royalty based on each unit sold by Aspen Avionics. In March 2020, Aspen Avionics entered into an agreement with CIRA to settle unpaid royalty amounts due under a development agreement. The Company owed $0.6 million and $0.5 million to CIRA as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
     
  Aspen Avionics owed $0.4 million and $0.2 million to Accord Global, a stockholder, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Sales to Accord Global were $0.3 million and $0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amounts due from Accord Global were $0.4 million and $0.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
     
  As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, Coastal Defense had net receivables due from Failor Services, Inc. (“Failor”), which is owned by a stockholder of the Company, of $0.4 million which are included in “Related party receivables” on the consolidated balance sheets. No purchases were made from Failor during the period from the Coastal Defense acquisition date through December 31, 2024. Coastal Defense also pays for certain expenses on Failor’s behalf, which are reimbursable to Coastal Defense.
     
  Coastal Defense uses West Run LLC (“West Run”) as a subcontractor for its military exercises. West Run is owned by both a Coastal Defense employee and a shareholder of the Company and the wife of Coastal Defense’s former President. The Company owed $0.3 million to West Run as of December 31, 2024. No amounts were due to West Run as of December 31, 2023.
     
  During 2024, the Company issued a series of promissory notes to Martin Peryea, our Senior Vice President and General Manager, Electric Air Mobility Division, which totaled $0.2 million as of December 31, 2024 which are payable within two weeks of Closing and have an interest charge of $1.
     
  Since May 2022 through December 31, 2024, the Company has issued unsecured promissory notes, with no collateral or guarantees, to employees and stockholders for purposes of funding its operations. The principal balance of these notes was $4.2 million and $3.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Prior to August 2024, interest as described below was payable in shares immediately prior to the Closing of the BCA Transactions and principal amounts were due within a certain number of days following the Closing of the BCA Transactions. During the third and fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, the notes below, except for $0.8 million, were amended such that interest would be payable in shares at the closing of an IPO whereby the number of shares would be based on the trading price and the principal amounts due would be payable within the same number days subsequent to the closing of an IPO.
     
 

As of December 31, 2024, notes totaling $2.3 million, as amended, accrue an interest charge equal to 100% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date, with 110% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.4 million carry the same terms except only 100% of the principal is paid 190 days following the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.2 million accrue an interest charge equal to 50% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.2 million accrue an interest charge equal to 115% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date, with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 15% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.4 million accrue an interest charge equal to 125% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date, with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date. Notes totaling $0.1 million accrue an interest charge equal to 150% of the principal amount, payable in shares of common stock on the Closing Date, with 100% of the principal paid 190 days following the Closing Date plus 12% interest per annum accruing from the Closing Date.

 

Notes totaling $0.1 million, as amended, accrue an interest charge equal to $50,000 payable in shares of common stock immediately prior to closing of this offering, with the principal due by March 31, 2025.

 

Notes totaling $0.5 million with Dangroup which accrued interest at a rate of 10.5% per annum and becomes payable five days after the closing of this offering or the closing of one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $35.0 million.

 

F-38

 

 

  Coastal Defense entered into unsecured due on demand notes with two stockholders (the “Stockholder Notes”). Interest is charged at 7.00% per year. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the total outstanding balance of the Stockholder Notes was $1.0 million. No specific repayment schedules have been determined.
     
  The Company entered into promissory notes with the Merger Entities during 2022. The fair value of the contingent consideration promissory notes issued to the former equity holders of Agile Defense, AIRO Drone and Coastal Defense totaled $9.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and are included in contingent consideration on the consolidated balance sheets. In October 2023, the Company signed various agreements pursuant to which approximately 90% of the principal owed would be converted to equity in the Company at a rate of $23.3595 per share no later than two days prior to closing of the BCA Transactions. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, at the closing of an IPO, the Company intends to issue the following shares and use the following proceeds to satisfy the following contingent consideration obligations:

 

      Promissory Note issued in connection with the Agile Defense Acquisition (the “Agile Defense Promissory Note”) - issue 58,417 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $1.0 million to satisfy the Company’s obligations to the remaining holder under the Agile Defense Promissory Note and the other holders pursuant to a Note Termination Agreement.
      Promissory Note issued in connection with the Airo Drone acquisition (the “Airo Drone Promissory Note”) - issue 63,043 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $0.6 million to satisfy the Company’s obligations to the remaining holder under the Airo Drone Promissory Note and the other holders pursuant to a Note Termination Agreement.
      Promissory Note issued in connection with the acquisition of Coastal Defense (the “CDI Promissory Note”) - issue 389,128 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $1.0 million to satisfy the Company’s obligations to the holders under the CDI Promissory Note pursuant to a Promissory Note Termination Agreement.

 

  Jaunt Contingent Arrangement in connection with the Jaunt acquisition – issue 1,908,143 shares of common stock and use proceeds of $5.0 million to satisfy the Company’s obligations pursuant to a Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement.
     
 

In conjunction with the Aspen Avionics acquisition, the Company agreed to assume $25.3 million of obligations as defined within the merger agreement of which $19.4 million was attributable to the Aspen Notes, $1.9 million was attributable to future allowable services or to be payable to the former Aspen Avionics shareholders at the closing of this offering, and $0.9 million was attributable to the Aspen Carveout Plan. The Aspen Carveout Plan also includes a one-time stock payment of $2.0 million for designated employees and consultants payable upon the occurrence of certain change in control events. On October 6, 2023, the Company signed a satisfaction of indebtedness and satisfaction of covenant agreement (the “Aspen Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement”), whereby all of the holders agreed to convert various amounts due, which included $17.5 million under the 2018, 2019 and 2022 Notes, $0.8 million related to the cash portion of Aspen Carveout Plan, and $1.7 million attributable to the Contingency Fund into 749,007 shares, 34,018 shares and 73,971 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the closing of the BCA Transactions, with the remaining amount of $2.2 million owed to such holders to be paid at the closing of the BCA Transactions. The Aspen Carveout Plan also provides for a $2.0 million payment in stock which equates to 87,226 shares that is also due at the closing of a business combination. Given that the BCA Transactions were not consummated, the Company intends to issue an aggregate of 944,222 shares of the Company’s common stock and use proceeds of $2.2 million from an IPO to satisfy the obligations to the holders under the Aspen Satisfaction of Indebtedness and Satisfaction of Covenant Agreement, whereby all of the holders agreed to convert 90% of cash payments due with the remaining 10% due at the closing of an IPO.

 

  As detailed in Note 1, the Company entered into a promissory note in conjunction with the acquisition of Sky-Watch in 2022 which was amended in 2023 such that it was payable no later than December 31, 2023. As the contingency was resolved, the difference between the December 31, 2022 fair value of $7.8 million and the face value of the promissory note of $12.9 million was recorded to other income (expense), net during the year ended December 31, 2023 and the $12.9 million liability was reclassified to due to seller on the consolidated balance sheets. In December 2023, the Company amended the terms of the promissory note due to Sky-Watch to be payable no later than March 31, 2024. In March 2024, the Company amended the terms of the promissory note to be payable no later than June 30, 2024. The $12.9 million promissory note was fully repaid during the year ended December 31, 2024.
     
    As detailed in Note 1, the Sky-Watch earnout liability was originally payable up to $6.5 million, of which up to a maximum of $3.0 million was payable on a dollar-for-dollar basis on revenue earned within the first two-year anniversary of the acquisition and $3.5 million would become due and payable if and only if Sky-Watch earns a minimum of $13.8 million in revenue during the period from the acquisition date through June 2024. In December 2022, the Equity Purchase Agreement was amended to increase the second earnout amount to $7.5 million and to extend the earnout period to include the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024. In March 2023, the Equity Purchase Agreement was further amended to add a third earnout of $4.0 million if revenue during the full fiscal year periods of 2022 through 2024 reaches $17.0 million with the earnouts payable by May 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the earnout liability was recorded to the full amount owed net of $3.0 million in payments made to date totaling $11.5 million and was classified as due to seller as all contingencies had been resolved.

 

F-39

 

 

   

As of December 31, 2024, the total amount included in due to seller and owed under the earnouts was $3.1 million. As of December 31, 2023, the total amount included in due to seller and owed under the promissory notes and the earnouts was $18.8 million. In March 2024, the parties further amended the Equity Purchase Agreement, to extend the due dates of the earnout liability and the promissory note to June 30, 2024 in exchange for the former shareholders of Sky-Watch becoming eligible for an additional earnout of $1.0 million if Sky-Watch achieves EBITDA of DKK 127,107,500 or above for fiscal year 2024. As both the promissory note and the second and third earnouts were due within three months of the amendment date and as the Company would not have been able to refinance the then current balance of $18.3 million with another lender, the Company determined this modification to be an extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50. The loss on debt extinguishment was not significant. The Company recorded $1.0 million of interest during the year ended December 31, 2024 related to this debt as described in Note 1. In June 2024, the Company amended the Equity Purchase Agreement to extend the payment dates for the remaining balance on the seller promissory note to five business days following the date that the Company, or its successor, closes one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $35 million, and for the remaining earnout liability to five business days following the date that the Company, or its successor, closes one or more financing transactions with an aggregate value of at least $45 million. Interest shall continue to accrue on the earned but unpaid earnout amounts at the federal discount rate plus five percent, compounded quarterly. The former shareholders agreed to waive enforcement of payment until June 30, 2025.

     
 

On June 28, 2024, the Company signed an Incentive Agreement whereby the Company will pay Dangroup 20% of Sky-Watch’s EBITDA as an incentive bonus for their continued involvement in Sky-Watch’s governance, management and/or other operations commencing on January 1, 2025 for an initial term of five years. The Incentive Agreement also included a five percent payout on any aggregate earnout awards that the Company’s stockholders were entitled to in conjunction with the BCA Transactions. In December 2024, the Incentive Agreement was amended such that Dangroup will receive shares in conjunction with the Closing such that their ownership will be 5% on a fully diluted basis.

     
  On June 28, 2024, the Company signed a Consulting Agreement whereby the Company will pay a shareholder and former board member of Sky-Watch 2.5% of Sky-Watch’s EBITDA as a consulting fee for his assistance with branding and rolling out products and services into new and additional markets commencing on January 1, 2024. This agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 days notice.

 

19. Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through February 21, 2025, which represents the date the consolidated financial statements were available for issuance. Other than the items listed below, there were no subsequent events that would require adjustment to or disclosure in these consolidated financial statements.

 

Through February 21, 2025, the Investor Notes, except for $3.7 million, were amended such that interest would be payable in shares of common stock at the closing of an IPO whereby the number of shares would be based on the trading price.

 

On January 30, 2025, the Company entered into an Agreement of Sale of Future Receipts with Libertas. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company sold $2.5 million of its future receivables in exchange for immediate cash proceeds of $2.0 million. While there is no repayment term, based on historical revenues, the Company estimates the associated receivables to be remitted in 1 year. The receivables will be remitted to Libertas as they are collected, subject to a specific percentage deduction from weekly receipts. The agreement is collateralized by all Accounts, as defined by UCC Article 9. In conjunction with the Agreement of Sale of Future Receipts with Libertas, the Company entered into a warrant agreement whereby Libertas agrees to purchase an aggregate of 0.25% of the fully diluted number of shares of common stock of the Company immediately before the closing of the Company’s IPO of its equity at an exercise price of $0.01 per share.

 

F-40

 

 

                               Shares

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

Cantor
 
BTIG
 
Mizuho
 
Bancroft Capital, LLC

 

 

 

             , 2025

 

Through and including            , 2025 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 
 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table indicates the expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which will be paid by us. All amounts are estimated except the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., (“FINRA”), filing fee and the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) listing fee.

 

    

AMOUNT PAID OR TO BE PAID

 
SEC registration fee  $* 
FINRA filing fee   * 
Nasdaq listing fee   * 
Accountants’ fees and expenses   * 
Legal fees and expenses   * 
Blue Sky fees and expenses   * 
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses   * 
Printing and engraving expenses   * 
Miscellaneous expenses   

*

 
Total  $

*

 

 

 

*To be provided by amendment.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

As permitted by Sections 102 and 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we have adopted provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
   
any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
   
any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or
   
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

 

II-1
 

 

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws provide that:

 

we may indemnify our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;
   
we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and
   
the rights provided in our bylaws are not exclusive.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, as amended, provide for the indemnification provisions described above and elsewhere herein. We have entered or will enter into, and intend to continue to enter into, separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements generally require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also generally require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

We have purchased and currently intend to maintain insurance on behalf of each and every person who is one of our directors or officers, within the limits and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

 

The form of underwriting agreement to be entered into in connection with this initial public offering provides for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors who sign this registration statement for specified liabilities, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

 

Set forth below is information regarding shares of our common stock, promissory notes, options and warrants to purchase shares of a common stock issued by us since January 1, 2022 that were not registered under the Securities Act. Also included is the consideration, if any, received by us, for such securities and options and information relating to the Securities Act, or rule of the SEC, under which exemption from registration was claimed.

 

(a) Issuances of Common Stock and Promissory Notes

 

In March 2022, we issued 5,343,124 shares of our common stock to the members of Jaunt in exchange for 100% of the membership interest in Jaunt. As a result of this transaction, Jaunt became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

In March 2022, we issued 890,909 shares of our common stock and a promissory note in the amount of $12.9 million to the shareholders of Sky-Watch in exchange for 100% of the stock of Sky-Watch. As a result of this transaction, Sky-Watch became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

In April 2022, we issued 2,575,758 shares of our common stock to the shareholders of Aspen in exchange for 100% of the stock of Aspen. As a result of this transaction, Aspen became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

In April 2022, we issued 1,818,182 shares of our common stock and a promissory note in the amount of $10.1 million to the shareholders of CDI in exchange for 100% of the stock of CDI. As a result of this transaction, CDI became our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

No underwriters were involved in the foregoing issuances of securities. The issuances of shares of our common stock and promissory notes described in this paragraph (b) of Item 15 were issued pursuant to written compensatory plans or arrangements with our employees, directors, and consultants, in reliance on the exemption provided by Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, or pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act, relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. All recipients either received adequate information about us or had access, through employment or other relationships, to such information.

 

(b) Grants of Stock Options and Restricted Stock

 

In March 2022, in connection with our acquisition of Jaunt, we assumed the Legacy Plan, and certain employees and consultants of Jaunt were granted options to purchase shares of our common stock. The total number of shares reserved for issuance under the Legacy Plan consists of 605,236 shares of our common stock and no further grants are contemplated.

 

In May 2022, we and Kyle Stanbro entered into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as subsequently amended in August 2023, whereby we issued to Mr. Stanbro 215,909 shares of our common stock (the “Stanbro Restricted Stock”). The Stanbro Restricted Stock shall vest on the first day of the first full calendar quarter following the completion of this offering.

 

In May 2022, we and Jeffrey Parker entered into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as subsequently amended in August 2023, whereby we issued to Mr. Parker 215,909 shares of our common stock (the “Parker Restricted Stock”). The Parker Restricted Stock shall vest on the first day of the first full calendar quarter following the completion of this offering.

 

No underwriters were involved in the foregoing issuances of securities. The issuances of stock options and restricted stock awards and the shares of our common stock issued upon the exercise of the options described in this paragraph (b) of Item 15 were issued pursuant to written compensatory plans or arrangements with our employees, directors, and consultants, in reliance on the exemption provided by Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, or pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act, relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. All recipients either received adequate information about us or had access, through employment or other relationships, to such information.

 

(c) Warrant Issuance

 

In March 2022, in connection with its acquisition of Jaunt, we issued warrants to certain members of Jaunt to purchase, in the aggregate, 112,246 shares of our common stock. The warrants were issued in exchange for warrants to purchase equity in Jaunt pursuant to a Warrant Exchange Agreement between us, Jaunt and the individual warrant holders. The warrants may be exercised within ten years of the issue date for an exercise price of $9.90 per share of common stock.

 

No underwriters were involved in the foregoing issuance of securities. The issuance of the warrants described in this paragraph (c) of Item 15 were issued to investors in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, as set forth in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act, relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. Each recipient of securities in the transaction described above represented that such recipient was an accredited investor and was acquiring the securities for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof and that it could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time, and appropriate legends were affixed to the instrument representing such securities issued in such transaction.

 

(d) Convertible Note Issuance

 

Between May 2022 and November 2024, we raised $9.6 million in the form of unsecured convertible promissory notes with no collateral and no guarantees to private investors.

 

No underwriters were involved in the foregoing issuance of securities. The issuance of the convertible promissory notes described in this paragraph (e) of Item 15 were issued to investors in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, as set forth in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act, relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. Each recipient of securities in the transaction described above represented that such recipient was an accredited investor and was acquiring the securities for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof and that it could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time, and appropriate legends were affixed to the instrument representing such securities issued in such transaction.

 

II-2
 

 

Appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about us.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

 

DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT

1.1†   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation, as currently in effect.
3.2†   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to become effective immediately prior to the closing of the offering.
3.3   Bylaws, as currently in effect.
3.4†   Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws to become effective immediately prior to the closing of the offering.
4.1†   Form of Common Stock Certificate.
5.1†   Opinion of Cooley LLP.
10.1+†   Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between the Registrant and its directors and officers.
10.2+   Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.3+   Amendment No. 1 to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.4+   Amendment No. 2 to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.5+   2023 Omnibus Amendment to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.6+   Amendment No. 4 to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.7+   Amendment No. 5 to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan.
10.8+†   AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. Option Plan.
10.9+†   AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
10.10+†   Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice, Stock Option Grant Notice with Acceleration of Vesting, Option Agreement and Notice of Exercise under the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.11+†   AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.12+†   Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice, Option Agreement and Notice of Exercise under the AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.13*†   AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.14   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Agile Defense, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.15   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., AIRO Drone, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.16   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Jaunt, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.17   Equity Purchase Agreement by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch A/S, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.18   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Aspen, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.19   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Coastal Defense, and certain other parties thereto, dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended.
10.20*   Engagement Letter by and between KippsDeSanto & Co. and Aspen Avionics, Inc., dated August 7, 2018, as amended.
10.21   Amended and Restated Success Fee Agreement by and between AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. and New Generation Aerospace, Inc. dated as of October 2, 2023.
10.22*+   Offer Letter by and between Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria and AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., dated May 18, 2022.
10.23*+   Offer Letter by and between Captain Joseph Burns and AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., dated May 18, 2022.
10.24*+   Employment Agreement between Aspen Avionics, Inc. and John Uczekaj, dated January 12, 2007.
10.25*+   Offer Letter by and between John Uczekaj and AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., dated April 1, 2022.
21.1   List of subsidiaries.
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2†   Consent of Cooley LLP. Reference is made to Exhibit 5.1.
24.1   Power of Attorney.
99.1   Consent of Elizabeth Ng, director appointee.
107   Filing Fee Disclosure and Payment Methods.

 

 

To be filed by amendment.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
*Pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K, certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted (indicated by “[***]”) because the Registrant has determined that the information is not material and is the type that the Registrant treats as private or confidential.

 

II-3
 

 

(b) Financial statement schedules.

 

No financial statement schedules are provided because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-4
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 21, 2025.

 

  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
     
  By:

/s/ Captain Joseph D. Burns

    Captain Joseph D. Burns
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Captain Joseph D. Burns and Mariya Pylypiv and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, with the full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

 

TITLE

 

DATE

         

/s/ Captain Joseph D. Burns

  Chief Executive Officer and Director   February 21, 2025
Captain Joseph D. Burns   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         

/s/ Dr. Mariya Pylypiv

  Chief Financial Officer   February 21, 2025
Dr. Mariya Pylypiv  

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

   
         
/s/ John Uczekaj  

President, Chief Operating Officer and

  February 21, 2025
John Uczekaj   Director    
         

/s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria

  Executive Chairman and Director   February 21, 2025
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria      
         
/s/ John Belcher   Director   February 21, 2025
John Belcher        

 

II-5

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.

2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN

 

As of December 16, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby adopts the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors has considered various incentive plans for designated employees and consultants including, without limitation, a form of retention or management carveout plan presented to the Board in February 2020;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has decided to establish a Benefit Pool (as defined below) for designated employees and consultants payable upon the occurrence of a Change of Control to (i) assure that the Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity of employees and consultants, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) provide employees and consultants with an incentive to continue their service prior to a Change of Control and to motivate the team to maximize the value of the Company upon a Change of Control for the benefit of the Company, its creditors and its stockholders, (iii) provide employees and consultants with enhanced financial security and incentive and encouragement to remain with the Company notwithstanding the possibility of a Change of Control, and (iv) reward current and previous employees and consultants for the contributions to the growth of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that the adoption of the Plan is in the best interests of the Company, its creditors and its stockholders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors approved the terms of the Plan, as of December 16, 2021.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

 

1. DEFINITIONS. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

 

Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.

 

AIRO/Aspen Merger” means the merger described in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement between the Company and Aspen Merger Sub (as defined in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement).

 

AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement” means that certain agreement and plan of merger by and between AIRO Group, the Company, and certain other parties named therein dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended, modified or extended from time to time.

 

AIRO Group” means AIRO Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

 

AIRO Group Holdings” means AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

 

AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of AIRO Group Holdings, or any successor thereto.

 

Aspen Representatives” shall mean one or more representatives of the Participants appointed to the Plan Administrator in connection with the AIRO/Aspen Merger. Such representatives shall be chosen by members of the Company’s Board of Directors who were members immediately prior to the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger and any replacements thereof (due to death, disability, resignation, etc.) shall be appointed only by Persons who were members of the Company’s Board of Directors immediately prior to the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger.

 

Benefit” means the amount cash, securities and other benefits to which a Participant may become entitled under Section 2 of the Plan assuming the Participant complies with the other terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

1

 

 

Benefit Pool” means the pool from which all Benefits are paid as determined by the Board of Directors at its regular meeting on December 16, 2021 and as may be subsequently amended, enlarged or modified by the Board of Directors.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as from time to time constituted.

 

Cause” means (i) conviction of, plea of nolo contendre to, or formal admission to, a felony; (ii) an act by the Participant of willful misconduct, willful or gross neglect, gross incompetence, fraud, embezzlement, or material misappropriation or dishonesty in the performance of the Participant’s duties with the Company; (iii) repeated failure to adhere to the lawful directions of the Board of Directors or to adhere to the Company’s policies and practices and such failure is not cured within ten (10) days following written notice from the Company specifying such failure; (iv) continued failure to substantially perform the Participant’s duties properly assigned to him or her and such failure is not cured within ten (10) days following written notice from the Company specifying such failure; or (v) breach in any material respect of the terms and provisions of the Participant’s employment or consulting agreement and such breach is not cured within ten (10) days following written notice from the Company specifying such breach.

 

Change of Control” means either a General Change of Control or a Two-Step Change of Control, as the case may be. A “General Change of Control” means (i) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity in substantially the same proportions (or, if the surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary, its parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power is transferred; provided that a Change of Control shall not include any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted or a combination thereof; or (iii) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. A “Two-Step Change of Control” means both the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger and the closing of either the SPAC Merger or the IPO (whichever is earlier) occurs by June 30, 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger does not constitute a General Change of Control unless the AIRO/Aspen Merger is consummated and either the SPAC Merger or the IPO occur by June 30, 2023.

 

Closing” means the closing of a transaction constituting a Change of Control and, in the case of a Two-Step Change of Control, then the closing of the SPAC Merger or IPO, as the case may be.

 

Closing Date” means the closing date set forth in the purchase agreement or other transaction document effecting the Change of Control.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific Section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such Sections or regulations, any valid regulation promulgated under such Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplement or superseding such Section or regulation.

 

Company” means Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor. “Consultant” means any individual who is or has been engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services, whether or not compensated for such services.

 

Disability” or “Disabled” means an Participant’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or the Participant’s receipt of income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident or health plan sponsored by the Company. A Participant shall be deemed to have incurred a Disability if the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

2

 

 

Employee” means an individual who is an employee of the Company who is reported on the payroll records as a common-law employee.

 

General Change of Control” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the definition of Change of Control.

 

Indebtedness Assumed” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement.

 

Individual Units” means the units specified for a particular Participant as determined by the Board of Directors, in each Participant’s Participation Agreement. The total amount of the Individual Units granted shall not exceed the total amount approved by the Board of Directors of the Company at its December 16, 2021 regular meeting unless the total amount of the Individual Units is amended, modified or enlarged by in a writing by the Board of Directors.

 

IPO” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement.

 

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to a Change of Control, the net sum of any cash and the fair market value of any securities or other property available for distribution to equity holders of the Company in connection with a Change of Control after all liabilities (whether estimated or definite, including all investment banking fees and transaction costs, but excluding subordinated notes or bridge loans from Company equity holders or their Affiliates), as determined by the Plan Administrator, are paid, satisfied, reserved for or assumed; provided that the Board of Directors of the Company at its December 16, 2021 regular meeting established a cap or upper limit for the Net Proceeds at $2,300,000,000.00 in which event, if the Net Proceeds are calculated to be in excess of $2,300,000,000.00, then for all relevant calculations under the Plan, the amount of the Net Proceeds will be fixed at $2,300,000,000.00. For the avoidance of doubt, Net Proceeds includes (i) any Liabilities assumed in the Change of Control (including, without limitation, the Indebtedness Assumed in the AIRO/Aspen Merger), and (ii) Post-Closing Payments; provided, however, that payments that derive from Post-Closing Payments shall be delayed until after such Post-Closing Payments themselves actually are made and received and shall be based upon the actual amounts of Post-Closing Payments made and received. The fair market value of any securities or other property available for distribution in connection with a Change of Control will be determined for purposes of calculation under the Plan on the same basis on which such securities were valued in the Change of Control. Any calculation under the Plan that is based on “Net Proceeds” shall disregard any effect the Plan or the payment of any amount under the Plan may have on the actual consideration to be distributed in the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the definition of Net Proceeds provided above shall be modified as follows solely with respect to a Two-Step Transaction Change of Control: (i) the term “cash” shall include Indebtedness Assumed; and (ii) the phrase “the fair market value of any securities … available for distribution to equity holders of the Company” shall mean the fair market value of the AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock determined upon closing of the SPAC Merger or IPO (whichever is earlier).

 

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement, and any successors thereto.

 

Participant” means an Employee or Consultant who is named as eligible to receive a Benefit pursuant to this Plan.

 

Participation Agreement” means an individualized agreement setting forth a Participant’s Individual Units and other terms relating to the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The form of Participation Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Plan” means the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as heretofore or hereafter amended from time to time.

 

Plan Administrator” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof as may be established from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided that, from and after the AIRO/Aspen Merger, the Board of Directors of the Company (and any committee thereof serving as the Plan Administrator) must contain the same number of Aspen Representatives as the other members of the Plan Administrator appointed by any other Person after closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger.

 

3

 

 

Post-Closing Payments” means the amounts distributed after the Closing pursuant to any escrow, holdback, delayed or installment payment, promissory note, earn-out or other similar arrangement.

 

Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and any final Treasury Regulations and guidance thereunder and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be amended or promulgated from time to time.

 

SPAC Merger” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement.

 

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations under the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury Regulation Section thereunder shall include such regulations and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such regulation.

 

Two-Step Change of Control” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the definition of Change of Control.

 

Total Transaction Value” means, with respect to a Two-Step Change of Control, (i) all cash (including, without limitation, all Indebtedness Assumed) paid by AIRO Group Holdings for Aspen equity securities in the AIRO/Aspen Merger, plus (ii) the fair market value of all AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock issued and outstanding (on a fully diluted basis) paid by AIRO Group Holdings for Aspen equity securities in the AIRO/Aspen Merger (immediately prior to the closing of the Two-Step Transaction Change of Control). As used herein, the phrase “the fair market value of all AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock” shall mean an amount equal to one issued and outstanding share of AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock, multiplied by the value attributed to such share in the closing of the Two-Step Transaction Change of Control (i.e., the value per such share stated in the merger agreement for the SPAC Merger, or trading price of such share listed or quoted on the primary national securities exchange for such share as of the close of trading on the first day of trading in connection with the IPO, multiplied by all of the issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock (immediately prior to the closing of the Two-Step Transaction Change of Control).

 

2. PLAN BENEFIT.

 

(a) Benefit Pool.

 

(i) In General. All Benefits paid under the Plan shall be paid from the Benefit Pool. The Benefit Pool shall be calculated based on the Net Proceeds in connection with a Change of Control as determined by the Plan Administrator.

 

(ii) Two-Step Change of Control. For a Two-Step Change of Control only, Attachment C to the Participation Agreement (which is incorporated herein by this reference) is a “Model for Hypothetical Sensitivity Analysis” which can be used by Participants to calculate an estimate of value, in dollars, of hypothetical Benefits to each Participant (as shown on line 16, column D of the Excel spreadsheet) (the “Hypothetical Benefit to Participant.” Upon closing of the Two-Step Change of Control, but in any event within five (5) days thereafter, the Plan Administrator shall determine the Total Transaction Value (as shown on line 12, column D of the Excel spreadsheet); provided that the Board of Directors of the Company at its December 16, 2021 regular meeting established a cap or upper limit for the Total Transaction Value at $2,300,000,000.00 in which event, if the Total Transaction Value is calculated to be in excess of $2,300,000,000.00, then for all relevant calculations under the Plan, the amount of the Total Transaction Value will be fixed at $2,300,000,000.00. Once the Plan Administrator has calculated the Total Transaction Value, such calculation shall be the Total Transaction Value for all purposes of the Plan and, for each Participant, the calculation of the Hypothetical Benefit to Participant shall then become the Actual Benefit to Participant.

 

(b) Benefit Allocation. Each individual designated as a Participant by the Plan Administrator shall be allocated Individual Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if all of the Benefit Pool is not allocated to Participants as of the Closing Date, each Participant’s Benefit shall automatically be adjusted (pro rata) such that the aggregate of such Benefits equals the Benefit Pool.

 

4

 

 

(c) Benefit Conditions. In general, it is a condition precedent that individuals must be Employees or Consultants of the Company at the time Benefits are paid to receive any Benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(i) for individuals who are Employees, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant an allocation to any Employee who is terminated without Cause during the calendar year in which the Benefit Pool is calculated with respect to any Benefit earned by such individual prior to such termination without Cause;

 

(ii) for individuals who are Employees, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant an allocation to an Employee who dies, becomes Disabled or is on a bona fide leave of absence (such as maternity leave) during the calendar year in which the Benefit Pool is calculated with respect to any Benefit earned by such individual prior to such death, Disability or bona fide leave of absence; and

 

(iii) for individuals who are Consultants, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant an allocation to any current or previous Consultant.

 

(d) Reallocation. Any portion of the Benefit Pool allocated to an individual who becomes ineligible to receive his or her Benefit shall be forfeited and available for reallocation and distribution under the Plan or returned to the Company as determined by the Plan Administrator, or if not allocated by the Plan Administrator as of the Closing Date, then distributed pursuant to Section 2(b).

 

(e) Benefit Payment. The Benefits payable hereunder shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable after a Closing Date, but under no circumstances later than fifteen (15) days following the Closing Date. Each Participant will be entitled to receive the same form or forms of payment and in the same proportions paid by the purchaser(s) upon the Change of Control, whether such distribution is at Closing or a Post-Closing Payment pursuant to the application of any escrow, holdback, delayed or installment payment, promissory note, earn-out or other similar arrangement. For the avoidance of doubt, the overall percentage of Net Proceeds allocated to the Benefit Pool shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and such overall percentage shall be applied to the Net Proceeds in connection with the Change of Control for purposes of determining the proportion of cash (which, for purposes of this calculation shall include the amount of the Indebtedness Assumed), equity securities or other property distributed to Participants under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Two-Step Transaction Change of Control, each Participant shall be allocated “cash, equity securities and other property” based upon the following proportion:

 

(i) Cash Portion of Benefit. The cash allocated to such Participant shall be equal to a fraction, with the numerator of which is equal to Indebtedness Assumed and any other cash, if any, distributed to holders of the Company’s equity securities in the AIRO/Aspen Merger; and a denominator of which is equal to cash (including Indebtedness Assumed), AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock (valued as of the earlier of the IPO or SPAC Merger), and other property, if any, distributed to holders of the Company’s equity securities in the AIRO/Aspen Merger.

 

(ii) Stock, etc. Portion of Benefit. The equity securities and other property allocated to such Participant shall be the Actual Benefit to Participant less the value of cash (as determined above in Section 2(e)(1)). The equity securities shall be paid in AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock (valued as of the earlier of the IPO or SPAC Merger), and “other property,” if any, shall be valued, for purposes of this Plan, as of the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger.

 

(f) Withholding. The Company shall withhold any federal, state or local taxes required with respect to any distribution under the Plan. The Participant shall take whatever action the Plan Administrator deems appropriate with respect to withholding of taxes, including, but not limited to, the Participant remitting to the Company any taxes required to be withheld by the Company under federal, state or local law as a result of the distribution. The Company may retain stock or equity securities equal to the taxes required to be withheld by the Company under federal, state or local law as a result of the distribution under the Plan.

 

5

 

 

(g) Expiration. The Plan and all Benefits thereunder expire on June 30, 2023.

 

3. PLAN ADMINISTRATION.

 

(a) Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may designate certain specified duties of Plan administration to an individual or group of individuals who, with respect to such duties, shall have all reasonable powers necessary or appropriate to accomplish them.

 

(b) Powers of Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall have all powers necessary to supervise the administration of the Plan and to control its operation in accordance with its terms, including, but not by way of limitation, the following discretionary powers:

 

(i) to interpret the provisions of the Plan and to determine any question arising under, or in connection with the administration or operation of, the Plan including, without limitation, the amount and calculation of the Benefit Pool and the Benefits;

 

(ii) to determine all questions concerning allocation and reallocation of benefits;

 

(iii) to cause one or more separate accounts to be maintained for the Benefit Pool;

 

(iv) to determine the manner and form (to the extent consistent with Section 2(e)) of any distribution to be made under the Plan;

 

(v) to determine the status and rights of Employees and Consultants;

 

(vi) to appoint and discharge such trustees, record keepers, consultants, counsel (who may be of counsel to the Company) and other agents and advisers, and to obtain such other services, as it may deem necessary or appropriate in carrying out the provisions of the Plan;

 

(vii) to establish rules for the performance of its powers and duties and for the administration of the Plan;

 

(viii) to act as agent for the Company in keeping all records;

 

(ix) to delegate to one or more persons, severally or jointly, the authority to perform for and on behalf of the Plan Administrator one or more of the functions of the Plan Administrator under the Plan;

 

(x) to exercise the authority to make decisions and to make changes to the Plan, including adopting one (1) or more amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants; and

 

(xi) to make any and all decisions, to take any and all actions, and to execute any and all documents as the Plan Administrator, its delegate or the officers of the Company deem necessary or desirable to implement any resolutions made by the Board of Directors and to contribute to the smooth operation of the Plan.

 

(c) Decisions of Plan Administrator. All decisions of the Plan Administrator, any action taken by the Plan Administrator with respect to the Plan and within the powers granted to it under the Plan, and any interpretation of provisions of the Plan by the Plan Administrator shall be final and shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants and all other persons and shall be given the maximum possible deference allowed by law.

 

(d) Administrative Expenses. The Plan Administrator shall serve without compensation for its services as Plan Administrator. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan or the trust, if any, by the Company, the Plan Administrator or otherwise, including trustee, if any, and legal fees and expenses, shall be paid by the Company as determined by the Plan Administrator (in its discretion).

 

6

 

 

(e) Indemnification. The Company shall, and by adopting the Plan, agrees to, indemnify and hold harmless any of its Employees, officers or directors from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts paid, with the approval of the Board of Directors, in settlement of any claim) arising out of or resulting from the implementation of a duty, act or decision with respect to the Plan, so long as such duty, act or decision does not involve bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such individual.

 

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

 

(a) Rights and Duties. No person shall have any rights in or to any fund or other assets of the Plan, or under the Plan, except as, and only to the extent, expressly provided for in the Plan.

 

(b) No Enlargement of Employment Rights, etc. Neither the establishment or maintenance of the Plan, the making of any contributions nor any action of the Company, the trustee, if any, or the Plan Administrator shall be held or construed to confer upon any individual any right to be continued as an Employee or a Consultant nor, upon dismissal, any right or interest in any fund or any other assets of the Plan, except to the extent provided in the Plan. The Company expressly reserves the right to discharge any Employee or Consultant at any time, with or without cause, for any reason or no reason, except as may be restricted by law or contract.

 

(c) Applicable Law. To the extent not subject to federal law, the provisions of the Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced in accordance with applicable laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

 

(d) Conformance With Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered and operated in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, Section 409A. The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time in order for the Plan to comply with any such laws and regulations.

 

(e) Severability. If any provision of the Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

 

(f) Captions. The captions contained in the Plan are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of the Plan nor in any way affect the construction of any provision of the Plan.

 

(g) Offsets. When any payment becomes due and payable hereunder, the Company, without notice, demand or any other action, may withhold payment and use the funds to offset any amounts owed by the Participant to the Company.

 

(h) Funding. The Plan shall be funded out of the Company’s general assets. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company.

 

(i) No Guarantee of Employment. Selection of an individual to participate in the Plan shall not provide any guarantee or promise of continued service of the Employee or Consultant with the Company, and the Company retains the right to terminate the employment of any Employee or Consultant at any time, with or without cause, for any reason or no reason, except as may be restricted by law or contract.

 

7

 

 

(j) Clawbacks. Any Benefit paid under the Plan is subject to recovery or “clawback” by the Company:

 

(1) if such Benefit was allocated to such Participant by the Plan Administrator based on actual fraud (i) in the financial statements, or (ii) other criteria upon which the Plan Administrator relied to make such allocation. Such Benefit shall be subject to clawback for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of payment, to the extent such Benefit would have been less had the Plan Administrator based such allocation on nonfraudulent information.

 

(2) if such Benefit was paid to an Employee who failed to continue to be employed by the Company (or its successor) for a period of 180 days after the Closing Date of the Change in Control unless such Employee’s reason for ceasing to be an Employee is that Employee’s employment was terminated without Cause or such Employee died or became Disabled during such 180-day period.

 

(k) Amendment and Termination. The Plan Administrator may not amend the Plan without the express prior written consent of (i) each Participant affected by the amendment or termination, and (ii) after the AIRO/Aspen Merger, each of the Aspen Representatives, except, in each case, pursuant to “Section 409A” below or as may be required by any applicable law or as necessary to correct administrative errors. The Plan shall automatically terminate upon completion of all payments under the terms of the Plan.

 

(l) No Equity Interest. Neither the Plan nor any distribution hereunder creates or conveys any equity or ownership interest in the Company or any rights commonly associated with such interests, including, without limitation, the right to vote on any matters put before the stockholders of the Company.

 

(m) Nonassignability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, a Participant’s right or benefits under this Plan shall not be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same shall be void. No right or benefit hereunder shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the person entitled to such benefit.

 

(n) Section 409A. Each payment and benefit payable under this Plan is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. Benefits under the Plan required to be paid no later than fifteen (15) days following the Closing Date are intended to fall within the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A and, if such payments fail to fall within such exemption, to comply with the requirements of Section 409A, in each case so that none of the Benefit to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A. All other payments are meant to comply with Section 409A so that none of the Benefit to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A. Any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to be exempt from or so comply with the requirements of Section 409A. The Plan Administrator and each Participant will work together in good faith to consider either (i) amendments to this Plan; or (ii) revisions to the Plan with respect to the payment of any Benefit, which are necessary or appropriate to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to the actual payment to the Participant under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, to take such reasonable actions and make any amendments to the Plan as it deems necessary, advisable or desirable to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A or imposition of any additional tax prior to the actual payment of any Benefit.

 

(o) Successors and Assigns. The Plan shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and, upon a Change of Control, the Company shall, if the Board of Directors deems it to be necessary or prudent, require the Company’s successor(s) or assign(s) to assume or guarantee (or both) the Company’s obligations under the Plan; and, upon a Two-Step Transaction Change of Control, the Board of Directors of the Company shall require both AIRO Group Holdings and AIRO Group to assume and guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Plan.

 

[End of 2021 Management Carveout Plan; Balance Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, has executed the Plan on the date indicated below.

 

  Aspen Avionics, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Name: John Uczekaj
  Title: CEO
  Dated: 12/16/21

 

[Signature Page to Aspen Avionics 2021 Management Carveout Plan]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Participation Agreement

 

This Participation Agreement (the “Agreement”) with respect to participation in the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”) is made as of December 23, 2021 by and between Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME] (“Participant”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Plan. Additional terms and conditions are set forth on Attachment A and incorporated herein by this reference.

 

Background. Any Benefits paid to Participants under the Plan are based on a Change of Control, typically involving a stock sale or asset sale but also including a two-step transaction (the “Two Step Transaction”) involving the AIRO/Aspen Merger as described below. At the time the Plan has been adopted, the AIRO/Aspen Merger Agreement has been executed and delivered but has not closed. The AIRO/Aspen Merger will not result in any cash or marketable securities being available to any Company stockholders or to the Participants. The AIRO/Aspen Merger is conditioned on evidence of likelihood of a subsequent SPAC merger or IPO which likely would result in some cash and marketable securities being available to Company stockholders or to the Participants. A Change of Control in the context of the AIRO/Aspen Merger will be the AIRO/Aspen Merger taken together with a subsequent public financing via a SPAC merger or IPO.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the parties hereby agree as follows.

 

1. Terms of Participation; Expiration. The Participant’s participation in the Plan is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Agreement. A condition to receiving any distribution under the Plan or this Agreement is that Participant must execute a release in the form attached hereto as Attachment B within 10 days of being notified of the Change of Control and provided with such release. If Participant refuses to execute the release within this time period, Participant forfeits any rights to any distributions under the Plan or this Agreement. The Plan, this Agreement and all Benefits thereunder expire on June 30, 2023.

 

2. Participant’s Individual Units; Value. The Participant’s Individual Units will be equal to [ ]. The value of the Individual Units is unknown and may be unknowable until the Change of Control closes. Additional limitations, assumptions and qualifications about the value of the Individual Units are set forth in the “Model for Hypothetical Sensitivity Analysis” that is attached to this Agreement and are incorporated herein by this reference. Attachment C to this Agreement is a “Model for Hypothetical Sensitivity Analysis” which can be used by Participants to calculate an estimate of value, in dollars, of hypothetical Benefits to each Participant. As shown on the Model, for purposes of the Plan, the Board of Directors of the Company at its December 16, 2021 regular meeting established a cap or upper limit for the Total Transaction Value at $2,300,000,000.00.

 

3. No Guarantee of Continued Service; Benefit Conditions. Participant acknowledges and agrees that selection to participate in the Plan shall not provide any guarantee or promise of continued service of the Participant with the Company, and the Company retains the right to terminate the employment or consultancy of any Participant at any time, with or without cause, for any reason or no reason, except as may be restricted by law or contract. In general, it is a condition precedent that individuals must be Employees or Consultants of the Company at the time Benefits are paid to receive any Benefits (subject to certain narrow exceptions provided in the Plan) and Benefits may be subject to a clawback as provided in the Additional Terms.

 

THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.   PARTICIPANT
       
By:                 
John Uczekaj, CEO    

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT A

 

CERTAIN ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 

  1.Certain Matters Concerning Taxes.

 

(a) Ordinary Income. The Benefit will likely be taxed at ordinary income tax rates (and not more preferable capital gains tax rates) for federal, state and local income tax purposes.

 

(b) 409A. Each payment and benefit payable under the Plan is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. Benefits under the Plan required to be paid no later than fifteen (15) days following the Closing Date are intended to fall within the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A and, if such payments fail to fall within such exemption, to comply with the requirements of Section 409A, in each case so that none of the Benefit to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A (which is basically an additional 20% excise tax). All other payments are meant to comply with Section 409A so that none of the Benefit to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A. Any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to be exempt from or so comply with the requirements of Section 409A. The Plan Administrator and each Participant will work together in good faith to consider either (i) amendments to this Plan; or (ii) revisions to the Plan with respect to the payment of any Benefit, which are necessary or appropriate to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to the actual payment to the Participant under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, to take such reasonable actions and make any amendments to the Plan as it deems necessary, advisable or desirable to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A or imposition of any additional tax prior to the actual payment of any Benefit.

 

(c) Tax Withholding. The Company will withhold any federal, state or local taxes required with respect to any distribution under the Plan. The Participant shall take whatever action the Plan Administrator deems appropriate with respect to withholding of taxes, including, but not limited to, the Participant remitting to the Company any taxes required to be withheld by the Company under federal, state or local law as a result of the distribution. The Company may retain stock or equity securities equal to the taxes required to be withheld by the Company under federal, state or local law as a result of the distribution under the Plan.

 

2.Additional Provisions.

 

(a) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement will continue in full force and effect without said provision.

 

(b) Integration; No Oral Modification. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, written or oral. The Board may amend, modify, or alter the terms of the Plan or any Participation Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date (which may include amendment without the consent of Participant).

 

(c) No Enlargement of Employment Rights, etc. Neither the establishment or maintenance of the Plan, the making of any contributions nor any action of the Company, the trustee, if any, or the Plan Administrator shall be held or construed to confer upon any individual any right to be continued as an Employee or a Consultant nor, upon dismissal, any right or interest in any fund or any other assets of the Plan, except to the extent provided in the Plan. The Company expressly reserves the right to discharge any Employee or Consultant at any time.

 

 

 

 

(d) Applicable Law. To the extent not subject to federal law, the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed, administered and enforced in accordance with applicable laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

 

(e) Conformance With Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Plan and this Agreement shall be administered and operated in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, Section 409A. The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan and this Agreement at any time in order for the Plan and this Agreement to comply with any such laws and regulations.

 

(f) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and the Plan and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

 

(g) Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of this Agreement nor in any way affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

(h) Offsets. When any payment becomes due and payable hereunder, the Company, without notice, demand or any other action, may withhold payment and use the funds to offset any amounts owed by the Participant to the Company.

 

(i) Funding. The Plan shall be funded out of the Company’s general assets. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company.

 

(j) No Guarantee of Employment. Selection of an individual to participate in the Plan shall not provide any guarantee or promise of continued service of the Employee or Consultant with the Company, and the Company retains the right to terminate the employment of any Employee or Consultant at any time, with or without cause, for any reason or no reason, except as may be restricted by law or contract.

 

(k) Clawbacks. Any Benefit paid under the Plan is subject to recovery or “clawback” by the Company:

 

(1) if such Benefit was allocated to such Participant by the Plan Administrator based on actual fraud (i) in the financial statements, or (ii) other criteria upon which the Plan Administrator relied to make such allocation. Such Benefit shall be subject to clawback for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of payment, to the extent such Benefit would have been less had the Plan Administrator based such allocation on nonfraudulent information.

 

(2) if such Benefit was paid to an Employee who failed to continue to be employed by the Company (or its successor) for a period of 180 days after the Closing Date of the Change in Control unless such Employee’s reason for ceasing to be an Employee is that Employee’s employment was terminated without Cause or such Employee died or became Disabled during such 180-day period..

 

(l) No Equity Interest. Neither the Plan nor any distribution hereunder creates or conveys any equity or ownership interest in the Company or any rights commonly associated with such interests, including, without limitation, the right to vote on any matters put before the stockholders of the Company.

 

(m) Nonassignability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, a Participant’s right or benefits under the Plan and this Agreement shall not be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same shall be void. No right or benefit hereunder shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the person entitled to such benefit.

 

 

 

 

(n) Successors and Assigns. The Plan and this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and upon a Change of Control the Company shall require its successor(s) or assign(s) to assume the Company’s obligations under the Plan and this Agreement.

 

(o) Arbitration. Participant and the Company agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to the Plan or the Agreement will be resolved, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) under its then-existing rules and procedures. Participant acknowledges that by agreeing to this arbitration procedure, both Participant and the Company waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge. In addition to and notwithstanding those rules, Participant and the Company agree that the arbitrator will: (1) have the authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (2) issue a written arbitration decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. The Company will pay all of the JAMS arbitration fees in excess of those administrative fees Participant would be required to pay if the dispute were decided in a court of law. The venue for such arbitration will be in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

[End of Additional Terms and Conditions of Participation Agreement]

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT B

 

Form of Release

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this General Release, I hereby release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries, and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the execution date of this General Release, including but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with Plan, any similar or subsequent plan thereto or any sale of the Company or its assets, any recapitalization, redemption, liquidation, or dissolution of the Company, my employment with the Company or the termination of that ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

I also acknowledge that the consideration given for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I further acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, that: (a) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise after the execution date of this General Release; (b) I have been advised hereby that I have the right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this General Release; and (c) this General Release shall be effective upon the date this General Release is executed by me, provided that the Company has also executed this General Release by that date (“Effective Date”).

 

In giving this release, which includes claims which may be unknown to me at present, I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the California Civil Code which reads as follows: “A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.” I hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under that section and any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any claims I may have against the Company.

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT C

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN

 

THIS AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of October 21, 2022, by Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company adopted the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”) on December 16, 2021. For the avoidance of doubt, capitalized terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Section 3(b)(x) of the Plan allows the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), as Plan Administrator, to adopt such amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Board at its December 16, 2021 regular meeting established a cap or upper limit for the Total Transaction Value at $2,300,000,000.00 (the “Cap”);

 

WHEREAS, the Plan also inadvertently applies the limitation of the Cap (i.e., $2.3 billion) on the Net Proceeds from the Aspen/AIRO Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Board now desires to make the correction to the Plan to remove such Cap from applying to the Net Proceeds from the Aspen/AIRO Merger but retain the Cap as applied to the Total Transaction Value for the entire AIRO Group (including Aspen and the other combined entities); and

 

WHEREAS, the Board authorized and empowered the undersigned, as an authorized officer of the Company, to take such actions and to execute such other certificates, instruments, amendments, documents and notices as may be required, or as the undersigned may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate, in order to implement the foregoing.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board, on behalf of the Company, hereby amends the Plan as follows:

 

1. The definition of “Net Proceeds” is amended to read as follows:

 

“Net Proceeds” means, with respect to a Change of Control, the net sum of any cash and the fair market value of any securities or other property available for distribution to equity holders of the Company from the Total Transaction Value in connection with a Change of Control after all liabilities attributed to Aspen in the transaction (whether estimated or definite, including all investment banking fees and transaction costs, but excluding subordinated notes or bridge loans from Company equity holders or their Affiliates), as determined by the Plan Administrator, are paid, satisfied, reserved for or assumed. For the avoidance of doubt, Net Proceeds includes (i) any liabilities, which would typically be excluded from enterprise value (which specifically excludes working capital liabilities with an accepted working capital covenant in the transaction) assumed in the Change of Control (including, without limitation, the Indebtedness Assumed in the AIRO/Aspen Merger), and (ii) Post-Closing Payments; provided, however, that payments that derive from Post-Closing Payments shall be delayed until after such Post-Closing Payments themselves actually are made and received and shall be based upon the actual amounts of Post-Closing Payments made and received. The fair market value of any securities or other property available for distribution in connection with a Change of Control will be determined for purposes of calculation under the Plan on the same basis on which such securities were valued in the Change of Control. Any calculation under the Plan that is based on “Net Proceeds” shall disregard any effect the Plan or the payment of any amount under the Plan may have on the actual consideration to be distributed in the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the definition of Net Proceeds provided above shall be modified as follows solely with respect to a Two-Step Transaction Change of Control: (i) the term “cash” shall include Indebtedness Assumed; and (ii) the phrase “the fair market value of any securities … available for distribution to equity holders of the Company” shall mean the AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock FMV determined upon closing of the SPAC Merger or IPO (whichever is earlier).

 

2. The definition of “Total Transaction Value” is amended to read as follows:

 

Total Transaction Value” means, with respect to a Two-Step Change of Control, means the AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock FMV as of the closing date or effective time of the Two-Step Change of Control, subject to the $2.3 billion cap or upper limit on the Total Transaction Value set forth below in Section 2.2(a)(ii).

 

3. A new definition shall be added for AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock FMV, to be inserted into alphabetical order in Section 1 (Definitions) of the Plan:

 

AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock FMV” means an amount equal to one issued and outstanding share of AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock, multiplied by the value attributed to such share in the closing of the Two-Step Transaction Change of Control (i.e., the value per such share stated in the merger agreement for the SPAC Merger, or trading price of such share listed or quoted on the primary national securities exchange for such share as of the close of trading on the first day of trading in connection with the IPO, multiplied by all of the issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group Holdings Common Stock (immediately prior to the closing of the Two-Step Transaction Change of Control)).

 

4. A new definition shall be added for Separation from Service, to be inserted into alphabetical order in Section 1 (Definitions) of the Plan:

 

“Separation from Service” has the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h) including the default presumptions thereunder.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank – Signature Page Follows]

 

2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Todd Hauge
    Todd Hauge, Executive Vice President – Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions

 

[Signature Page to Amendment of the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN

 

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of November 16, 2023, by Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company adopted the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”) on December 16, 2021. For the avoidance of doubt, capitalized terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Section 3(b)(x) of the Plan allows the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, as Plan Administrator, to adopt such amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined it to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Plan to modify timing of the Two-Step Change of Control determination from September 30, 2023 to January 31, 2024; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board authorized and empowered the undersigned, as an authorized officer of the Company, to take such actions and to execute such other certificates, instruments, amendments, documents and notices as may be required, or as the undersigned may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate, in order to implement the foregoing.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board, on behalf of the Company, hereby amends the Plan as follows:

 

1. The last two sentences of the definition of “Change of Control” is amended to read as follows:

 

A “Two-Step Change of Control” means both the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger and the closing of either the SPAC Merger or the IPO (whichever is earlier) occurs by January 31, 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger does not constitute a General Change of Control unless the AIRO/Aspen Merger is consummated and either the SPAC Merger or the IPO occur by January 31, 2024.

 

2. Section 2(g) is amended to read as follows:

 

(g) Expiration. The Plan and all Benefits thereunder expire on January 31, 2024.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank – Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
    John Uczekaj, CEO
     
  /s/ Brian Birk
  Brian Birk, as Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment of the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

2023 OMNIBUS AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN

 

THIS 2023 OMNIBUS AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of July 12, 2023, by Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company adopted the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”) on December 16, 2021, as amended by that certain Amendment to the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan dated November 17, 2022. For the avoidance of doubt, capitalized terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Section 3(b)(x) of the Plan allows the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), as Plan Administrator, to adopt such amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Board desires to amend the Plan to (i) modify timing of the Benefit Pool determination and subsequent share issuance, (ii) permit the Company to enter into certain transactions necessary for the Company’s tax obligations, (iii) adjust the cash portion of the Benefit allocated to the Participants, and (iv) devolve authority of the Plan Administrator to the Chairman of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Board authorized and empowered the undersigned, as an authorized officer of the Company, to take such actions and to execute such other certificates, instruments, amendments, documents and notices as may be required, or as the undersigned may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate, in order to implement the foregoing.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board, on behalf of the Company, hereby amends the Plan and all agreements and instruments issued or to be issued pursuant thereto (collectively, the “Plan Documents”) as follows:

 

  1. Amendments.

 

(a) The Benefit Pool, including all Benefits paid under the Plan and the Plan Documents, may be determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the closing of the Two-Step Change of Control. Further, the stock payable may be issued to Participants in advance of the closing of the Two-Step Change of Control, as determined by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b) The Plan Administrator may enter into certain transactions to facilitate and minimize the Company’s tax withholding obligations associated with the Benefit payments, including but not limited to “sell to cover” or “net share issuance” transactions to satisfy the Company’s obligations arising from the issuance of stock to the Participants.

 

1
 

 

(c) The Plan Administrator may increase (or decrease, as the case may be), the cash portion of the Benefit allocated to the Participants and any increase (decrease) in cash will result in a corresponding dollar-for-dollar decrease (increase) in the stock otherwise payable to the Participants.

 

(d) Brian Birk is hereby appointed as the Plan Administrator with such authority and all reasonable and prudent powers necessary for purposes of accomplishing the foregoing specified duties and amendments. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, the Board retains all authority and powers as Plan Administrator under the Plan.

 

  2. Brian Birk hereby accepts the authority and power as the Plan Administrator under the Plan as outlined in this Amendment.

 

  3. Except as amended by this Amendment, the Plan and all agreements and instruments issued pursuant thereto remain in all respects unchanged and unamended.

 

[End of Amendment; Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank – Signature Page Follows]

 

2
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
    John Uczekaj, CEO

 

  /s/ Brian Birk
  Brian Birk, as Chairman

 

[Signature Page to 2023 Omnibus Amendment of the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT
CARVEOUT PLAN

 

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN Amendment is entered into as of July 11, 2024, by Aspen Avionics, Inc., Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company adopted the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan on December 16, 2021. For the avoidance of doubt, capitalized terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Section 3(b)(x) of the Plan allows the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, as Plan Administrator, to adopt such amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company Board has determined it to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Plan to modify timing of the Two-Step Change of Control determination from January 31, 2024 to September 30, 2024; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board authorized and empowered the undersigned, as an authorized officer of the Company, to take such actions and to execute such other certificates, instruments, amendments, documents and notices as may be required, or as the undersigned may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate, in order to implement the foregoing.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board, on behalf of the Company, hereby amends the Plan as follows:

 

  1. The last two sentences of the Change of Control as follows:

 

A means both the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger and the closing of either the SPAC Merger or the IPO (whichever is earlier) occurs by September 30, 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger does not constitute a General Change of Control unless the AIRO/Aspen Merger is consummated and either the SPAC Merger or the IPO occur by September 30, 2024.

 

  2. Section 2(g) is amended to read as follows:

 

(g) Expiration. The Plan and all Benefits thereunder expire on September 30, 2024.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank Signature Page Follows]

 

1
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
   
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
    John Uczekaj, CEO

 

  :/s/ Brian Birk
  Brian Birk, as Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment of the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT
CARVEOUT PLAN

 

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE ASPEN AVIONICS, INC. 2021 MANAGEMENT CARVEOUT PLAN (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of December 2, 2024, by Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company adopted the Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2021 Management Carveout Plan (the “Plan”) on December 16, 2021. For the avoidance of doubt, capitalized terms herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Section 3(b)(x) of the Plan allows the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, as Plan Administrator, to adopt such amendments to the Plan that are not anticipated to have a material financial impact on the Plan or the Company or a material adverse effect on Participants;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined it to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Plan to modify timing of the Two-Step Change of Control determination from September 30, 2024 to March 31, 2025;

 

WHEREAS, the Board authorized and empowered the undersigned, as an authorized officer of the Company, to take such actions and to execute such other certificates, instruments, amendments, documents and notices as may be required, or as the undersigned may deem necessary, advisable or appropriate, in order to implement the foregoing.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board, on behalf of the Company, hereby amends the Plan as follows:

 

1.The last two sentences of the definition of “Change of Control” are amended to read as follows:

 

A “Two-Step Change of Control” means both the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger and the closing of either the SPAC Merger or the IPO (whichever is earlier) occur by March 31, 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the closing of the AIRO/Aspen Merger does not constitute a General Change of Control unless the AIRO/Aspen Merger is consummated and either the SPAC Merger or the IPO occur by March 31, 2025.

 

2.Section 2(g) is amended to read as follows:

 

  (g) Expiration. The Plan and all Benefits thereunder expire on March 31, 2025.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank Signature Page Follows]

 

1
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

COMPANY:  
     
ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.  
     
By: /s/ John Uczekaj  
Name: John Uczekaj  
Title: CEO  
     
By: /s/ Brian Birk  
Name: Brian Birk  
Title: Chairman  

 

2

 

 

Exhibit 10.14

 

CONFIDENTIAL Execution Version

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

BY AND AMONG

 

AGILE DEFENSE, LLC,

 

Joseph Burns, solely in his capacity as Target Representative,

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.,

 

AND

 

AGILE DEFENSE MERGER SUB, LLC

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS - 2 -
     
ARTICLE II THE MERGER - 2 -
2.1 The Merger - 2 -
2.2 Closing - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Effective Time - 4 -
2.5 Effects of the Merger - 4 -
2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws - 4 -
2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers - 4 -
2.8 Effect of the Merger on Target Company Membership Interest - 4 -
2.9 Dissenting Interests - 5 -
2.10 Surrender and Payment - 5 -
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Membership Interest - 6 -
2.12 Adjustments - 6 -
2.13 Withholding Rights - 6 -
2.14 Lost Certificates - 6 -
2.15 Closing Adjustments - 7 -
2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet - 8 -
2.17 PPP Escrow Amount - 8 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 8 -
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 9 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval - 9 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents - 10 -
3.4 Capitalization - 10 -
3.5 Subsidiaries - 11 -
3.6 Financial Statements - 11 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 12 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions - 12 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 14 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property - 15 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets - 16 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 16 -

 

i
 

 

3.13 Inventory - 17-
3.14 Accounts Receivable - 18 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 18 -
3.16 Insurance - 18 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders - 19 -
3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits - 19 -
3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 20 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 23 -
3.21 Taxes - 24 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 26 -
3.23 Books and Records - 26 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 27 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 27 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney - 27 -
3.27 Brokers - 27 -
3.28 CARES Act Matters - 27 -
3.29 Indebtedness - 27 -
3.30 Full Disclosure - 127 -
     
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB - 28 -
4.1 Organization and Authority - 28 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents - 28 -
4.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 28 -
4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations - 29 -
4.5 Brokers - 29 -
4.6 Legal Proceedings - 29 -
4.7 Full Disclosure - 29 -
4.8 Capitalization of Holdings - 29 -
4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group - 30 -
     
ARTICLE V COVENANTS - 30 -
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing - 30 -
5.2 Access to Information - 31 -
5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 32 -
5.4 Target Company Members Consent - 32 -
5.5 Notice of Certain Events - 33 -
5.6 Reserved - 33 -

 

ii
 

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents - 33 -
5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 35 -
5.9 Closing Conditions - 36 -
5.10 Public Announcements - 36 -
5.11 New Board - 36 -
5.12 Equity Securities - 36 -
5.13 Disclosure Schedules - 37 -
5.14 Employees - 37 -
5.15 Audit Expenses - 37 -
5.16 Further Assurances - 37 -
     
ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS - 37 -
6.1 Tax Covenants - 37 -
6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 37 -
6.3 Tax Indemnification - 38 -
6.4 Tax Returns - 38 -
6.5 Straddle Period - 39 -
6.6 Contests - 39 -
6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information - 39 -
6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 40 -
6.9 Payments to Holdings - 40 -
6.10 FIRPTA Statement - 40 -
6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction - 40 -
6.12 Survival - 40 -
6.13 Overlap - 40 -
     
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 40 -
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties - 40 -
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings - 41 -
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company - 42 -
     
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION - 43 -
8.1 Survival - 43 -
8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Members - 43 -
8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group - 44 -
8.4 Certain Limitations - 44 -
8.5 Indemnification Procedures - 45 -
8.6 Payments; Setoff - 46 -
8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 46 -

 

iii
 

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation - 46 -
8.9 Exclusive Remedies - 47 -
     
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION - 47 -
9.1 Termination - 47 -
9.2 Effect of Termination - 48 -
     
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS - 48 -
10.1 Target Representative - 48 -
10.2 Expenses - 50 -
10.3 Notices - 50 -
10.4 Interpretation - 51 -
10.5 Headings - 51 -
10.6 Severability - 51 -
10.7 Entire Agreement - 51 -
10.8 Successors and Assigns - 51 -
10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries - 52 -
10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 52 -
10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 52 -
10.12 Arbitration Procedure - 53 -
10.13 Specific Performance - 54 -
10.14 Counterparts - 54 -
10. 15 Representation Disclosure - 54 -
10.16 Certain Acknowledgments - 55 -
10.17 Unwind - 55 -

 

iv
 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Target Company”), Joseph Burns (“Target Representative”), AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly- incorporated Delaware corporation, AIRO Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings (“AIRO Group”) and Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC, a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub” and together with Target Company, Target Representative and Holdings, each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of Target Company’s equity in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and Promissory Notes through a reverse subsidiary merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with and into Target Company, whereby Target Company will be the Surviving Entity thereof, and Holdings shall be the sole owner of the Surviving Entity after the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Target Company Board has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, are in the best interests of the Target Company and the Target Company Members, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Target Company Members in accordance with the Act and all other applicable Laws;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement, Target Company shall seek to obtain, in accordance with the Act, a written consent of its members approving this Agreement, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act;

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub and their respective stockholders or members, as applicable, and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex D), Holdings will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex D (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex E (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the aggregate amount of the merger consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

- 1 -

 

 

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

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE MERGER

 

2.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Act, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Target Company, and (b) the separate company existence of Merger Sub will cease and Target Company will continue its company existence under the Act as the Surviving Entity in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Target Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (2) resolutions of the Target Company Members approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, and (3) the Target Company’s articles of organization and operating agreement, and all amendments thereto (the “Target Organization Documents”), (b) with respect to the resolutions of the Target Company Board and Target Company Members, all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the Target Organization Documents, such documents are in full force and effect, and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

- 2 -

 

 

(iv) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(v) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.16;

 

(vi) the FIRPTA Statement;

 

(vii) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Target Representative and the PPP Escrow Agent; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Target Company (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) each of the Promissory Notes made payable to each Target Company Member and in the principal amounts set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet duly executed by Holdings;

 

(ii) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Target Company Member in accordance with such Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(iii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders or members, as applicable, of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (2) the certificates of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, and all amendments thereto, of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, (b) with respect to the resolutions, that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the certificates of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, such documents are in full force and effect and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(v) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(vi) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdings; and

 

(vii) such other documents or instruments as Target Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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2.4 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Target Company, on one hand, and Holdings and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall cause a certificate of merger or similar document effecting the Merger with respect to Target Company and Merger Sub (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C (attached hereto and incorporated herein fully by this reference) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the Act. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger (or similar document) has been duly filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C, or at such later date or time as may be agreed by such Target Company and Holdings in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Act (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.5 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation or articles of organization, as applicable, of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation or articles of organization, as applicable, of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the operating agreement of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended or terminated, at Holdings’ sole discretion, in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of such Surviving Entity or as provided by applicable Law. Additionally, in each case, that the name of the corporation or company set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Target Company.

 

2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers. The directors, managers and officers of the Target Company, in each case, as appropriate, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors, managers and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of organization and operating agreement of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.8 Effect of the Merger on Target Company Membership Interest. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Target Company or any Target Company Member:

 

(a) Each Target Company Membership Interest or such other equity security that are issued and outstanding in respect of Target Company (the “Interests”) (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be converted into the right to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration at the time and subject to the contingencies specified herein.

 

(b) Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable membership interest of the Surviving Entity.

 

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2.9 Dissenting Interests. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.8, Interests issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights in accordance with Act (such Interests being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Interests” until such time as such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Act with respect to such Interests) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by the Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to dissent pursuant to the Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by the Act, such Interests shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.8(a), without interest thereon. The Target Company shall provide Holdings prompt written notice of any demands received by the Target Company for appraisal of Interests, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Target Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Act that relates to such demand, and Holdings shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Target Company shall give notice to Target Company Members of their right to dissent and such notice shall comply with the Act. Except with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Target Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

2.10 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, all Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.9, either (i) each holder of a certificate formerly representing any Interests (each, a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights as a member of the Target Company; or (ii) in the case of uncertificated Interests, such holder shall cease to have any rights as a member of the Target Company without any further action.

 

(b) Holdings, or a transfer agent appointed by Holdings, shall act as the exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”).

 

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall mail to each holder of Target Company Membership Interest a letter of transmittal in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties (a “Letter of Transmittal”) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for the applicable portion of Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.8(a). Holdings shall, no later than the later of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Certificate, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and any other customary documents that Holdings may reasonably require in connection therewith, deliver to the holder of such Certificate such holder’s portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(a) with respect to such Certificate so surrendered and the Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Target Company Membership Interest (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all purposes, to evidence the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(a). If after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to Holdings, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.10.

 

(d) Each Target Company Member shall also be entitled to any amounts that may be payable in the future in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as provided in this Agreement and the Promissory Notes, at the respective time and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein. Unless otherwise provided herein or in the Promissory Notes, no interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of Target Company Members on the Promissory Note Principal Amount.

 

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(e) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment or delivery shall pay to Holdings any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed by the Target Company Members ninety (90) days after the Effective Time shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand, and any such Target Company Member who has not exchanged Certificates for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.10 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Holdings for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings shall not be liable to any holder of Certificates for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by Target Company Members two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Holdings free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(g) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Interests shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand.

 

2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Membership Interest. All Merger Consideration delivered or deliverable upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered or deliverable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Interests on the transfer books of the Surviving Entity. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

2.12 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding Interests of the Target Company shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of Interests, or any dividend or distribution paid in Interests, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2.13 Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

2.14 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Holdings, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Holdings may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

 

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2.15 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the amount of outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing and the resulting Transaction Expense Adjustment, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Target Representative to reach such mutual agreement will not give any party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the Closing Working Capital is less than seventy-five percent (75%) of Target Working Capital the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital; (ii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital; or (iii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is within seventy-five percent (75%) and one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Target Working Capital, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Working Capital Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from or added to, as the case may be) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes.

 

(c) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the amount of Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target, the amount by which the Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target or (ii) in the event Indebtedness at Closing is less than or equal to the Indebtedness Target, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Indebtedness Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes.

 

(d) The “Transaction Expense Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Transaction Expenses that remain upaid at Closing as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Transaction Expense Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes.

 

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2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Note Principal Amount deliverable in connection with the Merger, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein.

 

(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Target Company Members and the number of Target Company Membership Interest held by such Persons;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Interest Amount; and

 

(iii) each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Holdings Equity portion and the Promissory Notes portion of the Merger Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings and Merger Sub shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.17 PPP Escrow Amount. Holdings and the Target Representative hereby agree that the PPP Escrow Amount shall be held by the PPP Escrow Agent in the PPP Escrow Account, in accordance with the PPP Escrow Agreement; provided, however, Holdings and the Target Representative shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter) deliver a joint written instruction to the PPP Escrow Agent, pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement, instructing the PPP Escrow Agent to release the PPP Escrow Amount to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share) upon the date on which the Target Company receives an SBA Determination; provided further, however, that if such SBA Determination indicates that less than 100% of the PPP Loan has been forgiven, then such joint written instruction shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release (a) only a portion of the PPP Escrow Amount that is equal to the amount of the PPP Loan that has been forgiven (if any) to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share), and (b) the remainder to Holdings.

 

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization as shown on Annex A and has full company power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

3.2 Authority; Board Approval.

 

(a) Target Company has full company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of Target Company Members representing a majority of the outstanding Interests or such vote required under the Target Company Charter Documents (“Requisite Target Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite company action on the part of the Target Company and no other company proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote. The Requisite Target Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Target Company’s membership interests required to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

(b) The Target Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors or managers of the Target Company duly called and held and, as of the hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, if applicable to it, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Target Company Members, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the Act, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Target Company Members for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Target Company Members adopt the “plan of merger” (if applicable to it) set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Target Company Board Recommendation”) and directed that such matter be submitted for consideration of the Target Company Members at the Target Company Members Meeting or, in lieu of such meeting, for approval by written consent of the Target Company Members pursuant to the Act.

 

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3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) subject to, in the case of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Target Company Vote, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized Interests of the Target Company and the number of Interests that are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Interests and the Interests owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue membership interests, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding Target Company Membership Interest (or other equity securities) are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Target Company Membership Interest were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Target Company Membership Interest is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company, except pursuant to appraisal rights in the Act. There are no outstanding or authorized appreciation rights, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the Interests (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co-sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Target Company Membership Interest or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Holdings, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules regulations or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein, except that Target Company may raise up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) in seed capital;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

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(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(o) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, membership interests (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(p) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

(q) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

(s) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its members or current or former directors, officers and employees; of business;

 

(t) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

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(u) except for the Merger and the adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(v) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(w) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or equity of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(x) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(y) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of equity or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of equity, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party, and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

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(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Holdings.

 

3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent, and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

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(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. No material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Target Company IP Registrations.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

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(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

 

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3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Target Company not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). There are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Holdings. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

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3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non-U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing. All of such permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, accreditations, certificates, registrations and authorizations will be available for use by the Target Company immediately after the Closing.

 

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(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected. Except as disclosed in Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Personal Information has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred or disclosed by any Person on behalf of the Target Company. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Holdings accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

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(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

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(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post- termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Holdings and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

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3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the audited balance sheet contained in the Closing Working Capital Statement) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

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(d) The Target Company has complied with the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would trigger the WARN Act.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

(f) Section 3.21(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Target Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed; and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.

 

(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(i) The Target Company has delivered to Holdings copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

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(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(k) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(m) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(n) Any Target Company which is taxed as a C corporation will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

(o) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(p) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(q) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

(r) With respect to any Target Company that is subject to taxation in the United States of America, there is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Target Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(s) The Target Company is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

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(t) Section 3.21(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

(u) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(v) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and member record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Holdings, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Target Company Members, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Target Company Members, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

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3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or of the Interests (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 CARES Act Matters. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the CARES Act stimulus or relief programs (the “CARES Act Programs”) in which the Target Company is participating or has participated and the amount of funds requested or received by the Target Company under each CARES Act Program. The Target Company has made available to each other Party true, correct and complete copies of all applications, forms and other documents filed or submitted by the Target Company relating to any CARES Act Program, and all statements and information contained in such applications, forms and other documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All funds received by the Target Company under all CARES Act Programs (the “CARES Act Funds”) have been used by the Target Company in compliance in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms, and the Target Company has maintained accounting and other records relating to the CARES Act Funds and the use thereof that comply in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms (including records that track the costs and other expenses for which the CARES Act Funds have been used), true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available by the Target Company to the other parties.

 

3.29 Indebtedness. Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.30 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Target Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Holdings or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

 

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Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF

HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Organization and Authority. Holdings is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Holdings has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company and corporate action on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub enforceable against Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

4.3 Tax Status of Holdings. Holdings is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings always has been taxed as a corporation since its inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

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4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.5 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub.

 

4.6 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’ AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

4.7 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

4.8 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Annex E sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Merger, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”).

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex E, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

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(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

(b) (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

Article V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

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(b) pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

(c) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(i) not incur any Indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business or other than that set forth in Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedules; and

 

(j) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

5.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement between Holdings and the Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

(c) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

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5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

5.4 Target Company Members Consent.

 

(a) Target Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Target Company Vote pursuant to written consents of the Target Company Members in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Written Consent”), with such amendments as shall be appropriate to reflect the transactions with respect to the other Parties. The materials submitted to the Target Company Members in connection with the Written Consent shall include the Target Company Board Recommendation, together with the information required by the Act. Promptly following receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall deliver a copy of such Written Consent to Holdings.

 

(b) Promptly following, but in no event later than five Business Days after, receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Target Company Member Notice”) to every Target Company Member that did not execute the Written Consent. The Target Company Member Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Target Company Board determined in accordance with the Act that the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) is advisable in accordance with the Act and in the best interests of the Target Company Members and unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) provide the Target Company Members to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Written Consent, including the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act and the bylaws of the Target Company and (iii) if applicable, notify such Target Company Members of their dissent rights pursuant to the Act. The Target Company Member Notice shall include therewith a copy of Section 262 of the Act, if applicable, and all such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request. All materials submitted to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall be subject to Holdings’ advance review and reasonable approval.

 

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5.5 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by the Target Company hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Target Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall provide prompt written notice to Target Company when any of the Other Business Combination Party Agreements are executed and closed, or if there is any material breach, material amendment, or termination of such Other Business Combination Agreements.

 

(c) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Target Company in this Agreement (including Sections 8.2 and 9.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

5.6 Reserved.

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

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(b) Target Company and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.7 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Holdings and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b) For six years after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, the Surviving Entity, (the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Entity’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings shall not (and shall cause the Surviving Entity not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither Holdings, the Surviving Entity nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

 

(d) The obligations of Holdings and the Surviving Entity under this Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8).

 

(e) In the event Holdings, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity or entity in such consolidation or Merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Holdings or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

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5.9 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.

 

5.10 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

5.11 New Board. Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made by a simple majority vote of each New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of each New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which each New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of each New Board, Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of each New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 5.11. At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to the New Board, Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that Holdings has complied fully with its obligations in this Section 5.11.

 

5.12 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

 

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

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5.13 Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete Disclosure Schedules shall be provided by each Party to this Agreement to each other Party to this Agreement on or before the Termination Date. In the event the Target Company (the “Breaching Target Company”) either (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Target Company, then Holdings shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1(b).

 

5.14 Employees. At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

5.15 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s audited financial statements in connection with SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Target Representative, up to $100,000, for further distribution to the Target Company Members, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

5.16 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Target Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Article VI

TAX MATTERS

 

6.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Target Company Members shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings or the Surviving Entity in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Target Company Members. The Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Target Company Members when due. Target Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

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6.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries, Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Target Company Members pursuant to this Section 6.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

6.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Holdings shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Holdings to Target Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Target Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Target Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Holdings in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Holdings and Target Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Holdings and Target Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Holdings of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Holdings and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Holdings and Target Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Holdings. In accordance with Section 8.6, Holdings shall be entitled to offset against any amounts owed to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes (i) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and (ii) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital.

 

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(c) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, Holdings is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by Holdings or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members, including with respect to the Promissory Notes.

 

6.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

6.6 Contests. Holdings agrees to give written notice to Target Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings pursuant to this Article VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Target Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Target Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Target Representative.

 

6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Target Representative, the Target Company or Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

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6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Merger Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

6.9 Payments to Holdings. Any amounts payable to Holdings pursuant to this Article VI shall be satisfied: (i) by set-off against any amounts owed under the Promissory Notes in accordance with Section 8.6; and (ii) to the extent such amounts exceed the amount outstanding under the Promissory Notes, from the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

6.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIRPTA Statement”).

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties intend that the Target Company Membership Interest exchanged for Holdings Equity pursuant to the Merger are tax-deferred contributions of capital by the Target Company Members in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code. The Promissory Note Principal Amount is to be treated for income tax purposes as a sale of Target Company Membership Interest by the Target Company Members to Holdings. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

6.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.21 and this Article VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

6.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VI, the provisions of this Article VI shall govern.

 

Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

(b) The filings of Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

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(d) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked..

 

(e) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

(f) Holdings must have received a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter (or similar written indication) from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. The obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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(d) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

(g) Holders of no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding Target Company Membership Interests as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the aggregate, shall have exercised, or remain entitled to exercise, appraisal rights pursuant to the Act with respect to such Target Company Membership Interests.

 

(h) Target Company shall have received the consent of each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness to consummate the transactions set forth in this Agreement and provided satisfactory evidence of such consent to Holdings and Merger Sub.

 

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5, the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

(b) Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority shall have been obtained.

 

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Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Members. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); provided, that (i) claims for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Target Company Members, pursuant to this Agreement, the Target Company Members representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Target Company Members;

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Sellers or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VI);

 

(c) any claim made by any Target Company Member relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Holdings Equity, the Promissory Notes, or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

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(d) any amounts paid to the holders of Dissenting Interests of Target Company, including any interest required to be paid thereon, that are in excess of what such holders would have received hereunder had such holders not been holders of Dissenting Interests;

 

(e) any Transaction Expenses of Target Company outstanding as of the Closing to the extent not paid or satisfied by Target Company at or prior to the Closing, or if paid by Holdings or Merger Sub at or prior to the Closing; and

 

(f) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, or Indebtedness, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission or misstatement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, Holdings and AIRO Group shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend the Target Company Members, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Target Company Member Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Target Company Member Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI).

 

8.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article VIII, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

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8.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article VIII, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative. Any payment received by Target Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Target Company Member, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Target Representative and Holdings shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

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(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article VI hereof.

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members, including with respect to the Promissory Notes, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Target Company Members (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be.

 

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8.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 10.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or intentional misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. Nothing in this Section 8.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

Article IX

TERMINATION

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

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

 

(b) by Holdings by written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) none of Holdings, AIRO Group nor Merger Sub is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

(c) by Target Company by written notice to Holdings if:

 

(i) Target Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub within ten days of Holdings’, AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

 

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(d) by Holdings or by Target Company if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) By Holdings if two days prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Target Company shall not have delivered to Holdings a copy of the executed Written Consent evidencing receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article IX, Section 5.2(b) and Article X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Target Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Target Company Member shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Joseph Burns as the initial Target Representative. The Target Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and the Promissory Notes and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Target Representative pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.15;

 

(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Holdings pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

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(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Target Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Target Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

Holdings shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Target Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VIII) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Target Company Member by Target Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Target Company Member by Target Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Target Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Target Company Members. Any decision or action by Target Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Target Representative and Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Target Company Members and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Target Company Member shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Target Company Members, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

(b) The Target Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 10.1(b).

 

(i) The Target Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Target Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Target Company Members according to each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Target Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Target Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Target Representative.

 

(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Target Representative, a new Target Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Target Representative shall be sent to Holdings, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Holdings; provided, that until such notice is received, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Target Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

(c) The Target Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Target Company Members. If the Target Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Target Representative, the Target Representative must notify the Target Company Members.

 

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(d) The Target Representative shall not be liable to the Target Company Members for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Target Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Target Company Members shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Target Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Target Representative under this Agreement and the Promissory Notes (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Target Representative, Target Representative shall reimburse the Target Company Members the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied by the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares).

 

10.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, Holdings shall be responsible for reimbursing Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

10.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.3):

 

If to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub:

 

c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87119

Attn: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attn: Kate Bechen

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

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If to Target Company or Target Representative:

 

Agile Defense, LLC

17881 Blackbird Trail

Hastings, MN 55033

Attn: Joseph Burns

Attention: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

10.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

10.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the Surviving Entity, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings, and Holdings shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

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10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.8, Section 6.3 and Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Requisite Target Company Vote is obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that, pursuant to applicable Law, requires further approval of the Target Company Members, without the receipt of such further approvals. Any failure of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or Target Company, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub) or by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (with respect to any failure by such Target Company), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11(c).

 

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10.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”); provided that nothing in this Section 10.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Target Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Target Company Member Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Target Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 10.12. If Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

(d) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 10.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Target Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Target Company Members and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

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(e) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(f) Holdings, on the one hand, and the Target Company Members, on the other hand, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(g) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

10.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

10.14 Counterparts. 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

 

10.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

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10.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange Interests pursuant to a Merger in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings has retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Surviving Entity, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

10.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger or IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger or IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of membership interests. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Members to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Members) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such the former Target Company Member) as part of the Rescission process.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET COMPANY:
   
  AGILE DEFENSE, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability
   
  By /s/ Joseph Burns
  Name: Joseph Burns
  Its: CEO

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  HOLDINGS:
   
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Dplawateliparporation
   
  By /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AIRO GROUP:
   
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Delawansioerporation
   
  By. /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MERGER SUB:
   
  AGILE DEFENSE MERGER SUB, LLC,
  a Delawaneklitaiied liability company
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  Joseph Burns, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
                            
  By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Name: Joseph Burns

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

Act” means, with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, as applicable, the respective laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, authorizing its formation or incorporation, valid existence, and company or corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

AIRO Group” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Promissory Notes, and each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6. “Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or a similar provision of Law.

 

CARES Act Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Programs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Terms” means all terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority for the receipt of any funds under any CARES Act Program.

 

Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

 
 

 

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

 

Contribution Interest” means the aggregate Target Company Membership Interest to be contributed to Holdings by the Target Company Members, and subsequently cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a).

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Holdings will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, and deferred Tax liabilities, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

 
 

 

Dissenting Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Fully Diluted Interest Amount” means the aggregate number of Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Members in exchange for the Contribution Interest as set forth on Annex B.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

 
 

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f); and (h) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g).

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indebtedness Target” means $0.00.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Target Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

 
 

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

“Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

 

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

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

 

Merger Consideration” means the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Notes that the Target Company Members shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

 
 

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual, including any record that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual.

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

PPP Escrow Account” means the segregated account in which the PPP Escrow Amount is held by the PPP Escrow Agent pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement.

 

PPP Escrow Agent” means for Target Company, the bank that provided the PPP Loan to Target Company.

 

PPP Escrow Agreement” means an agreement by and among the Target Representative, the PPP Escrow Agent and Holdings in form and substance acceptable to the parties.

 

PPP Escrow Amount” means, with respect to a Target Company, the full amount of principal and interest due in respect of the PPP Loan.

 

PPP Loan” means, with respect to any Target Company, the loan made to the Target Company by a bank pursuant to that certain promissory note under the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (pursuant to the CARES Act).

 

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

 

 

 

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

Promissory Note Principal Amount” means the principal amount set forth in Annex B

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Target Company Member such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, determined by dividing (a) the Interest owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Effective time, by (b) the Fully Diluted Interest Amount.

 

Promissory Notes” means the Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount equal to the Promissory Note Principal Amount, to be issued by Holdings at Closing for the benefit of the Target Company Members, in form and substance satisfactory to the Parties.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).

 

Requisite Target Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

 

Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

SBA Determination” means the final and nonappealable written determination of the SBA that the PPP Loan is forgiven (in part or in full) or not pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (under the CARES Act).

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Interests, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

 

 

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

Target Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Target Company Member” means a holder of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

Target Company Membership Interest” has the meaning provided in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

Target Company Member Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

Target Company Member Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Target Organization Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii).

 

Target Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Working Capital” means a TTM normalized level of Closing Working Capital, as agreed upon by the Parties prior to the Closing, and determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

 

 

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

 

 “Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).

 

Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

 

 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE CONSIDERATION

 

 

Name of Entity  Aggregate Percentage of Holdings Common Stock *   Aggregate Number of Holdings Common Stock (Holdings Equity)**   Promissory Note Principal Amount*** 
Column A  Column B   Column C   Column D 
To Target Company Members    0%   0   $2,300,000 

 

*Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

**Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

*** Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate principal amount of Promissory Notes issued to Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

 

 

 

ANNEX C

 

PARTIES

 

  Name of Office where   Name of Office   Surviving Entity  
    Certificate of Merger   where Certificate of   of the Merger (the  
    will be filed for the   Merger will be filed   “Surviving   Governing
Name of Party   Surviving Entity   for the Party   Entity”)   Law
                 

Agile Defense, LLC

 

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

 

Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota

 

Agile Defense, LLC

 

Minnesota and Delaware

 

 

 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization  

Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income

Taxes*

  Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
                 
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)   Partnership   AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)   AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware
                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)   Partnership   Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)   Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware
                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation   Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen Merger Sub”)   Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation   Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal Merger Sub”)   Coastal   Pennsylvani a and Delaware
                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt”)   C Corporation   Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt Merger Sub”)   Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch   TBD   Sky-Watch Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sky-Watch Merger Sub”)   Sky-Watch   Denmark and Delaware
                 
VRCO LTD, an English company (“VRCO”)   TBD  

VRCO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VRCO Merger Sub”)

  VRCO   England and Delaware

 

 

 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 

 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

December 13, 2021

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC, Agile Defense, LLC and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 10.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AGILE DEFENSE, LLC
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman     CEO
         
         
AGILE DEFENSE MERGER SUB, LLC   JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   Joseph Burns, individually
  Executive Chairman      
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.      
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria      
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,      
  Executive Chairman      

 

 

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

February 25, 2022

 

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC, Agile Defense, LLC, and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 13, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedules are now complete and final.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to confirm the satisfaction and/or waiver of all conditions to Closing to facilitate an efficient Closing process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. In Section 3.6(a), the clause “are included in the Disclosure Schedules” at the end of the final sentence is replaced with “have been provided to Holdings.”

 

b. Section 5.8(c) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(c) [Reserved].

 

 

 

 

c. Section 5.13 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

5.13 [Reserved].

 

d. Section 6.11 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The Promissory Note Principal Amount is to be treated for income tax purposes as a sale of Target Company Membership Interest by the Target Company Members to Holdings. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

e. The contact information for Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111. E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202 Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

f. Both references to March 31, 2022 in Section 10.17 are replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

g. The definition of “D&O Tail Policy” in Annex A is deleted in its entirety.

 

h. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

i. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

j. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

k. The following clause is deleted from the end of the definition of “Transaction Expenses” on Annex A: “including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).”

 

l. Annex D is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex D attached hereto.

 

m. Annex E is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex E attached hereto.

 

 

 

 

2. The final Disclosure Schedules for Target Company are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

3. The final Disclosure Schedules for Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

4. The Parties agree that the following deliverables due on or before Closing shall be postponed to post-Closing and shall be delivered no later than March 4, 2022:

 

a. Target Company’s final Closing Statement pursuant to Section 2.15(a);

 

b. Target Company’s final Consideration Spreadsheet pursuant to Section 2.16(b);

 

c. The Promissory Note, signed by the Parties.

 

5. The Parties agree that all other conditions to Closing set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement are either satisfied or hereby waived as of the date hereof.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AGILE DEFENSE, LLC
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman     CEO
         
         
AGILE DEFENSE MERGER SUB, LLC   JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   Joseph Burns, individually
  Executive Chairman      
  Manager      
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.      
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,      
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,      
  Executive Chairman      

 

 

 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization  

Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income Taxes

  Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
                 
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)   Partnership   AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company   AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware
                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)   Partnership   Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company   Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware
                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation   Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation   Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation   Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation   Coastal   Pennsylvani a and Delaware
                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt”)   C Corporation   Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company   Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch   TBD   N/A   Sky-Watch   Denmark and Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Reserved Equity Pool   1,727,273 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

AIRO Group, Holdings, and Merger Sub Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

August 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Agile Defense, LLC and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). Agile Defense Merger Sub, LLC is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into Agile Defense, LLC on February 25, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by August 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 10.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows: “SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings.”

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AGILE DEFENSE, LLC
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   By: /s/ Joseph Burns,
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman     Manager
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.   JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   Joseph Burns, individually

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.15

 

CONFIDENTIAL Execution Version

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

BY AND AMONG

 

AIRO DRONE LLC,

 

Joseph Burns, solely in his capacity as Target Representative,

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.,

 

AND

 

AIRO DRONE MERGER SUB, LLC

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS - 2 -
     
ARTICLE II THE MERGER - 2 -
   
2.1 The Merger - 2 -
2.2 Closing - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Effective Time - 4 -
2.5 Effects of the Merger - 4 -
2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws - 4 -
2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers - 4 -
2.8 Effect of the Merger on Target Company Membership Interest - 4 -
2.9 Dissenting Interests - 4 -
2.10 Surrender and Payment - 5 -
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Membership Interest - 6 -
2.12 Adjustments - 6 -
2.13 Withholding Rights - 6 -
2.14 Lost Certificates - 6 -
2.15 Closing Adjustments - 7 -
2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet - 8 -
2.17 PPP Escrow Amount - 8 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 8 -
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 8 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval - 9 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents - 10 -
3.4 Capitalization - 10 -
3.5 Subsidiaries - 11 -
3.6 Financial Statements - 11 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 12 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions - 12 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 14 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property - 15 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets - 16 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 16 -
3.13 Inventory - 17-
3.14 Accounts Receivable - 18 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 18 -
3.16 Insurance - 18 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders - 17 -
3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits - 19 -

 

i
 

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 20 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 23 -
3.21 Taxes - 24 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 26 -
3.23 Books and Records - 26 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 27 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 27 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney - 27 -
3.27 Brokers - 27 -
3.28 CARES Act Matters - 27 -
3.29 Indebtedness - 27 -
3.30 Full Disclosure - 27 -
     
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB - 28 -
     
4.1 Organization and Authority  - 28 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents - 28 -
4.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 28 -
4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations - 29 -
4.5 Brokers - 29 -
4.6 Legal Proceedings - 29 -
4.7 Full Disclosure - 29 -
4.8 Capitalization of Holdings - 29 -
4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group - 30 -
     
ARTICLE V COVENANTS - 31 -
   
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing - 30 -
5.2 Access to Information - 31 -
5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 32 -
5.4 Target Company Members Consent - 32 -
5.5 Notice of Certain Events - 33 -
5.6 Reserved - 34 -
5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents - 34 -
5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 35 -
5.9 Closing Conditions - 36 -
5.10 Public Announcements - 36 -
5.11 New Board - 36 -
5.12 Equity Securities - 37 -
5.13 Disclosure Schedules - 37 -
5.14 Employees - 37 -
5.15 Audit Expenses - 37 -
5.16 Further Assurances - 37 -

 

ii
 

 

ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS - 37 -
   
6.1 Tax Covenants - 37 -
6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 38 -
6.3 Tax Indemnification - 38 -
6.4 Tax Returns - 38 -
6.5 Straddle Period - 39 -
6.6 Contests - 39 -
6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information - 40 -
6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 40 -
6.9 Payments to Holdings - 40 -
6.10 FIRPTA Statement - 40 -
6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction - 40 -
6.12 Survival - 40 -
6.13 Overlap - 40 -
     
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 41 -
   
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties - 41 -
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings - 41 -
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company - 42 -
     
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION - 43 -
   
8.1 Survival - 43 -
8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Members - 43 -
8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group - 44 -
8.4 Certain Limitations - 45 -
8.5 Indemnification Procedures - 45 -
8.6 Payments; Setoff - 46 -
8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 47 -
8.8 Effect of Investigation - 47 -
8.9 Exclusive Remedies - 47 -
     
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION - 47 -
   
9.1 Termination - 47 -
9.2 Effect of Termination - 48 -
     
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS - 48 -
   
10.1 Target Representative - 48 -
10.2 Expenses - 50 -
10.3 Notices - 51 -
10.4 Interpretation - 51 -
10.5 Headings - 51 -
10.6 Severability - 51 -
10.7 Entire Agreement - 51 -
10.8 Successors and Assigns - 52 -
10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries - 52 -
10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 52 -
10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 52 -
10.12 Arbitration Procedure - 53 -
10.13 Specific Performance - 54 -
10.14 Counterparts - 55 -
10.15 Representation Disclosure - 55 -
10.16 Certain Acknowledgments - 55 -
10.17 Unwind - 55 -

 

iii
 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“Target Company”), Joseph Burns (“Target Representative”), AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation, AIRO Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings (“AIRO Group”) and AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC, a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub” and together with Target Company, Target Representative and Holdings, each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of Target Company’s equity in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and Promissory Notes through a reverse subsidiary merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with and into Target Company, whereby Target Company will be the Surviving Entity thereof, and Holdings shall be the sole owner of the Surviving Entity after the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Target Company Board has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, are in the best interests of the Target Company and the Target Company Members, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Target Company Members in accordance with the Act and all other applicable Laws;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement, Target Company shall seek to obtain, in accordance with the Act, a written consent of its members approving this Agreement, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act;

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub and their respective stockholders or members, as applicable, and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex D), Holdings will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex D (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex E (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the aggregate amount of the merger consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

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

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE MERGER

 

2.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Act, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Target Company, and (b) the separate company existence of Merger Sub will cease and Target Company will continue its company existence under the Act as the Surviving Entity in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Target Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and, (2) resolutions of the Target Company Members approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, and (3) the Target Company’s articles of organization and operating agreement, and all amendments thereto (the “Target Organization Documents”), (b) with respect to the resolutions of the Target Company Board and Target Company Members, all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the Target Organization Documents, such documents are in full force and effect, and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

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(iv) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(v) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.16;

 

(vi) the FIRPTA Statement;

 

(vii) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Target Representative and the PPP Escrow Agent; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Target Company (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) each of the Promissory Notes made payable to each Target Company Member and in the principal amounts set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet duly executed by Holdings;

 

(ii) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Target Company Member in accordance with such Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(iii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders or members, as applicable, of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (2) the certificates of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, and all amendments thereto, of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, (b) with respect to the resolutions, that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, such documents are in full force and effect and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(v) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(vi) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdings; and

 

(vii) such other documents or instruments as Target Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

  

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2.4 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Target Company, on one hand, and Holdings and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall cause a certificate of merger or similar document effecting the Merger with respect to Target Company and Merger Sub (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C (attached hereto and incorporated herein fully by this reference) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the Act. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger (or similar document) has been duly filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C, or at such later date or time as may be agreed by such Target Company and Holdings in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Act (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.5 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation or articles of organization, as applicable, of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation or articles of organization, as applicable of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the operating agreement of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended or terminated, at Holdings’ sole discretion, in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of such Surviving Entity or as provided by applicable Law. Additionally, in each case, that the name of the corporation or company set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Target Company.

 

2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers. The directors, managers and officers of the Target Company, in each case, as appropriate, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors, managers and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of organization and operating agreement of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.8 Effect of the Merger on Target Company Membership Interest. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Target Company or any Target Company Member:

 

(a) Each Target Company Membership Interest or such other equity security that are issued and outstanding in respect of Target Company (the “Interests”) (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be converted into the right to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration at the time and subject to the contingencies specified herein.

 

(b) Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable membership interest of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.9 Dissenting Interests. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.8, Interests issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights in accordance with Act (such Interests being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Interests” until such time as such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Act with respect to such Interests) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by the Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to dissent pursuant to the Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by the Act, such Interests shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.8(b), without interest thereon. The Target Company shall provide Holdings prompt written notice of any demands received by the Target Company for appraisal of Interests, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Target Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Act that relates to such demand, and Holdings shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Target Company shall give notice to Target Company Members of their right to dissent and such notice shall comply with the Act. Except with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Target Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.


 

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2.10 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, all Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.9, either (i) each holder of a certificate formerly representing any Interests (each, a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights as a member of the Target Company; or (ii) in the case of uncertificated Interests, such holder shall cease to have any rights as a member of the Target Company without any further action.

 

(b) Holdings, or a transfer agent appointed by Holdings, shall act as the exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”).

 

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall mail to each holder of Target Company Membership Interest a letter of transmittal in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties (a “Letter of Transmittal”) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for the applicable portion of Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.8(b). Holdings shall, no later than the later of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Certificate, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and any other customary documents that Holdings may reasonably require in connection therewith, deliver to the holder of such Certificate such holder’s portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b) with respect to such Certificate so surrendered and the Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Target Company Membership Interest (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all purposes, to evidence the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b). If after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to Holdings, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.10.

 

(d) Each Target Company Member shall also be entitled to any amounts that may be payable in the future in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as provided in this Agreement and the Promissory Notes, at the respective time and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein. Unless otherwise provided herein or in the Promissory Notes, no interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of Target Company Members on the Promissory Note Principal Amount.

 

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(e) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment or delivery shall pay to Holdings any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed by the Target Company Members ninety (90) days after the Effective Time shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand, and any such Target Company Member who has not exchanged Certificates for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.10 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Holdings for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings shall not be liable to any holder of Certificates for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by Target Company Members two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Holdings free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(g) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Interests shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand.

 

2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Membership Interest. All Merger Consideration delivered or deliverable upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered or deliverable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Interests on the transfer books of the Surviving Entity. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

2.12 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding Interests of the Target Company shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of Interests, or any dividend or distribution paid in Interests, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2.13 Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

2.14 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Holdings, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Holdings may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

 

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2.15 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the amount of outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing and the resulting Transaction Expense Adjustment, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Target Representative to reach such mutual agreement will not give any party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the Closing Working Capital is less than seventy-five percent (75%) of Target Working Capital the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital; (ii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital; or (iii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is within seventy-five percent (75%) and one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Target Working Capital, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Working Capital Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from or added to, as the case may be) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amounts provided to Target Company by Holdings or AIRO Group prior to the Closing shall be excluded from the calculation of the Working Capital Adjustment.

 

(c) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the amount of Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target, the amount by which the Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target or (ii) in the event Indebtedness at Closing is less than or equal to the Indebtedness Target, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Indebtedness Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Indebtedness incurred by Target Company to Holdings or AIRO Group prior to the Closing shall be excluded from the calculation of the Indebtedness Adjustment.

 

(d) The “Transaction Expense Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Transaction Expenses that remain upaid at Closing as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Transaction Expense Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes.

 

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2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Note Principal Amount deliverable in connection with the Merger, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein.

 

(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Target Company Members and the number of Target Company Membership Interest held by such Persons;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Interest Amount; and

 

(iii) each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Holdings Equity portion and the Promissory Notes portion of the Merger Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings and Merger Sub shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.17 PPP Escrow Amount. Holdings and the Target Representative hereby agree that the PPP Escrow Amount shall be held by the PPP Escrow Agent in the PPP Escrow Account, in accordance with the PPP Escrow Agreement; provided, however, Holdings and the Target Representative shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter) deliver a joint written instruction to the PPP Escrow Agent, pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement, instructing the PPP Escrow Agent to release the PPP Escrow Amount to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share) upon the date on which the Target Company receives an SBA Determination; provided further, however, that if such SBA Determination indicates that less than 100% of the PPP Loan has been forgiven, then such joint written instruction shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release (a) only a portion of the PPP Escrow Amount that is equal to the amount of the PPP Loan that has been forgiven (if any) to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share), and (b) the remainder to Holdings.

 

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization as shown on Annex A and has full company power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

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3.2 Authority; Board Approval.

 

(a) Target Company has full company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of Target Company Members representing a majority of the outstanding Interests or such vote required under the Target Company Charter Documents (“Requisite Target Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite company action on the part of the Target Company and no other company proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote. The Requisite Target Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Target Company’s membership interests required to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

(b) The Target Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors or managers of the Target Company duly called and held and, as of the hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, if applicable to it, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Target Company Members, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the Act, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Target Company Members for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Target Company Members adopt the “plan of merger” (if applicable to it) set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Target Company Board Recommendation”) and directed that such matter be submitted for consideration of the Target Company Members at the Target Company Members Meeting or, in lieu of such meeting, for approval by written consent of the Target Company Members pursuant to the Act.

 

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3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) subject to, in the case of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Target Company Vote, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized Interests of the Target Company and the number of Interests that are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Interests and the Interests owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue membership interests, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding Target Company Membership Interest (or other equity securities) are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Target Company Membership Interest were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Target Company Membership Interest is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company, except pursuant to appraisal rights in the Act. There are no outstanding or authorized appreciation rights, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

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(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the Interests (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co-sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Target Company Membership Interest or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Holdings, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules regulations or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein, except that Target Company may raise up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) in seed capital;

  

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(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(o) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, membership interests (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(p) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

(q) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

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(s) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its members or current or former directors, officers and employees;

 

(t) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(u) except for the Merger and the adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(v) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(w) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or equity of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(x) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(y) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

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(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of equity or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of equity, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party, and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Holdings.

 

3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “ Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

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(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent, and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. No material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

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3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Target Company IP Registrations.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

  

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3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Target Company not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the four-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). There are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Holdings. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience- based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

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3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non-U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing. All of such permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, accreditations, certificates, registrations and authorizations will be available for use by the Target Company immediately after the Closing.

 

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(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected. Except as disclosed in Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Personal Information has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred or disclosed by any Person on behalf of the Target Company. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

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(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Holdings accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

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(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Holdings and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the audited balance sheet contained in the Closing Working Capital Statement) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

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(d) The Target Company has complied with the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would trigger the WARN Act.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

(f) Section 3.21(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Target Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed; and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.

 

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(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(i) The Target Company has delivered to Holdings copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(k) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(m) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(n) Any Target Company which is taxed as a C corporation will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

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(o) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(p) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(q) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

(r) With respect to any Target Company that is subject to taxation in the United States of America, there is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Target Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(s) The Target Company is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

(t) Section 3.21(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

(u) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(v) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and member record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Holdings, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Target Company Members, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Target Company Members, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

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3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or of the Interests (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 CARES Act Matters. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the CARES Act stimulus or relief programs (the “CARES Act Programs”) in which the Target Company is participating or has participated and the amount of funds requested or received by the Target Company under each CARES Act Program. The Target Company has made available to each other Party true, correct and complete copies of all applications, forms and other documents filed or submitted by the Target Company relating to any CARES Act Program, and all statements and information contained in such applications, forms and other documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All funds received by the Target Company under all CARES Act Programs (the “CARES Act Funds”) have been used by the Target Company in compliance in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms, and the Target Company has maintained accounting and other records relating to the CARES Act Funds and the use thereof that comply in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms (including records that track the costs and other expenses for which the CARES Act Funds have been used), true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available by the Target Company to the other parties.

 

3.29 Indebtedness. Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.30 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Target Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Holdings or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

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Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF

HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Organization and Authority. Holdings is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Holdings has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company and corporate action on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub enforceable against Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

4.3 Tax Status of Holdings. Holdings is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings always has been taxed as a corporation since its inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

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4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.5 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub.

 

4.6 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’ AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

4.7 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

4.8 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Annex E sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Merger, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”).

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex E, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

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(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

(b) (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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Article V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

(c) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(i) not incur any Indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business or other than that set forth in Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedules; and

 

(j) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

5.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

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(b) Holdings and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement between Holdings and the Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

(c) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

5.4 Target Company Members Consent.

 

(a) Target Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Target Company Vote pursuant to written consents of the Target Company Members in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Written Consent”), with such amendments as shall be appropriate to reflect the transactions with respect to the other Parties. The materials submitted to the Target Company Members in connection with the Written Consent shall include the Target Company Board Recommendation, together with the information required by the Act. Promptly following receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall deliver a copy of such Written Consent to Holdings.

 

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(b) Promptly following, but in no event later than five Business Days after, receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Target Company Member Notice”) to every Target Company Member that did not execute the Written Consent. The Target Company Member Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Target Company Board determined in accordance with the Act that the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) is advisable in accordance with the Act and in the best interests of the Target Company Members and unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) provide the Target Company Members to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Written Consent, including the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act and the bylaws of the Target Company and (iii) if applicable, notify such Target Company Members of their dissent rights pursuant to the Act. The Target Company Member Notice shall include therewith a copy of Section 262 of the Act, if applicable, and all such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request. All materials submitted to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall be subject to Holdings’ advance review and reasonable approval.

 

5.5 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by the Target Company hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Target Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall provide prompt written notice to Target Company when any of the Other Business Combination Party Agreements are executed and closed, or if there is any material breach, material amendment, or termination of such Other Business Combination Agreements.

 

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(c) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Target Company in this Agreement (including Sections 8.2 and 9.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

5.6 Reserved.

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

(b) Target Company and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

  

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.7 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Holdings and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b) For six years after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, the Surviving Entity, (the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Entity’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings shall not (and shall cause the Surviving Entity not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither Holdings, the Surviving Entity nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

  

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(c) The obligations of Holdings and the Surviving Entity under this Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8).

 

(d) In the event Holdings, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity or entity in such consolidation or Merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Holdings or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

5.9 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.

 

5.10 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

5.11 New Board. Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made by a simple majority vote of each New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of each New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which each New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of each New Board, Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of each New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 5.11. At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to the New Board, Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that Holdings has complied fully with its obligations in this Section 5.11.

 

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5.12 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

  

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

5.13 Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete Disclosure Schedules shall be provided by each Party to this Agreement to each other Party to this Agreement on or before the Termination Date. In the event the Target Company (the “Breaching Target Company”) either (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Target Company, then Holdings shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1(b).

 

5.14 Employees. At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

5.15 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s audited financial statements in connection with SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Target Representative, up to

$100,000, for further distribution to the Target Company Members, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

5.16 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Target Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Article VI

TAX MATTERS

 

6.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Target Company Members shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings or the Surviving Entity in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Target Company Members. The Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

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(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Target Company Members when due. Target Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

6.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries, Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Target Company Members pursuant to this Section 6.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

6.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Holdings shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Holdings to Target Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Target Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Target Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Holdings in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Holdings and Target Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Holdings and Target Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Holdings of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Holdings and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Holdings and Target Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Holdings. In accordance with Section 8.6, Holdings shall be entitled to offset against any amounts owed to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes (i) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and (ii) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital.

 

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(c) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, Holdings is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by Holdings or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members, including with respect to the Promissory Notes.

 

6.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

6.6 Contests. Holdings agrees to give written notice to Target Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings pursuant to this Article VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Target Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Target Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Target Representative.

 

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6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Target Representative, the Target Company or Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Merger Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

6.9 Payments to Holdings. Any amounts payable to Holdings pursuant to this Article VI shall be satisfied: (i) by set-off against any amounts owed under the Promissory Notes in accordance with Section 8.6; and (ii) to the extent such amounts exceed the amount outstanding under the Promissory Notes, from the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

6.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIRPTA Statement”).

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties intend that the Target Company Membership Interest exchanged for Holdings Equity pursuant to the Merger are tax-deferred contributions of capital by the Target Company Members in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code. The Promissory Note Principal Amount is to be treated for income tax purposes as a sale of Target Company Membership Interest by the Target Company Members to Holdings. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

6.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.21 and this Article VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

6.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VI, the provisions of this Article VI shall govern.

 

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Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

(b) The filings of Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(d) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked..

 

(e) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

(f) Holdings must have received a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter (or similar written indication) from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

(g) Joseph Burns, Brian Haynes, and Robert Perrin, currently employed by Target Company, shall have received employment offers from Holdings or its Affiliate to become effective as of the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. The obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

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(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

(g) Holders of no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding Target Company Membership Interests as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the aggregate, shall have exercised, or remain entitled to exercise, appraisal rights pursuant to the Act with respect to such Target Company Membership Interests.

 

(h) Target Company shall have received the consent of each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness to consummate the transactions set forth in this Agreement and provided satisfactory evidence of such consent to Holdings and Merger Sub.

 

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5, the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

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(b) Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section

2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority shall have been obtained.

 

Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Members. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); provided, that (i) claims for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Target Company Members, pursuant to this Agreement, the Target Company Members representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Target Company Members;

 

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(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Sellers or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VI);

 

(c) any claim made by any Target Company Member relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Holdings Equity, the Promissory Notes, or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(d) any amounts paid to the holders of Dissenting Interests of Target Company, including any interest required to be paid thereon, that are in excess of what such holders would have received hereunder had such holders not been holders of Dissenting Interests;

 

(e) any Transaction Expenses of Target Company outstanding as of the Closing to the extent not paid or satisfied by Target Company at or prior to the Closing, or if paid by Holdings or Merger Sub at or prior to the Closing; and

 

(f) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, or Indebtedness, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission or misstatement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Members under the Promissory Notes pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, Holdings and AIRO Group shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend the Target Company Members, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Target Company Member Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Target Company Member Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI).

 

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8.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article VIII, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

8.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article VIII, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative. Any payment received by Target Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Target Company Member, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Target Representative and Holdings shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non- defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

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(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article VI hereof.

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members, including with respect to the Promissory Notes, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Target Company Members (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

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8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be.

 

8.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 10.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or intentional misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. Nothing in this Section 8.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

Article IX

TERMINATION

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

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

 

(b) by Holdings by written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) none of Holdings, AIRO Group nor Merger Sub is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

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(c) by Target Company by written notice to Holdings if:

 

(i) Target Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub within ten days of Holdings’, AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

 

(d) by Holdings or by Target Company if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) By Holdings if two days prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Target Company shall not have delivered to Holdings a copy of the executed Written Consent evidencing receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article IX, Section 5.2(b) and Article X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Target Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Target Company Member shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Joseph Burns as the initial Target Representative. The Target Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and the Promissory Notes and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Target Representative pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

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(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.15;

 

(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Holdings pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Target Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Target Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

Holdings shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Target Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VIII) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Target Company Member by Target Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Target Company Member by Target Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Target Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Target Company Members. Any decision or action by Target Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Target Representative and Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Target Company Members and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Target Company Member shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Target Company Members, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

(b) The Target Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 10.1(b).

 

(i) The Target Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Target Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Target Company Members according to each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Target Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Target Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Target Representative.

 

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(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Target Representative, a new Target Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Target Representative shall be sent to Holdings, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Holdings; provided, that until such notice is received, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Target Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

(c) The Target Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Target Company Members. If the Target Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Target Representative, the Target Representative must notify the Target Company Members.

 

(d) The Target Representative shall not be liable to the Target Company Members for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Target Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Target Company Members shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Target Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Target Representative under this Agreement and the Promissory Notes (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Target Representative, Target Representative shall reimburse the Target Company Members the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied by the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares).

 

10.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, Holdings shall be responsible for reimbursing Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

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10.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.3):

 

If to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub:

 

 c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87119

Attn: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attn: Kate Bechen

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

If to Target Company or Target Representative:

 

AIRO Drone LLC

17881 Blackbird Trail

Hastings, MN 55033

Attn: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

10.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

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10.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the Surviving Entity, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings, and Holdings shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.8, Section 6.3 and Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Requisite Target Company Vote is obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that, pursuant to applicable Law, requires further approval of the Target Company Members, without the receipt of such further approvals. Any failure of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or Target Company, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub) or by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (with respect to any failure by such Target Company), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

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(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11(c).

 

10.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”); provided that nothing in this Section 10.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Target Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Target Company Member Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Target Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 10.12. If Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

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(d) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 10.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Target Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Target Company Members and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

(e) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(f) Holdings, on the one hand, and the Target Company Members, on the other hand, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(g) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

10.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

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10.14 Counterparts. 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

 

10.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

10.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange Interests pursuant to a Merger in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings has retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Surviving Entity, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

10.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger or IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger or IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of membership interests. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Members to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Members) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such the former Target Company Member) as part of the Rescission process.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET COMPANY:
     
  AI ikagweli,L,C, an Illinois limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Joseph Bums
  Name: Joseph Bums
  Its: CEO

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  HOLDINGS:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a a Dflawassvairporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria           
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AIRO GROUP:
     
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Dplawateliparporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria              
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MERGER SUB:
     
  AIRO DRONE MERGER SUB, LLC, a D?lawalyalifiait,ed liability company
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  Joseph Burns, solely in his capacity as
  Target Representative
   
  By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Name: Joseph Burns

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

Act” means, with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, as applicable, the respective laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, authorizing its formation or incorporation, valid existence, and company or corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

AIRO Group” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Promissory Notes, and each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6. “Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or a similar provision of Law.

 

CARES Act Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Programs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Terms” means all terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority for the receipt of any funds under any CARES Act Program.

 

 
 

 

Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a). “Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. “Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

 

Contribution Interest” means the aggregate Target Company Membership Interest to be contributed to Holdings by the Target Company Members, and subsequently cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a).

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Holdings will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, and deferred Tax liabilities, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

 
 

 

Dissenting Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9. “Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Fully Diluted Interest Amount” means the aggregate number of Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Members in exchange for the Contribution Interest as set forth on Annex B.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

 
 

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f); and (h) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g).

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indebtedness Target” means $0.00.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Target Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

 
 

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

“Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

 

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

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

 

Merger Consideration” means the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Notes that the Target Company Members shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

 
 

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual, including any record that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual.

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

PPP Escrow Account” means the segregated account in which the PPP Escrow Amount is held by the PPP Escrow Agent pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement.

 

PPP Escrow Agent” means for Target Company, the bank that provided the PPP Loan to Target Company.

 

PPP Escrow Agreement” means an agreement by and among the Target Representative, the PPP Escrow Agent and Holdings in form and substance acceptable to the parties.

 

PPP Escrow Amount” means, with respect to a Target Company, the full amount of principal and interest due in respect of the PPP Loan.

 

PPP Loan” means, with respect to any Target Company, the loan made to the Target Company by a bank pursuant to that certain promissory note under the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (pursuant to the CARES Act).

 

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

 

 
 

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

Promissory Note Principal Amount” means the principal amount set forth in Annex B.

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Target Company Member such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, determined by dividing (a) the Interest owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Effective time, by (b) the Fully Diluted Interest Amount.

 

Promissory Notes” means the Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount equal to the Promissory Note Principal Amount, to be issued by Holdings at Closing for the benefit of the Target Company Members, in form and substance satisfactory to the Parties.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).

 

Requisite Target Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

 

Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

SBA Determination” means the final and nonappealable written determination of the SBA that the PPP Loan is forgiven (in part or in full) or not pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (under the CARES Act).

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Interests, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

 
 

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

Target Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Target Company Member” means a holder of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

Target Company Membership Interest” has the meaning provided in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

Target Company Member Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

Target Company Member Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Target Organization Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii).

 

Target Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Working Capital” means a TTM normalized level of Closing Working Capital, as agreed upon by the Parties prior to the Closing, and determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

 
 

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).

 

Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE CONSIDERATION

 

Name of Entity

 

Aggregate Percentage of Holdings Common Stock *

  

Aggregate Number of Holdings Common Stock (Holdings Equity)**

  

Promissory Note Principal Amount***

 
Column A  Column B   Column C   Column D 
To Target Company Members   0%   0   $2,300,000 

 

*Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

**Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

*** Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate principal amount of Promissory Notes issued to Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

 
 

 

ANNEX C

 

PARTIES

 

Name of Party  

Name of Office where

Certificate of Merger

will be filed for the

Surviving Entity

 

Name of Office

where Certificate

of Merger will be

filed for the Party

 

Surviving Entity

of the Merger

(the “Surviving

Entity”)

 

Governing

Law

AIRO Drone LLC   Secretary of State of the State of Delaware   Secretary of State of the State of Illinois   AIRO Drone LLC   Illinois and Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other
Business Combination

Party and Jurisdiction

of its Organization

 

Classification of

Other Business

Combination

Party for

Purposes of U.S.

Federal Income

Taxes*

 

Name of Entity to be

Merged into Other

Business Combination

Party and Jurisdiction

of its Organization

 

Surviving

Entity

 

Governing

Law

AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability

company (“AIRO

Drone”)

  Partnership  

AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)

  AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware

Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited

liability company (“Agile Defense”)

  Partnership  

Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)

  Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware

Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation

(“Aspen”)

  C corporation  

Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen

Merger Sub”)

  Aspen   Delaware

Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)

  C Corporation  

Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal

Merger Sub”)

  Coastal   Pennsylvani a and Delaware

Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability

company (“Jaunt”)

  C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt

Merger Sub”)

  Jaunt   Delaware

Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company

(“Sky-Watch”)

  TBD  

Sky-Watch Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sky-

Watch Merger Sub”)

  Sky-Watch   Denmark and Delaware

VRCO LTD, an

English company (“VRCO”)

  TBD  

VRCO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VRCO

Merger Sub”)

  VRCO   England and Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder   Shares of Common Stock
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994
C. Kathuria   1,763,463
J. Burns   1,184,791
J. Uczekaj   606,061
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606
Total   30,303,031

 

 
 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

December , 2021

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC, AIRO Drone LLC and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 10.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  AIRO DRONE LLC
    
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  By: /s/ Joseph Burns,
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman    CEO
        
AIRO DRONE MERGER SUB, LLC  JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria    /s/ Joseph Burns, individually
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Joseph Burns, individually
  Executive Chairman     
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.     
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria     
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     
  Executive Chairman     

 

 
 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

February 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC, AIRO Drone LLC, and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 13, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedules are now complete and final.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to confirm the satisfaction and/or waiver of all conditions to Closing to facilitate an efficient Closing process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. The last sentence of the introductory paragraph to Article III is amended to read as follows (addition in italics):

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Sensurion, Inc.

 

 
 

 

b. In Section 3.6(a), the clause “are included in the Disclosure Schedules” at the end of the final sentence is replaced with “have been provided to Holdings.”

 

c. Section 5.8(c) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(c) [Reserved].

 

d. Section 5.13 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

5.13 [Reserved].

 

e. Section 6.11 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The Promissory Note Principal Amount is to be treated for income tax purposes as a sale of Target Company Membership Interest by the Target Company Members to Holdings. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

f. The contact information for Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111. E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

g. Both references to March 31, 2022 in Section 10.17 are replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

h. The definition of “D&O Tail Policy” in Annex A is deleted in its entirety.

 

i. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

j. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

k. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 
 

 

l. The following clause is deleted from the end of the definition of “Transaction Expenses” on Annex A: “including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).”

 

m. Annex D is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex D attached hereto.

 

n. Annex E is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex E attached hereto.

 

2. The final Disclosure Schedules for Target Company are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

3. The final Disclosure Schedules for Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are

attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

4. The Parties agree that the following deliverables due on or before Closing shall be postponed to post-Closing and shall be delivered no later than March 4, 2022:

 

a. Target Company’s final Closing Statement pursuant to Section 2.15(a);

 

b. Target Company’s final Consideration Spreadsheet pursuant to Section 2.16(b);

 

c. The Promissory Note, signed by the Parties; and

 

d. The offers of employment from Holdings to Joseph Burns, Brian Haynes, and Robert Perrin as set forth in Section 7.1(g).

 

5. The Parties agree that all other conditions to Closing set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement are either satisfied or hereby waived as of the date hereof.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  AIRO DRONE LLC
    
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  By: /s/ Joseph Burns,
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman    CEO
        
AIRO DRONE MERGER SUB, LLC JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria    /s/ Joseph Burns, individually
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Joseph Burns, individually
  Executive Chairman Manager     
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.     
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria     
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     
  Executive Chairman     

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other
Business

Combination Party
and Jurisdiction of its Organization

  Classification of Other
Business Combination
Party for Purposes of
U.S. Federal Income
Taxes
  Name of Entity to be
Merged into Other
Business Combination
Party and Jurisdiction of
its Organization
  Surviving
Entity
  Governing
Law
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)   Partnership  

AIRO Drone Merger Sub,

LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware
                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)   Partnership  

Agile Defense Merger

Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware
                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation  

Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a

Delaware corporation

  Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C corporation  

Coastal Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

  Coastal  

Pennsylvania

and Delaware

                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt”)   Partnership  

Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a

Delaware limited liability company

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)   TBD   N/A  

Sky-Watch Denmark and

Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder   Shares of Common Stock
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994
C. Kathuria   1,763,463
J. Burns   1,184,791
J. Uczekaj   606,061
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606
Reserved Equity Pool   1,727,273
Total   30,303,031

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

AIRO Group, Holdings, and Merger Sub Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

August 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., AIRO Drone, LLC and Joseph Burns (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). AIRO Drone Merger Sub, LLC is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into AIRO Drone, LLC on February 25, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by August 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 10.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows: “SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings.”

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  AIRO DRONE, LLC
    
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Joseph Burns,
  Executive Chairman    Manager
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.  JOSEPH BURNS, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  /s/ Joseph Burns
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,  Joseph Burns, individually

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.16

 

CONFIDENTIAL Execution Version

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY

AND AMONG

JAUNT AIR MOBILITY, INC.,

 

MARTIN PERYEA, solely in his capacity as Member Representative, AIRO GROUP, INC.,

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND

JAUNT MERGER SUB, INC.

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS - 2 -
     
ARTICLE II THE MERGER - 2 -
   
2.1 The Merger - 2 -
2.2 Closing - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Effective Time - 4 -
2.5 Effects of the Merger - 4 -
2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws - 4 -
2.7 Directors and Officers - 4 -
2.8 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock - 4 -
2.9 Dissenting Shares -5 -
2.10 Surrender and Payment - 5 -
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Common Stock - 6 -
2.12 Adjustments - 6 -
2.13 Withholding Rights - 6 -
2.14 Lost Certificates - 6 -
2.15 Working Capital Adjustment - 7 -
2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet - 7 -
2.17 PPP Escrow Amount - 8 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 8 -
   
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 9 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval - 9 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents - 10 -
3.4 Capitalization - 10 -
3.5 Subsidiaries - 11 -
3.6 Financial Statements - 11 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 12 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions - 12 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 14 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property - 15 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets - 16 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 16 -
3.13 Inventory - 18-
3.14 Accounts Receivable - 18 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 18 -
3.16 Insurance - 18 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders - 19 -
3.18 Compliance With Laws; Permits. - 19 -

 

 
 

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 20 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 23 -
3.21 Taxes - 24 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 26 -
3.23 Books and Records - 26 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 27 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 27 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney - 27 -
3.27 Brokers - 27 -
3.28 CARES Act Matters - 27 -
3.29 Full Disclosure - 27 -
     
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB - 28 -

 

4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub - 28 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents - 28 -
4.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 28 -
4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations - 29 -
4.5 Brokers - 29 -
4.6 Legal Proceedings - 29 -
4.7 Full Disclosure - 29 -
4.8 Capitalization of Holdings - 29 -
4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group - 30 -
     
ARTICLE V COVENANTS - 31 -
   
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing - 31 -
5.2 Access to Information - 31 -
5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 32 -
5.4 Target Company Stockholders Consent - 32 -
5.5 Notice of Certain Events - 33 -
5.6 Resignations - 33 -
5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents - 34 -
5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 35 -
5.9 Closing Conditions - 36 -
5.10 Public Announcements - 36 -
5.11 New Board - 36 -
5.12 Equity Securities - 36 -
5.13 Disclosure Schedules - 37 -
5.14 Employees - 37 -
5.15 Further Assurances - 37 -
     
ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS - 38 -
   
6.1 Tax Covenants - 38 -

 

 
 

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 38 -
6.3 Tax Indemnification - 39 -
6.4 Tax Returns - 39 -
6.5 Straddle Period - 40 -
6.6 Contests - 40 -
6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information - 40 -
6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 41 -
6.9 Payments to AIRO Group - 41 -
6.10 FIRPTA Statement - 41 -
6.11 Tax Treatment of Transactions. - 41 -
6.12 Survival - 41 -
6.13 Overlap - 41 -
     
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 41 -
   
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties - 41 -
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of AIRO Group and Merger Sub - 42 -
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company - 43 -
     
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION - 44 -
   
8.1 Survival - 44 -
8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Stockholders - 44 -
8.3 Indemnification By AIRO Group - 45 -
8.4 Certain Limitations - 45 -
8.5 Indemnification Procedures - 45 -
8.6 Payments; Setoff - 46 -
8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 46 -
8.8 Effect of Investigation - 46 -
8.9 Exclusive Remedies - 47 -
     
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION - 48 -
   
9.1 Termination - 48 -
9.2 Effect of Termination - 49 -
     
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS - 49 -
   
10.1 Target Representative - 48 -
10.2 Expenses - 51 -
10.3 Notices - 51 -
10.4 Interpretation - 52 -
10.5 Headings - 52 -
10.6 Severability - 52 -
10.7 Entire Agreement - 52 -
10.8 Successors and Assigns - 52 -
10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries - 53 -
10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 53 -
10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 53 -
10.12 Arbitration Procedure - 54 -
10.13 Specific Performance - 55 -
10.14 Counterparts - 55 -
10.15 Representation Disclosure - 55 -
10.16 Certain Acknowledgments - 56 -

 

 
 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among Jaunt Air Mobility LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Target Company”), Martin Peryea (“Member Representative”), AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation, AIRO Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“AIRO Group”) and Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a newly-incorporated Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub” and together with Target Company, Member Representative, AIRO Group, and Holdings, each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of Target Company’s equity in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and Promissory Notes through a reverse subsidiary merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with and into Target Company, whereby Target Company will be the Surviving Entity thereof, and Holdings shall be the sole owner of the Surviving Entity after the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Target Company Board has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, are in the best interests of the Target Company and the Target Company Members, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Target Company Members in accordance with the Act and all other applicable Laws;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement, Target Company shall seek to obtain, in accordance with the Act, a written consent of its members approving this Agreement, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act;

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub and their respective stockholders or members, as applicable, and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; and

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex D), Holdings will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex D (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex E (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the aggregate amount of the merger consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

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

 

- 1 -
 

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE MERGER

 

2.1 The Merger.

 

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Act, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Target Company, and (b) the separate company existence of Merger Sub will cease and Target Company will continue its company existence under the Act as the Surviving Entity in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Member Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions or written consents adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (2) resolutions or written consents of the Target Company Members approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, and (3) the Target Company’s certificate of formation and operating agreement, and all amendments thereto (the “Target Organization Documents”), (b) with respect to the resolutions or written consents of the Target Company Board and Target Company Members, all such resolutions or written consents are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions or written consents adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the Target Organization Documents, such documents are in full force and effect, and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

- 2 -
 

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(iv) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(v) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.16;

 

(vi) the FIRPTA Statement;

 

(vii) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Member Representative and the PPP Escrow Agent; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Target Company (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Target Company Member in accordance with such Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(ii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of AIRO Group, Holdings and Merger Sub certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders or members, as applicable, of AIRO Group, Holdings and Merger Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (2) the certificates of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, and all amendments thereto, of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, (b) with respect to the resolutions, that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent documents, such documents are in full force and effect and no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of AIRO Group, Holdings and Merger Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of AIRO Group, Holdings and Merger Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(v) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdings; and

 

(vi) such other documents or instruments as Target Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

- 3 -
 

 

2.4 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Target Company, on one hand, and Holdings and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall cause a certificate of merger or similar document effecting the Merger with respect to Target Company and Merger Sub (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C (attached hereto and incorporated herein fully by this reference) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the Act. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger (or similar document) has been duly filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C, or at such later date or time as may be agreed by such Target Company and Holdings in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Act (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.5 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the operating agreement of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended or terminated, at Holdings’ sole discretion, in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of such Surviving Entity or as provided by applicable Law. Additionally, in each case, that the name of the corporation or company set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Target Company.

 

2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers. The directors, managers and officers of the Target Company, in each case, as appropriate, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors, managers and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of formation and operating agreement of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.8 Effect of the Merger on Target Company Membership Interest. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Target Company or any Target Company Member:

 

(a) Each Target Company Membership Interest or such other equity security that are issued and outstanding in respect of Target Company (the “Interests”) (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be converted into the right to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration at the time and subject to the contingencies specified herein.

 

(b) Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable membership interest of the Surviving Entity.

 

- 4 -
 

 

2.9 Dissenting Interests. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.8, Interests issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights in accordance with Act (such Interests being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Interests” until such time as such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Act with respect to such Interests) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by the Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to dissent pursuant to the Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by the Act, such Interests shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.8(b), without interest thereon. The Target Company shall provide Holdings prompt written notice of any demands received by the Target Company for appraisal of Interests, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Target Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Act that relates to such demand, and Holdings shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Target Company shall give notice to Target Company Members of their right to dissent and such notice shall comply with the Act. Except with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Target Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

2.10 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, all Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.9, either (i) each holder of a certificate formerly representing any Interests (each, a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of the Target Company; or (ii) in the case of uncertificated Interests, such holder shall cease to have any rights as a member of the Target Company without any further action.

 

(b) Holdings, or a transfer agent appointed by Holdings, shall act as the exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”).

 

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall mail to each holder of Interests a letter of transmittal in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties (a “Letter of Transmittal”) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for the applicable portion of Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.8(b). Holdings shall, no later than the later of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Certificate, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and any other customary documents that Holdings may reasonably require in connection therewith, deliver to the holder of such Certificate such holder’s portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b) with respect to such Certificate so surrendered and the Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented Target Company Interests (other than Dissenting Interests) shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all purposes, to evidence the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b). If after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to Holdings, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.10.

 

(d) Each Target Company Member shall also be entitled to any amounts that may be payable in the future in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as provided in this Agreement, at the respective time and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein. Target Company Members

 

(e) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment or delivery shall pay to Holdings any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

- 5 -
 

 

(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed by the Target Company Members ninety (90) days after the Effective Time shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand, and any such Target Company Member who has not exchanged Certificates for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.10 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Holdings for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings shall not be liable to any holder of Certificates for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by Target Company Members two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Holdings free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(g) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Interests shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand.

 

2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Membership Interests. All Merger Consideration delivered or deliverable upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered or deliverable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Interests on the transfer books of the Surviving Entity. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

2.12 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding Interests of the Target Company shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of Interests, or any dividend or distribution paid in Interests, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2.13 Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

2.14 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Holdings, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Holdings may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Interests formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

 

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2.15 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the amount of outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing, and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing and the resulting Transaction Expense Adjustment, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Member Representative to reach such mutual agreement will not give any party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the Closing Working Capital is less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital; (ii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital; or (iii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is within seventy-five percent (75%) and one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Target Working Capital, zero Dollars ($0.00).

 

(c) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the amount of Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target, the amount by which the Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target or (ii) in the event Indebtedness at Closing is less than or equal to the Indebtedness Target, zero Dollars ($0.00).

 

(d) The “Transaction Expense Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Transaction Expenses that remain unpaid at Closing as reflected on the Closing Statement.

 

(e) The Working Capital Adjustment, Indebtedness Adjustment, and Transaction Expense Adjustments shall be applied to (deducted from) the Base Holdings Equity Value, which will in turn reduce the Holdings Equity due to Target Company Members as set forth in the respective definitions set forth on Annex A.

 

2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity deliverable in connection with the Merger, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein.

 

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(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Target Company Members and the number of Interests held by such Persons;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Interest Amount; and

 

(iii) each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Merger Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings and Merger Sub shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.17 PPP Escrow Amount. Holdings and the Member Representative hereby agree that the PPP Escrow Amount shall be held by the PPP Escrow Agent in the PPP Escrow Account, in accordance with the PPP Escrow Agreement; provided, however, Holdings and the Member Representative shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter) deliver a joint written instruction to the PPP Escrow Agent, pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement, instructing the PPP Escrow Agent to release the PPP Escrow Amount to the Member Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share) upon the date on which the Target Company receives an SBA Determination; provided further, however, that if such SBA Determination indicates that less than 100% of the PPP Loan has been forgiven, then such joint written instruction shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release (a) only a portion of the PPP Escrow Amount that is equal to the amount of the PPP Loan that has been forgiven (if any) to the Member Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Share), and (b) the remainder to Holdings.

 

2.18 Employee Stock Incentive Plan. Effective as of the Closing Date, the parties shall have agreed on a conversion of the issued and outstanding options under Target Company’s Employee Stock Incentive Plan, as listed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules (the “Target Company Options”), into stock options for Holdings common stock consistent with the rules of Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with terms that remain otherwise unchanged, or shall have agreed on a treatment of the Target Company Options that preserves their intrinsic value and provides sufficient liquidity to the option holders for purposes of all tax liabilities.

 

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Target Company shall have the right to amend, modify or otherwise revise the scope and content of any and all representations and warranties detailed in this Article so to make them true, correct and complete in all respects (the “Amended Representations and Warranties”). The representations and warranties set forth in this Article III in effect on the date hereof shall be amended, substituted and replaced in their entirety by the Amended Representations and Warranties and the original representations and warranties herein shall not be the basis for any claim, default, breach or indemnification, subject to the limited termination right set forth in Section 5.13 herein upon the inclusion of a fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Target Company.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization as shown on Annex A and has full company power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

3.2 Authority; Board Approval.

 

(a) Target Company has full company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of Target Company Members representing a majority of the outstanding Interests or such vote required under the Target Company Charter Documents (“Requisite Target Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite company action on the part of the Target Company and no other company proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote. The Requisite Target Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Target Company’s Interests required to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

(b) The Target Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors or managers of the Target Company duly called and held and, as of the hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, if applicable to it, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Target Company Members, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the Act, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Target Company Members for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Target Company Members adopt the “plan of merger” (if applicable to it) set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Target Company Board Recommendation”) and directed that such matter be submitted for consideration of the Target Company Members at the Target Company Members Meeting or, in lieu of such meeting, for approval by written consent of the Target Company Members pursuant to the Act.

 

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3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the certificate of formation, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) subject to, in the case of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Target Company Vote, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized Interests (or other equity securities) of the Target Company and the number of Interests that are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Interests and the Interests owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue membership interests, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding Target Company Membership Interest (or other equity securities) are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Target Company Membership Interest were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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(e) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Target Company Membership Interest is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company, except pursuant to appraisal rights in the Act. There are no outstanding or authorized appreciation rights, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the Interests (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co-sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Target Company Membership Interest or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Holdings, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six- month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules, regulations, or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the certificate of formation, operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

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(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its membership interests (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its membership interests (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(o) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, membership interests (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(p) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

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(q) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

(s) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its members or current or former directors, officers and employees;

 

(t) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(u) except for the Merger and the adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(v) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(w) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or equity of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(x) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(y) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

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(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of equity or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of equity, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party, and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Holdings.

 

3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

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(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. No material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Target Company IP Registrations.

 

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(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

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3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

 

3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Target Company not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the four-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). There are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Holdings. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

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3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non-U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing. All of such permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, accreditations, certificates, registrations and authorizations will be available for use by the Target Company immediately after the Closing.

 

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(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected. Except as disclosed in Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Personal Information has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred or disclosed by any Person on behalf of the Target Company. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

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(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Holdings accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

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(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Holdings and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the audited balance sheet contained in the Closing Working Capital Statement) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

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(d) The Target Company has complied with the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would trigger the WARN Act.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

(f) Section 3.21(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Target Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed;and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.

 

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(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(i) The Target Company has delivered to Holdings copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(k) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(m) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(n) Any Target Company which is taxed as a C corporation will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

(o) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(p) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(q) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

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(r) With respect to any Target Company that is subject to taxation in the United States of America, there is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Target Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(s) The Target Company is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

(t) Section 3.21(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

(u) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(v) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and member record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Holdings, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Target Company Members, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Target Company Members, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

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3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or of the Interests (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 CARES Act Matters. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the CARES Act stimulus or relief programs (the “CARES Act Programs”) in which the Target Company is participating or has participated and the amount of funds requested or received by the Target Company under each CARES Act Program. The Target Company has made available to each other Party true, correct and complete copies of all applications, forms and other documents filed or submitted by the Target Company relating to any CARES Act Program, and all statements and information contained in such applications, forms and other documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All funds received by the Target Company under all CARES Act Programs (the “CARES Act Funds”) have been used by the Target Company in compliance in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms, and the Target Company has maintained accounting and other records relating to the CARES Act Funds and the use thereof that comply in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms (including records that track the costs and other expenses for which the CARES Act Funds have been used), true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available by the Target Company to the other parties.

 

3.29 Indebtedness. Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.30 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Target Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Holdings or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

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Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF

HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Organization and Authority. Holdings is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Holdings has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company and corporate action on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub enforceable against Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

4.3 Tax Status of Holdings. Holdings is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings always has been taxed as a corporation since its inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

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4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.5 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub.

 

4.6 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’ AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

4.7 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

4.8 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Subject to any adjustment made pursuant to Section 2.15 herein, the Holdings Equity shall represent in the aggregate 20% of the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Merger, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”), as calculated on a fully diluted basis. Annex E sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the Preliminary Capitalization.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex E, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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(e) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

(b) (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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Article V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

(c) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(i) not incur any Indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business or other than that set forth in Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedules; and

 

(j) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

5.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement between Holdings and the Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

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(c) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

5.4 Target Company Members Consent.

 

(a) Target Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Target Company Vote pursuant to written consents of the Target Company Members in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Written Consent”), with such amendments as shall be appropriate to reflect the transactions with respect to the other Parties. The materials submitted to the Target Company Members in connection with the Written Consent shall include the Target Company Board Recommendation, together with the information required by the Act. Promptly following receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall deliver a copy of such Written Consent to Holdings.

 

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(b) Promptly following, but in no event later than five Business Days after, receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Target Company Member Notice”) to every Target Company Member that did not execute the Written Consent. The Target Company Member Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Target Company Board determined in accordance with the Act that the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) is advisable in accordance with the Act and in the best interests of the Target Company Members and unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) provide the Target Company Members to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Written Consent, including the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act and the bylaws of the Target Company and (iii) if applicable, notify such Target Company Members of their dissent rights pursuant to the Act. The Target Company Member Notice shall include therewith a copy of Section 262 of the Act, if applicable, and all such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request. All materials submitted to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall be subject to Holdings’ advance review and reasonable approval.

 

5.5 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by the Target Company hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Target Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall provide prompt written notice to Target Company when any of the Other Business Combination Party Agreements are executed and closed, or if there is any material breach, material amendment, or termination of such Other Business Combination Agreements.

 

(c) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Target Company in this Agreement (including Sections 8.2 and 9.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

5.6 Reserved.

 

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5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

(b) Target Company and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.7 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Holdings and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b) For six years after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, the Surviving Entity, (the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Entity’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings shall not (and shall cause the Surviving Entity not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither Holdings, the Surviving Entity nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

 

(d) The obligations of Holdings and the Surviving Entity under this Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8).

 

(e) In the event Holdings, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns(i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity or entity in such consolidation or Merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Holdings or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

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5.9 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.

 

5.10 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

5.11 New Board. Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors of Holdings which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made by a simple majority vote of each New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of each New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which each New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of each New Board, Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of each New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 5.11. At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to the New Board, Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that Holdings has complied fully with its obligations in this Section 5.11. In addition to the foregoing, Target Company shall be authorized to designate one (1) non-voting Board observer and its initial designee shall be Martin Peryea.

 

5.12 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

 

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

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(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Target Company undertakes the issuance of certain convertible notes in materially the same form and with the same material terms as those convertible notes previously issued by Target Company prior to the date hereof, the approval of Holdings set forth in this Section 5.12 shall not be required.

 

5.13 Disclosure Schedules. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other document contemplated thereby, following the execution of this Agreement but at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date:

 

(a) Target Company shall provide complete Disclosure Schedules that are satisfactory to Holdings;

 

(b) Subject to final approval by Holdings, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, Target Company shall have the right to amend, modify or otherwise revise the scope and content of any and all representations and warranties of Target Company detailed in this Agreement so to make them true, correct and complete in all respects (the “Amended Representations and Warranties”); and

 

(c) The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement in effect on the execution date shall be amended, substituted and replaced in their entirety by the Amended Representations and Warranties and the original representation and warranties set forth shall not be the basis for any claim, default, breach or indemnification.

 

In the event the Target Company (the “Breaching Target Company”) either (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Target Company, then Holdings shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1(b).

 

5.14 Employees. At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

5.15 Carter Aviation Technologies Debt. Within one (1) business day following the closing of the SPAC Merger or effective date of an IPO, as applicable, Holdings or its successor shall pay to Carter Aviation Technologies LLC (“Carter”) an amount of $23,000,000, as an initial payment on Target Company’s debt to Carter. In addition, within thirty (30) days following the closing of the SPAC Merger or effective date of an IPO, as applicable, Holdings or its successor shall issue a three (3)-year promissory note to Carter for the balance of the indebtedness owed by Target Company to Carter (approximately $27,000,000) to be paid quarterly beginning on a date no later than ninety (90) days after the closing of the SPAC Merger or IPO effective date, as applicable, with simple interest accruing at the prime interest rate.

 

5.16 Deferred Compensation Payments. Within thirty (30) days of the closing of a SPAC Merger or effective date of an IPO, as applicable, Holdings or its successor shall pay an aggregate amount not to exceed $4,000,000 to the recipients of Target Company’s deferred compensation awards, as set forth on Section 5.16 of the Disclosure Schedules. In the event the aggregate amount of the deferred compensation awards due and owing as of the Effective Date exceeds $4,000,000, Target Company shall, prior to Closing, take all necessary steps to settle such obligations in cash or issuances of additional units or other equity securities, including convertible securities. Any additional units issued pursuant to this Section 5.16 shall be reflected on the Consideration Spreadsheet delivered by Target Company to Holdings pursuant to Section 2.16. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will Holdings or its successor be obligated to pay any amount in excess of $4,000,000 to the recipients of Target Company’s deferred compensation awards.

 

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5.17 Aircraft Funding. Following consummation of a SPAC Merger or effective date of an IPO, as applicable, Holdings or its successor shall fund Target Company’s aircraft development efforts up to Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in calendar year 2022 and up to an additional Seventeen Million, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($17,400,000) in calendar year 2023, all such funds to be allocated on an as- needed basis.

 

5.18 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s audited financial statements in connection with a SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Member Representative, up to $100,000, for further distribution to the Target Company Members, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

5.19 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Target Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Article VI

TAX MATTERS

 

6.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Target Company Members shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings or the Surviving Entity in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Target Company Members. The Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Target Company Members when due. Member Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

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6.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries, Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Target Company Members shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Target Company Members pursuant to this Section 6.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

6.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Holdings shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre- Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Holdings to Member Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Member Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Member Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Holdings in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Holdings and Member Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Holdings and Member Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Holdings of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Holdings and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Holdings and Member Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Holdings.

 

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(c) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, Holdings is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by Holdings or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members.

 

6.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

6.6 Contests. Holdings agrees to give written notice to Member Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings pursuant to this Article VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Member Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Member Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Member Representative.

 

6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Member Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Member Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Member Representative, the Target Company or Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

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6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Merger Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

6.9 Payments to Holdings. Any amounts payable to Holdings pursuant to this Article VI shall be satisfied from the Target Company Members in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

6.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIRPTA Statement”).

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties intend that the Target Company Membership Interest exchanged for Holdings Equity pursuant to the Merger are tax-deferred contributions of capital by the Target Company Members in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

6.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3 .21 and this Article VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

6.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VI, the provisions of this Article VI shall govern.

 

Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

(b) The filings of Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(d) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked..

 

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(e) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

(f) Holdings must have received a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter (or similar written indication) from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

(g) Each of Martin Peryea and Simon Briceno, currently employed by Target Company, shall have received employment offers from Holdings or its Affiliate to become effective as of the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. The obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the Amended Representations and Warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the Amended Representations and Warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof or thereof, as the case may be, and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Amended Representations and Warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof or thereof, as the case may be, and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

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(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

(g) Holders of no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding Target Company Membership Interests as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the aggregate, shall have exercised, or remain entitled to exercise, appraisal rights pursuant to the Act with respect to such Target Company Membership Interests.

 

(h) Target Company shall have received the consent of each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness to consummate the transactions set forth in this Agreement and provided satisfactory evidence of such consent to Holdings and Merger Sub.

 

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5, the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

(b) Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority shall have been obtained.

 

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Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Members . Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date);provided, that (i) claims for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Target Company Members, pursuant to this Agreement, the Target Company Members representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Target Company Members;

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Target Company Members or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VI);

 

(c) any claim made by any Target Company Member relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Holdings Equity or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(d) any amounts paid to the holders of Dissenting Interests of Target Company, including any interest required to be paid thereon, that are in excess of what such holders would have received hereunder had such holders not been holders of Dissenting Interests;

 

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(e) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, Indebtedness, or unpaid Transaction Expenses, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission or misstatement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Adjusted Holdings Equity Value pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, Holdings and AIRO Group shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend the Target Company Members, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Target Company Member Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Target Company Member Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI).

 

8.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article VIII, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

8.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article VIII, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Member Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Member Representative. Any payment received by Member Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Target Company Members in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Target Company Member, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Member Representative and Holdings shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

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(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article VI hereof.

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Members, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Target Company Members (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be.

 

8.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 10.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or intentional misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII.

 

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Nothing in this Section 8.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

Article IX TERMINATION

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

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

 

(b) by Holdings by written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) none of Holdings, AIRO Group nor Merger Sub is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

(c) by Target Company by written notice to Holdings if:

 

(i) Target Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings, AIRO Group, or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings, AIRO Group, or Merger Sub within ten days of Holdings’, AIRO Group’s, or Merger Sub’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

 

(d) by Holdings or by Target Company if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) By Holdings if two days prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Target Company shall not have delivered to Holdings a copy of the executed Written Consent evidencing receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

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9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article IX, Section 5.2(b) and Article X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Member Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Target Company Member shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Martin Peryea as the initial Member Representative. The Member Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Member Representative pursuant to this Agreement, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.15;

 

(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Holdings pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document;

 

(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary

Document;

 

(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Member Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Member Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

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Holdings shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Member Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VIII) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Target Company Member by Member Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Target Company Member by Member Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Member Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Target Company Members. Any decision or action by Member Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Member Representative and Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Target Company Members and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Target Company Member shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Target Company Members, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

(b) The Member Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 10.1(b).

 

(i) The Member Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Member Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Target Company Members according to each Target Company Member’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Member Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Member Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Member Representative.

 

(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Member Representative, a new Member Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Member Representative shall be sent to Holdings, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Holdings; provided, that until such notice is received, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Member Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

(c) The Member Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Target Company Members. If the Member Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Member Representative, the Member Representative must notify the Target Company Members.

 

(d) The Member Representative shall not be liable to the Target Company Members for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Member Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Target Company Members shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests), indemnify and hold harmless Member Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Member Representative under this Agreement (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Member Representative, Member Representative shall reimburse the Target Company Members the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied by the Target Company Members, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Interests).

 

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10.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, Holdings shall be responsible for reimbursing Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

10.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.3):

 

If to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub:

 

c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87119

Attn: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202 Attn: Kate Bechen

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

If to Target Company or Member Representative:

 

Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC 2626 Cole Ave., Suite 300

Dallas, TX 75204-1904

Attn: Martin Peryea

Email: maperyea@jauntairmobility.com

 

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

 

Locke Lord LLP

111 South Wacker Drive, Suite 4100

Chicago, IL 60606 Attn: Kathleen Swan

Email: kathleen.swan@lockelord.com

 

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10.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

10.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the Surviving Entity, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings, and Holdings shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

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10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.8, Section 6.3 and Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Requisite Target Company Vote is obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that, pursuant to applicable Law, requires further approval of the Target Company Members, without the receipt of such further approvals. Any failure of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or Target Company, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub) or by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (with respect to any failure by such Target Company), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11(c).

 

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10.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”); provided that nothing in this Section 10.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Member Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Target Company Member Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Member Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 10.12. If Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Target Company Member Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

(d) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 10.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Member Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Target Company Members and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

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(c) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(d) Holdings, on the one hand, and the Target Company Members, on the other hand, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(e) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

10.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

10.14 Counterparts. 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

 

10.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

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10.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange Interests pursuant to a Merger in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings has retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Surviving Entity, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

10.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger or IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger or IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of membership interests. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Members to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Members) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such the former Target Company Member) as part of the Rescission process.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET COMPANY:
     
  JAUNT AIR MOBILITY LLC,
  a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Name: Martin Peryea
  Its: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  HOLDINGS:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AIRO GROUP:
     
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MERGER SUB:
     
  JAUNT MERGER SUB, LLC, a Delaware
  limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  Martin Peryea, solely in his capacity as
  Member Representative
   
  By: /s/ Martin Peryea        
  Name: Martin Peryea

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

Act” means, with respect to AIRO Group, Holdings, Target Company or Merger Sub, as applicable, the respective laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, authorizing its formation or incorporation, valid existence, and company or corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Adjusted Holdings Equity Value” means the Base Holding Equity Value less the value of the Working Capital Adjustment, Indebtedness Adjustment, and Transaction Expenses Adjustment as set forth in Section 2.15.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

AIRO Group” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Promissory Notes, and each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Base Holdings Equity Value” means $170,000,000.

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

 

 

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or a similar provision of Law.

 

CARES Act Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Programs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Terms” means all terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority for the receipt of any funds under any CARES Act Program.

 

Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

 

Contribution Interests” means the aggregate number of shares of Target Company Membership Interest to be contributed to Holdings by the Target Company Members, and subsequently cancelled in accordance with 2.8(a).

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Holdings will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

 

 

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Dissenting Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Fully Diluted Interest Amount” means the aggregate number of Interests outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Interests owned by the Target Company which are to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.8(a)).

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

 

 

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Members in exchange for the Contribution Interests as set forth on Annex B. Holdings Equity shall be equal to the quotient of (a) the Adjusted Holdings Equity Value, divided by (b)

$28.05.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f); (h) deferred compensation, severance obligations, or similar payment obligations; (i) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (h); provided, however, that Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the Indebtedness Adjustment shall not include the payment to Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC pursuant to Section 5.15 or any amounts payable pursuant to the promissory note contemplated therein.

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indebtedness Target” means $4,000,000.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Member Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

 

 

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

 

 

 

Member Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble. “Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Merger Consideration” means the Holdings Equity that the Target Company Members shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual, including any record that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual.

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

PPP Escrow Account” means the segregated account in which the PPP Escrow Amount is held by the PPP Escrow Agent pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement.

 

 

 

 

PPP Escrow Agent” means for Target Company, the bank that provided the PPP Loan to Target Company.

 

PPP Escrow Agreement” means an agreement by and among the Member Representative, the PPP Escrow Agent and Holdings in form and substance acceptable to the parties.

 

PPP Escrow Amount” means, with respect to a Target Company, the full amount of principal and interest due in respect of the PPP Loan.

 

PPP Loan” means, with respect to any Target Company, the loan made to the Target Company by a bank pursuant to that certain promissory note under the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (pursuant to the CARES Act).

 

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

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Target Company Member such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, determined by dividing (a) the number of Interests owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Effective time, by (b) the Fully Diluted Interest Amount.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).

 

Requisite Target Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a). “Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

SBA Determination” means the final and nonappealable written determination of the SBA that the PPP Loan is forgiven (in part or in full) or not pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (under the CARES Act).

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

 

 

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Interests, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

Target Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Target Company Member” means a holder of Target Company Membership Interest.

 

Target Company Member Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

Target Company Member Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Target Company Membership Interest” has the meaning provided in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

Target Organizational Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii).

 

 

 

 

Target Working Capital” means a TTM normalized level of Closing Working Capital, as agreed upon by the Parties prior to the Closing, and determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).

 

Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE CONSIDERATION

 

Name of Entity 

Aggregate

Percentage of

Holdings Common

Stock *

  

Aggregate Number

of Holdings

Common Stock

(Holdings Equity)**

 
Column A  Column B   Column C 
           
To Target Company Members   20%   6,060,606 

 

*Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time. This percentage is an estimate based upon the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding if all Other Business Combinations between Holdings and the Other Business Combination Parties close. In the event that any Other Business Combinations fail to close, resulting in a decrease in the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding upon the close of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Other Business Combination Agreements, the percentage in Column B shall increase accordingly.

 

**Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Members immediately prior to the Effective Time. This number shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.15(e).

 

 
 

 

ANNEX C

 

PARTIES

 

Name of Party  

Name of Office where

Certificate of Merger

will be filed for the

Surviving Entity

 

Name of Office

where Certificate

of Merger will be

filed for the Party

 

Surviving Entity

of the Merger

(the “Surviving

Entity”)

 

Governing

Law

Jaunt Air Mobility LLC   Secretary of State of the State of Delaware   Secretary of State of the State of Delaware   Jaunt Air Mobility LLC   Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other
Business Combination

Party and Jurisdiction

of its Organization

 

Classification of

Other Business

Combination

Party for

Purposes of U.S.

Federal Income

Taxes*

 

Name of Entity to be

Merged into Other

Business Combination

Party and Jurisdiction

of its Organization

 

Surviving

Entity

 

Governing

Law

AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability

company (“AIRO

Drone”)

  Partnership  

AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)

  AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware
                 

Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited

liability company (“Agile Defense”)

  Partnership  

Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)

  Agile Defense   Minnesot a and Delaware
                 

Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation

(“Aspen”)

  C corporation  

Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen

Merger Sub”)

  Aspen   Delaware
                 

Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)

  C Corporation  

Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal

Merger Sub”)

  Coastal   Pennsylvan i a and Delaware
                 

Jaunt Air Mobility LLC, a Delaware limited liability

company (“Jaunt”)

  C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt

Merger Sub”)

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 

Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company

(“Sky-Watch”)

  TBD  

Sky-Watch Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sky-

Watch Merger Sub”)

  Sky-Watch   Denmark and Delaware
                 

VRCO LTD., an

English company (“VRCO”)

  TBD  

VRCO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VRCO

Merger Sub”)

  VRCO   England and Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E
 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 
 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

December 17, 2021

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, Jaunt Air Mobility LLC and Martin Peryea (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 10.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  JAUNT AIR MOBILITY LLC
    
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Martin Peryea,
  Executive Chairman    CEO
        
JAUNT MERGER SUB, LLCMARTIN PERYEA, solely in his capacity as Member Representative
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria  By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,    Martin Peryea, individually
  Executive Chairman     
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.     
        
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria     
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,     
  Executive Chairman     

 

 
 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

March 10, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, Jaunt Air Mobility LLC, and Martin Peryea, solely in his capacity as Member Representative (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 17, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”) effective as of the date hereof (the “Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedules are complete and final as of the Effective Date.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 5.8(c) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(c) [Reserved].

 

 
 

 

b. Section 7.1(f) is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Holdings must have received a valuation or similar report from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for Holdings common stock with a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.”

 

c. The contact information for Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111. E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

d.  Section 10.17 is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the Effective time of the IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the IPO occurs. In the event the IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s manager and the Member Representative. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of membership interests. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Members to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Members) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such former Target Company Member) as part of the Rescission process.”

 

e. The definition of “D&O Tail Policy” in Annex A is deleted in its entirety.

 

f. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

 
 

 

g. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

h. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

i. The following clause is deleted from the end of the definition of “Transaction Expenses” on Annex A: “including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).”

 

j. Annex D is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex D attached hereto.

 

k. Annex E is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex E attached hereto. The Parties acknowledge and agree that VRCO Ltd. (“VRCO”) is no longer party to a business combination agreement with Holdings and AIRO Group, and the shares previously allocated to the VRCO shareholders have been reserved by Holdings for future allocations of shares and restricted stock awards as set forth on Annex E and as further described on Schedule 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

2. The Disclosure Schedules for Target Company as of the Effective Date are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

3. The Disclosure Schedules for Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub as of the Effective Date are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

4. The promissory note to be delivered to Carter Aviation Technologies LLC pursuant to Section 5.15 shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  JAUNT AIR MOBILITY LLC
    
By: /s/ Joseph Burns  By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,    Martin Peryea,
  Chief Executive Officer    CEO
        
JAUNT MERGER SUB, LLC

 

MARTIN PERYEA, solely in his capacity as

Member Representative

        
By: /s/ Joseph Burns  /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,  Martin Peryea, individually
  Manager     
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.     
        
By: /s/ Joseph Burns     
  Joseph Burns,     
  Chief Executive Officer     

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   JAUNT AIR MOBILITY LLC
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,     Martin Peryea,
  Chief Executive Officer     CEO
       
JAUNT MERGER SUB, LLC  

MARTIN PERYEA, solely in his capacity as

Member Representative

       
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,   Martin Peryea, individually
  Manager      
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.    
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns      
  Joseph Burns,      
  Chief Executive Officer      

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other
Business

Combination Party
and Jurisdiction of its Organization

  Classification of Other
Business Combination
Party for Purposes of
U.S. Federal Income
Taxes
  Name of Entity to be
Merged into Other
Business Combination
Party and Jurisdiction of
its Organization
  Surviving
Entity
  Governing
Law
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)   Partnership  

AIRO Drone Merger Sub,

LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  AIRO Drone   Illinois and Delaware
                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)   Partnership  

Agile Defense Merger

Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware
                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation  

Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a

Delaware corporation

  Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C corporation  

Coastal Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

  Coastal  

Pennsylvania

and Delaware

                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt”)   Partnership  

Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a

Delaware limited liability company

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)   TBD   N/A  

Sky-Watch Denmark and

Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Reserved Equity Pool   1,727,273 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

AIRO Group, Holdings, and Merger Sub Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Carter Aviation Technologies LLC Promissory Note

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

August 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC and Martin Peryea (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC on March 10, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a.  Section 10.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows: “SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings.”

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.  JAUNT AIR MOBILITY, LLC
    
By: /s/ Joseph Burns  By: /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,    Martin Peryea,
  CEO    Manager
        
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.  MARTIN PERYEA, solely in his capacity as Member Representative
        
By: /s/ Joseph Burns  /s/ Martin Peryea
  Joseph Burns,  Martin Peryea, individually
  CEO     

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.17

 

 

 

EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.

 

SKY-WATCH A/S,

 

EACH SELLER PARTY HERETO,

 

AND

 

THE SELLER REPRESENTATIVE

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS - 1 -
     
ARTICLE II THE TRANSACTION - 1 -
2.1 The Transaction. - 1 -
2.2 Closing. - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Withholding Rights. - 3 -
2.5 Closing Adjustments - 3 -
2.6 Consideration Spreadsheet - 4 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 5 -
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 5 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval. - 5 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. - 5 -
3.4 Capitalization. - 6 -
3.5 Subsidiaries. - 6 -
3.6 Financial Statements. - 7 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 8 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. - 8 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 10 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property. - 11 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. - 12 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 12 -
3.13 Inventory - 13 -
3.14 Accounts Receivable - 13 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 13 -
3.16 Insurance - 14 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders. - 14 -
3.18 Compliance With Laws; Permits. - 15 -
3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 16 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 18 -
3.21 Taxes. - 19 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 21 -
3.23 Books and Records - 21 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 22 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 22 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney. - 22 -
3.27 Brokers - 22 -
3.29 Full Disclosure. - 22 -

 

 
 

 

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS - 22 -
4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings - 22 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. - 23 -
4.3 Brokers - 23 -
4.4 Legal Proceedings. - 23 -
     
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS AND AIRO GROUP - 23 -
5.1 Organization and Authority - 23 -
5.2 No Conflicts; Consents. - 24 -
5.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 24 -
5.4 Brokers - 24 -
5.5 Legal Proceedings. - 24 -
5.6 Full Disclosure. - 24 -
5.7 Capitalization of Holdings. - 24 -
5.7 Capitalization of AIRO Group. - 25 -
     
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS - 26 -
6.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. - 26 -
6.2 Access to Information. - 26 -
6.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 27 -
6.4 Notice of Certain Events. - 28 -
6.5 Governmental Approvals and Consents. - 28 -
6.6 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 29 -
6.7 Closing Conditions - 30 -
6.8 Public Announcements. - 30 -
6.9 New Board; Observer - 31 -
6.10 Equity Securities. - 31 -
6.11 Disclosure Schedules. - 32 -
6.12 Employees, Managing Director, and Board of Target Company. - 32 -
6.13 Audit Expenses. - 32 -
6.14 Transaction Expenses; Debt Obligations - 32 -
6.15 Restrictive Covenants. - 32 -
6.16 Release. - 34 -
6.17 Further Assurances - 34 -
     
ARTICLE VII TAX MATTERS - 34 -
7.1 Tax Covenants. - 34 -
7.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 35 -
7.3 Tax Indemnification - 35 -
7.4 Tax Returns. - 35 -
7.5 Straddle Period - 36 -
7.6 Contests - 36 -

 

 
 

 

7.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. - 36 -
7.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 37 -
7.9 Payments to Holdings. - 37 -
7.10 FIRPTA Statement - 37 -
7.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. - 37 -
7.12 Survival. - 37 -
7.13 Overlap - 37 -
     
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 37 -
8.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. - 37 -
8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings - 38 -
8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. - 39 -
     
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION - 40 -
9.1 Survival. - 40 -
9.2 Indemnification by Sellers. - 40 -
9.3 Indemnification By Holdings and AIRO Group. - 41 -
9.4 Certain Limitations. - 41 -
9.5 Indemnification Procedures. - 41 -
9.6 Payments; Setoff. - 43 -
9.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 43 -
9.8 Effect of Investigation - 43 -
9.9 Exclusive Remedies. - 44 -
     
ARTICLE X TERMINATION - 44 -
10.1 Termination - 44 -
10.2 Effect of Termination - 45 -
     
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS - 45 -
11.1 Seller Representative - 45 -
11.2 Expenses. - 47 -
11.3 Notices. - 47 -
11.4 Interpretation - 48 -
11.5 Headings. - 48 -
11.6 Severability. - 48 -
11.7 Entire Agreement. - 48 -
11.8 Successors and Assigns - 49 -
11.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. - 49 -
11.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 49 -
11.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 49 -
11.12 Arbitration Procedure - 50 -
11.13 Specific Performance. - 51 -
11.14 Counterparts - 51 -
11.15 Representation Disclosure - 52 -
11.16 Certain Acknowledgments. - 52 -
11.17 Unwind - 52 -

 

 
 

 

EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among (i) AIRO Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Group” or “Buyer”), (ii) AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of AIRO Group (“Holdings”), (iii) Sky-Watch A/S, a company organized under the laws of Denmark (“Target Company”), (iv) each Seller (as defined herein), and (v) Dangroup ApS, a company organized under the laws of Denmark (“Seller Representative”). Each of the foregoing parties is referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, Sellers directly own all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Target Company (the “Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, on the terms and conditions forth in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of the Shares from Sellers through a contribution of such Shares to Holdings in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and Promissory Notes (the “Transaction”);

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex C), Holdings and AIRO Group will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex C (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex D (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the transaction structure and the aggregate amount of the consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

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

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE TRANSACTION

 

2.1 The Transaction. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Holdings shall acquire from Sellers, and Sellers shall sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Holdings, all of the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances (the “Transaction”), through Sellers’ contribution of the Shares to Holdings, followed by delivery of the Purchase Consideration to Sellers as set forth in Section 2.3(b)(i) and (ii) (consisting of Holdings Equity and the Promissory Notes). The contribution of Shares as described herein is intended by Holdings to have the tax treatment as described in Section 7.11.

 

- 1 -
 

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Seller Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, the Seller Representative shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) all stock certificates held by the Sellers representing the Shares, to the extent such Shares are certificated at the time of Closing;

 

(ii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) and Section 8.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (b) such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(v) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(vi) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.6;

 

(vii) the FIRPTA Statement; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Seller Representative (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) each of the Promissory Notes made payable to each Seller and in the principal amounts set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet, duly executed by Holdings;

 

(ii) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Seller in accordance with such Seller’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

- 2 -
 

 

( ) a certificate, for each of Holdings and AIRO Group, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings and AIRO Group, respectively, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a) and Section 8.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(i) a certificate, for each of Holdings and AIRO Group, of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings and AIRO Group certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders of Holdings and AIRO Group authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings and AIRO Group certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Holdings and AIRO Group authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(iii) such other documents or instruments as Seller Representative reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

2.4 Withholding Rights. Holdings shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by Holdings, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which Holdings made such deduction and withholding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to delivery by Seller Representative of a form W-8-BEN-E (or similar) for each Seller with references to applicable exemptions, Holding shall not withhold payments.

 

2.5 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the amount of outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing and the resulting Transaction Expense Adjustment, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Seller Representative to reach such mutual agreement will not give any party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

- 3 -
 

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Closing Working Capital, as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Working Capital Adjustment shall be either added to, to the extent it is positive number, or deducted from, to the extent it is a negative number, the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the under the Promissory Notes.

 

(c) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness at Closing, as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Indebtedness Adjustment shall be deducted from the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Sellers under the Promissory Notes.

 

(d) The “Transaction Expense Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Transaction Expenses that remain upaid at Closing, as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Transaction Expense Adjustment shall be deducted from the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Sellersunder the Promissory Notes.

 

(e) A model calculation is attached hereto as Annex E (the “Calculation Model”), and the Parties agree that the accounting principle illustrated and captured by the Calculation Model shall be applicable, and in the case of a discrepancy between such Calculation Model and the definitions of Current Assets, Current Liabilities, Working Capital, Indebtedeness and Transaction Expenses, the methods and principles in the Calculation Model shall prevail.

 

2.6 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity, the Promissory Note Principal Amount, and the Earnout deliverable in connection with the Transaction, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein.

 

(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Sellers and the number of Shares held by such Persons;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Share Number; and

 

(iii) each Seller’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Holdings Equity portion and the Promissory Notes portion of the Purchase Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.7 Treatment of Warrants. Prior to the execution of this agreement, the Company shall take all required actions to cancel any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its capital stock (or other equity securities).

 

- 4 -
 

 

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings and Buyer that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Denmark and has full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

3.2 Authority; Board Approval. Target Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Target Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transaction, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for such filings as may be required under the HSR Act or any applicable Danish or E.U. law.

 

- 5 -
 

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized capital stock (or other equity securities) of the Target Company and the number Shares that are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Shares and the number of Shares owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Shares.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Shares (or other equity securities) are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Shares were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Shares is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co- sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Capital Stock or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Buyer, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

- 6 -
 

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six- month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

- 7 -
 

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules regulations or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any shares of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements;

 

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( ) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(a) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(b) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, capital stock (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(d) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

(e) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

(g) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its stockholders or current or former directors, officers and employees;

 

(h) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(i) any consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(j) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(k) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(l) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(m) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

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(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of stock or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Buyer.

 

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3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent, and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. No material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

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3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Target Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Target Company IP Registrations.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

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(n) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(o) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

(p) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

 

3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Target Company not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). There are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

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3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Buyer. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

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3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non- U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing. All of such permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, accreditations, certificates, registrations and authorizations will be available for use by the Target Company immediately after the Closing.

 

(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected. Except as disclosed in Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Personal Information has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred or disclosed by any Person on behalf of the Target Company. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

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3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Buyer accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

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(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Closing would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post- termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

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(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Buyer and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the audited balance sheet contained in the Closing Statement) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

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(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

(d) The Target Company has no U.S. employees and is not subject to the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would make the WARN Act applicable.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

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(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

(f) Section 3.21(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Target Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed;

and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently

being conducted.

 

(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(i) The Target Company has delivered to Buyer copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(k) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(m) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(n) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(o) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

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(p) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

(q) Section 3.21(q) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

(r) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(s) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and stock record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Buyer, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Sellers, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Sellers, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

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3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or of the Shares (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 Indebtedness. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.29 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Target Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Buyer or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

 

Each Seller represents and warrants to Holdings and Buyer that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Authority. Such Seller has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. To the extent such Seller is an entity, such Seller is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of organization, and he execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by such Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all company or corporate action on the part of such Seller and no other proceedings on the part of the Seller are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which such Seller is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of such Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) to the extent such Seller is an entity, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of such Seller; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to such Seller; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which such Seller is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to such Seller in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for such filings as may be required under the the HSR Act or any applicable Danish or E.U. law.

 

4.3 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Seller.

 

4.4 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to such Seller’s knowledge, threatened against or by such Seller or any of its Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

Article V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS AND AIRO GROUP

 

Holdings and AIRO Group represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

5.1 Organization and Authority. Each of Holdings and AIRO Group is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of Holdings and AIRO Group has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and AIRO Group of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings and AIRO Group of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Holdings and AIRO Group and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings or AIRO Group are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Holdings and AIRO Group and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings and AIRO Group enforceable against Holdings and AIRO Group in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings or AIRO Group are or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings or AIRO Group (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings or AIRO Group enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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5.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and AIRO Group of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings and AIRO Group; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings AIRO Group; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings or AIRO Group is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings or AIRO Group in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

5.3 Tax Status of Holdings and AIRO Group. Each of Holdings and AIRO Group is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings and AIRO Group always have been taxed as corporations since their inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

5.4 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings or AIRO Group.

 

5.5 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’s or AIRO Group’s knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

5.6 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings or AIRO Group in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

5.7 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) The Holdings Equity shall represent in the aggregate 2.94% of the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Transaction, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”), as calculated on a fully diluted basis. Annex D sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the Preliminary Capitalization.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 5.7 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex D, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

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(m) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(n) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

(o) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

5.8 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

(b) Except as disclosed on Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex D, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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Article VI

COVENANTS

 

6.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

(c) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(i) not incur, prior to December 15, 2021, any new Indebtedness in excess of $4,000,000, individually or in the aggregate, without the prior written consent of Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); and

 

(j) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

6.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

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(b) Holdings, Airo Group and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality terms of their “Term Sheet for Strategic Acquisition of 100% of the Ownership Interest”, dated August 24, 2020, between Airo Group and Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

(c) Holdings and AIRO Group shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

6.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 6.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 6.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

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6.4 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by the Target Company hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(e) to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Target Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the Target Company in this Agreement (including Sections 9.2 and 10.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

6.5 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act and those applicable under Danish or E.U. law) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

(b) Target Company, AIRO Group and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 5.2 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

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(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6.5 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

6.6 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Buyer agrees that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Closing an officer, manager, director, or other representative or attorney-in-fact (as applicable pursuant to Danish law) of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 6.6 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall survive the Transaction and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b) For six years after the Closing, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, Airo Group, Holdings and Target Company (collectively, the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Closing (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Target Company’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that Target Company will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Target Company’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

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(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Closing with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Closing (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings and AIRO Group shall not (and shall cause Target Company not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither AIRO Group, Holdings, Target Company nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

 

(d) The obligations of AIRO Group, Holdings and the Target Company under this Section 6.6 shall survive the consummation of the Transaction and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 6.6 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 6.6 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 6.6, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 6.6).

 

(e) In the event AIRO Group, Holdings, Target Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity in such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of AIRO Group, Holdings or Target Company, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.6. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.6 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

6.7 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof.

 

6.8 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

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6.9 New Board; Observer.

 

(a) Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, each of AIRO Group and Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Transaction, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made by a simple majority vote of each New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of each New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which each New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of each New Board, AIRO Group and Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, AIRO Group and Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of each New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. AIRO Group and Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 6.9(a). At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to each New Board, AIRO Group and Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that AIRO Group and Holdings have complied fully with their obligations in this Section 6.9(a).

 

(b) From and after the Closing, for so long as the initial Seller Representative controls all of the Holdings Equity issued to it at the Closing, the initial Seller Representative shall have the right to designate a non-voting observer (the “Observer”) on the board of the Target Company. The Target Company shall (i) give the Observer notice of all such meetings, (ii) provide to the Observer all notices, documents and information furnished to the board whether at or in anticipation of a meeting, an action by written consent or otherwise, at the same time furnished to the board, (iii) notify the Observer and permit the Observer to participate, on a non voting basis, in person, by telephone or videoconference, as applicable, in the same manner as the members of the board, in meetings of the board and all committees thereof, and (iv) provide the Observer copies of the minutes of all such meetings at the time such minutes are furnished to the board; provided, however, that such Observer shall agree to hold in confidence all information so provided; and provided further, that the Target Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such Observer from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting could adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Target Company and its counsel or a conflict of interest (other than with respect to the Earnout), or if such Observer is a competitor of the Target Company.

 

6.10 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article VI, prior to the Closing, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

 

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

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6.11 Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete Disclosure Schedules shall be provided by each Party to this Agreement to each other Party to this Agreement on or before the Termination Date. In the event the Target Company (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Company, then Buyer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 10.1(b).

 

6.12 Employees, Managing Director, and Board of Target Company. At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

6.13 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s audited financial statements in connection with SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Seller Representative, up to $100,000, for further distribution to the Sellers, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

6.14 Transaction Expenses; Debt Obligations.

 

(a) At the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be, Holdings shall pay in full (or cause to be paid) all amounts owed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of Transaction Expenses.

 

(b) Immediately after the Closing, the Indebtedness shall continue to be an issued and outstanding obligation of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Within three Business Days of the closing of the SPAC Merger, or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be, Holdings agrees to cause all Indebtedness to be paid in full and, in connection therewith, take all necessary steps to secure the agreement of the holders of those certain obligations to release all of the liens and security interests upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

6.15 Restrictive Covenants.

 

(a) The Sellers hereby acknowledge that each is familiar with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ trade secrets and with other confidential information. The Sellers each acknowledge and agree that AIRO Group and Holdings and the Target Company and its Subsidiaries would be irreparably damaged if any Seller were to provide services to or otherwise participate in the business of any Person competing with the Target Company or its Subsidiaries and that any such competition by any Seller (or Sellers’ Affiliate) would result in a significant loss of goodwill by AIRO Group and Holdings and the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Each Seller further acknowledges and agrees that the covenants and agreements set forth in this Section 6.15 were a material inducement to AIRO Group and Holdings to consummate the Transaction, and that AIRO Group and Holdings and its stakeholders would not obtain the benefit of the bargain set forth in the Agreement as specifically negotiated by the parties hereto if any Seller breached the provisions of this Section 6.15. Therefore, each Seller agrees, in further consideration of the amounts to be paid as his/her Pro Rata Share of the Purchase Consideration on the Closing Date and the goodwill of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly sold by the Sellers, that until the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing each Seller shall not (and shall cause any Affiliate and Subsidiaries not to), directly or indirectly, own any interest in, manage, control, participate in (whether as an officer, director, employee, partner, member, agent, representative or otherwise), consult with, render services for, or in any other manner engage anywhere in the Restricted Territories (as defined below) in any business engaged directly or indirectly in the business conducted by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing; provided that nothing herein shall prohibit any Seller or any of its Affiliates from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded so long as none of such Persons has any active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.15, “Restricted Territories” shall mean any county, worldwide, within which the Target Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business as of the Closing Date.

 

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(b) Each Seller agrees that until the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing each shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates not to) directly, or indirectly through another Person, (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Target Company or its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person who is then an employee of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries or who was an employee of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries at any time during the one year period immediately prior to the date on which such hiring would take place (it being conclusively presumed by the parties so as to avoid any disputes under this Section 6.15 that any such hiring within such one year period is in violation of clause (i) above), or (iii) for so long as such the Sellers have continuing obligations under Section 6.15(a) above, call on, solicit or service any customer, supplier, lessee, lessor, licensee, licensor or other business relation of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries (including any Person that was a customer, supplier, lessee, lessor, licensee, licensor or other potential business relation of the Target Company or its Subsidiaries at any time during the 12-month period immediately prior to such call, solicitation or service), induce or attempt to induce such Person to cease doing business with the Target Company or its Affiliates, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, lessee, lessor, licensee, licensor or other business relation and the Target Company or its Affiliates (including making any negative statements or communications about the Target Company or its Affiliates) in a manner harmful to the Target Company or its Affiliates.

 

(c) Each Seller agrees that each shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates and Subsidiaries not to), except to the extent done in good faith in any claim, suit, action or proceeding against AIRO Group, Holdings or the Target Company, (i) make any negative statement or communication regarding AIRO Group, Holdings, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates or employees with the intent to harm any such Person or (ii) make any derogatory or disparaging statement or communication regarding AIRO Group, Holdings, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates or employees. Nothing in this Section 6.15(c) shall limit the Seller Repersentative’s and each Seller’s or its Affiliate’s ability to make true and accurate statements or communications in connection with any disclosure each Seller or any Sellers’ Affiliate reasonably believe is required pursuant to applicable Law.

 

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of the covenants contained in this Section 6.15 (the “Restrictive Covenants”), a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed and directed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by Law. Each Seller has consulted with legal counsel regarding the Restrictive Covenants and based on such consultation has determined and hereby acknowledges that the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable in terms of duration, scope and area restrictions and are necessary to protect the goodwill of the Target Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses and the substantial investment in the Target Company and its Subsidiaries made by AIRO Group and Holdings hereunder. Each Seller further acknowledges and agrees that the Restrictive Covenants are being entered into by it in connection with the sale of the Target Company Shares owned by the undersigned and the goodwill of the Target Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses pursuant to the Agreement and not directly or indirectly in connection with the each Sellers’ employment or other relationship with the Target Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

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(e) If any Seller or an Affiliate of any Seller breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the Restrictive Covenants, the Target Company shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the others and severally enforceable, and each of which is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to AIRO Group, Holdings, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates at Law or in equity, the right and remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to the Target Company, AIRO Group and Holdings and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the Target Company. In the event of any breach or violation by any Seller of any of the Restrictive Covenants, the time period of such covenant shall be tolled until such breach or violation is resolved.

 

6.16 Release. The Sellers and all Sellers’ Affiliates hereby unconditionally and irrevocably acquit, remise, discharge and forever release, effective as of the Closing the Target Company and their respective Affiliates, equityholders, partners, managers, trustees, employees, officers, directors and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all Liabilities and Losses of every kind whatsoever, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or undertaking, whether written or oral, to the extent arising on or prior to the Closing; provided that Liabilities acquitted, remised, discharged and released pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall not include (i) any rights of a Seller under this Agreement and the other documents and agreements executed in consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) accrued and unpaid salary owing to a Seller for the pay period that includes the Closing Date, (iii) subject to the terms hereof, unpaid benefits of each Seller accrued under any employee benefits plan, to the extent such benefits have accrued prior to the Closing Date, (iv) rights of the undersigned to reimbursement of business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with the policies and practices of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (v) any Indebtedness owed by the Target Company or its Subsidiaries to a Seller.

 

6.17 Further Assurances. In the event that at any time after the Closing any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the Parties shall take such further action (including the execution and delivery of such further instruments and documents) as any other Party reasonably may request.

 

Article VII

TAX MATTERS

 

7.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Sellers shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings or the Target Company in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Sellers. The Sellers shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Sellers when due. Seller Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

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7.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

7.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Sellers shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee (as defined in Section 9.2) and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VII; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Sellers shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Sellers pursuant to this Section 7.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

7.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Buyer shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre- Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Buyer to Seller Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Seller Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Seller Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre- Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Buyer in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Buyer and Seller Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Buyer and Seller Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Buyer of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Buyer and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Buyer and Seller Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Buyer. In accordance with Section 9.6, AIRO Group shall be entitled to offset against any amounts owed to the Sellers under the Promissory Notes (i) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and (ii) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 7.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital.

 

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(e) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Buyer is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 7.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by such Buyer or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Sellers, including with respect to the Promissory Notes.

 

7.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

7.6 Contests. Buyer agrees to give written notice to Seller Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings or a Holdings Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VII (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Seller Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Seller Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Seller Representative.

 

7.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Seller Representative, the Target Company, AIRO Group, and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VII or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Seller Representative, the Target Company and AIRO Group and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Seller Representative, the Target Company or AIRO Group and Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

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7.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VII shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Purchase Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

7.9 Payments to AIRO Group. Any amounts payable to AIRO Group pursuant to this Article VII shall be satisfied: (i) by set-off against any amounts owed under the Promissory Notes in accordance with Section 9.6; and (ii) to the extent such amounts exceed the amount outstanding under the Promissory Notes, from the Sellers in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

7.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIRPTA Statement”).

 

7.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties acknowledge that with respect to Holdings, in connection with certain other capital contributions to Holdings to be consummated by Holdings in a series of related transactions, the contribution of Shares by the Sellers shall be treated by Holdings as a contribution of capital in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code.

 

7.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.21 and this Article VII shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

7.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article IX may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VII, the provisions of this Article VII shall govern.

 

Article VIII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

8.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) The filings of AIRO Group, Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act and applicable Danish or E.U. law, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated and any mandatory regulatory approvals shall have been obtained.

 

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(b) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(c) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 5.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked.

 

(d) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

(e) Holdings must have received a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter (or similar written indication) from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

(f) The Other Business Combination Agreements shall have closed or close simultaneously with the Closing.

 

8.2 Conditions to Obligations of AIRO Group and Holdings. The obligations of Holdings and AIRO Group to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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(c) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

(d) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings and AIRO Group contained in Sections 5.1 and 5.4, the representations and warranties of Holdings contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects) except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings contained in Sections 5.1 and 5.4 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings and AIRO Group, as applicable, shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority shall have been obtained.

 

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Article IX

INDEMNIFICATION

 

9.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

9.2 Indemnification by Sellers . Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article IX, the Sellers, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VII), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); provided, that (i) claims for indemnification under this Section 9.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Sellers, pursuant to this Agreement, the Sellers representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Sellers;

 

(b) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Sellers contained in Article IV, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date; provided that each Seller shall be solely responsible for any Damages arising from any inaccuracy or breach of any of the representations and warranties contained in Article IV as they pertain to such Seller;

 

(c) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Sellers or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VII, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VII);

 

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(g) any claim made by any Seller relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Purchase Consideration, the Promissory Notes, or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(h) any Transaction Expenses of Target Company outstanding as of the Closing to the extent not paid or satisfied by Target Company at or prior to the Closing, or if paid by Holdings at or prior to the Closing; and

 

(i) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, or Indebtedness, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission from the Closing Statement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Sellers under the Promissory Notes pursuant to Section 2.5.

 

(j) any outstanding Indebtedness at Closing that cannot be offset against the Promissory Note Principal Amount pursuant to the Indebtedness Adjustment set forth in Section 2.5(c) in the event that the the Promissory Note Principal Amount is reduced to zero dollars after the application of the Working Capital Adjustment, Transaction Expense Adjustment and Indebtedness Adjustment.

 

9.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article IX, AIRO Group and Holdings shall indemnify and defend the Sellers, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Seller Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Seller Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VII, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VII).

 

9.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 9.2 and 9.2(f) shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article IX, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

9.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article IX is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article IX is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article IX, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Seller Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Seller Representative. Any payment received by Seller Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Sellers in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Seller, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 9.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 9.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Seller Representative, Holdings, and Buyer shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 9.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 9.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

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(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VII) shall be governed exclusively by Article VII hereof.

 

9.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Sellers, including with respect to the Promissory Notes and the Earnout, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Sellers (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

9.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Purchase Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

9.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 8.1(e) or 8.3, as the case may be.

 

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9.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 11.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or intentional misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VII and this Article IX. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VII and this Article IX. Nothing in this Section 9.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

Article X

TERMINATION

 

10.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a) by the mutual written consent of Target Company, AIRO Group, and Holdings;

 

(b) by Holdings and AIRO Group by joint written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) neither Holdings nor AIRO Group is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VIII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings or AIRO Group; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.1(e) shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings or AIRO Group to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

(c) by Target Company or by the Seller Representative (on behalf of the Sellers) by written notice to Buyer if:

 

(i) neither Target Company nor any Seller is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings or AIRO Group pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VIII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings or AIRO Group within ten days of Holdings’s or AIRO Group’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company;

 

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(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing; or

 

(iii) the (x) Closing of the Transaction or (y) SPAC Merger or IPO has not occurred by the Termination Date, and for any reason the recission pursuant to Section 11.11 has not occurred;

 

(d) by Holdings and AIRO Group jointly or by Target Company or by Sellers, if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) by Holdings and AIRO Group, at their discretion, by joint written notice to Target Company.

 

10.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article X, Section 6.2(b) and Article XI hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof; and

 

(c) in the event that (i) this Agreement has been terminated by Holdings and/or AIRO Group pursuant to Section 10.1(e), and (ii) Holdings and AIRO Group enter in an agreement with a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, and (iii) Holdings and/or AIRO Group consummate such SPAC Merger or IPO within eighteen (18) months of such termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(e), then Holdings and AIRO Group shall, within twenty (20) business days after the closing of such SPAC Merger or effective time of such IPO pay to Target Company a breakup fee of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000).

 

Article XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1 Seller Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Seller shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Dangroup ApS as the initial Seller Representative. The Seller Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and the Promissory Notes and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Seller Representative pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.5;

 

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(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Buyer pursuant to Article VII and Article IX;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VII and Article IX;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Seller Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Seller Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

Holdings and Buyer shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Seller Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article IX) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Seller by Seller Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Seller by Seller Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Seller Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Sellers. Any decision or action by Seller Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Seller Representative and Buyer or Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Sellers and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Seller shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Sellers, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

(b) The Seller Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 11.1(b).

 

(i) The Seller Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Seller Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Sellers according to each Seller’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Seller Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Seller Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Seller Representative.

 

(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Seller Representative, a new Seller Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Seller Representative shall be sent to Buyer, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Buyer; provided, that until such notice is received, Buyer and the Target Company shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Seller Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

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(c) The Seller Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Sellers. If the Seller Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Seller Representative, the Seller Representative must notify the Sellers.

 

(d) The Seller Representative shall not be liable to the Sellers for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Seller Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Sellers shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Seller Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Seller Representative under this Agreement and the Promissory Notes (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Seller Representative, Seller Representative shall reimburse the Sellers the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied from the Sellers, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares).

 

11.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, AIRO Group and Holdings shall be jointly and severally responsible for reimbursing the Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

11.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.3):

 

If to Holdings or AIRO Group:

 

c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

Attention: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

If to Sellers (prior to Closing)or Seller Representative:

 

Dangroup ApS, Attention, Per Svehag & Søren Pedersen

Brogade 10A, 1.

DK - 5700 Svendborg

Denmark

Email: ps@dangroupinvest.com and sp@dangroupinvest.com

 

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

 

Holland & Knight LLP, Attention, Anne-Mette Andersen

31 W 52nd Street - 12th floor

New York, NY 10019

Email: amanders@hklaw.com

 

11.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

11.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

11.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

11.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

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11.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving AIRO Group and Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and/or AIRO Group and their respective subsidiaries, including the Target Company, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings or AIRO Group, as applicable, and Holdings or AIRO Group as the case may be, shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings or AIRO Group, as the case may be, shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

11.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.6, Section 7.3 and Article IX, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

11.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Closing. Any failure of, on the one hand, Holdings or AIRO Group, or, on the other hand, the Target Company or the Sellers, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the Seller Representative or Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings or AIRO Group) or by Holdings or AIRO Group (with respect to any failure by the Target Company or any Seller), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

11.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

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(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.11(c).

 

11.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”); provided that nothing in this Section 11.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Seller Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Seller Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Seller Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Seller Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 11.12. If Seller Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Seller Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Seller Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Seller Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

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(c) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 11.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Seller Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Sellers and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

(d) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(e) The Parties to the arbitration, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(f) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

11.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

11.14 Counterparts. 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.

 

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11.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for AIRO Group and Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and AIRO Group and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

11.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings and Buyer as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange sell Shares in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings and Buyer have retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Target Company, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings and Buyer, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings, Buyer or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings and Buyer, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

11.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Transaction. As a consequence, in the event the Transaction closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Transaction. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Target Company will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings or Buyer learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger will not occur, Holdings and Buyer will give prompt written notice to the Target Company’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Transaction not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of stock. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take the position that the Transaction and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party as part of the Rescission process.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

TARGET COMPANY:
     
  Sky- S, a Danish corporation
     
  By: /s/ Pe Edvard Svehag
  Name: Pe Edvard Svehag
  Its: Chairman of the board of directors
   
  By: /s/ Sot’
  Name: Sot’
  Its: Member of the board of directors
     
  By: /s/ Niels Jesper espersen Jensen
  Name: Niels Jesper espersen Jensen
  Its: Member of the board of directors

 

Signature Page to Equity Purchase Agreement

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

HOLDINGS:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman
     
  AIRO GROUP:
   
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

Signature Page to Equity Purchase Agreement

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  SELLERS:
     
  Dangro
     
  By: /s/ P’ Edvard Svehag
  Name: P’ Edvard Svehag
  Its: Manager
     
  and
     
  By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Name: Per Pedersen
  Its: Manager
     
  Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen
     
  By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Name: Per Pedersen
  Its: Fully Liable Partner
     
  and
     
  By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Name: Claus Bo Jensen
  Its: Fully Liable Partner

 

Signature Page to Equity Purchase Agreement

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  SELLER REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  Dangroup, solely in its capacity as Seller
  Representative
     
  By: /s/ Pe’ dvard Svehag
  Name: Pe’ dvard Svehag
  Its: Manager
     
  and
     
  By: /s/ Sore en
  Name: Sore en
  Its: Manager

 

Signature Page to Equity Purchase Agreement

 

 
 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a).

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

AIRO Group” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Promissory Notes, and each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Buyer” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

Calculation Model” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(f).

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).

 

 
 

 

Contribution Shares” means the aggregate number of Shares to be contributed to Holdings by

Sellers.

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Buyer will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Current Assets will include the receivables related to corporate tax reimbursement reflecting the joint taxation in 2020 and 2021 (through Closing) and 2022 (if applicable) which is receivable from the Danish Tax Authority through DanGroup ApS (a related party). The amount receivable related to 2020 is 2,351,335 DKK and the 2021 amount will be determined as of Closing but has been calculated as of June 30, 2021 as 1,448,118 DKK after an adjustment to correct the estimated tax rate used in the financial statement accrual. This is being stated for the purpose of establishing the methodology to be used to calculate Working Capital at Closing as reflected in the Calculation Model.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities, Transaction Expenses and (without duplication) the current portion of any Indebtedness of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Earnout” means the additional payments from AIRO Group to Sellers that may become payable after the Closing as set forth on Annex B.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

 
 

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10.

 

Fully Diluted Share Number” means the aggregate number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Stockholders in exchange for the Contribution Shares as set forth on Annex B.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f); and (h) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g).

 

 
 

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Seller Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings of all the Holdings Equity pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

 
 

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual, including any record that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual.

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10(a).

 

 
 

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

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

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(b).

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Seller such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Closing, determined by dividing (a) the number of Shares owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Closing, by (b) the Fully Diluted Share Number.

 

Promissory Notes” means the Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount equal to the Promissory Note Principal Amount, to be issued by Holdings at Closing for the benefit of the Sellers in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Promissory Note Principal Amount” means the principal amount set forth in Annex B.

 

Purchase Consideration” means the Holdings Equity, the Promissory Notes, and the Earnout that the Sellers shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement..

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(c).

 

Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

Seller” means a holder of Shares.

 

Seller Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(f).

 

 
 

 

Seller Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock all are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings, for common stock of the SPAC in return for all of the Holdings Equity that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Shares, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” when used outside of reference to Seller, means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Target Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

 
 

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 6.6(c).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE PURCHASE CONSIDERATION

 

Name of Entity  Aggregate Percentage of Holdings Common Stock *   Aggregate Number of Holdings Common Stock (Holdings Equity)**   Promissory Note Principal Amount***   Earnout****
Column A  Column B   Column C   Column D   Column E
To Sellers   2.94%   890,909   $13,600,000   Earnout as calculated below.

 

* Upon the Closing of the Transaction, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Sellers immediately prior to the Closing. This percentage is an estimate based upon the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding if all Other Business Combinations between Holdings and the Other Business Combination Parties close. In the event that any Other Business Combinations fail to close, resulting in a decrease in the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding upon the close of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Other Business Combination Agreements, the percentage in Column B shall increase accordingly.

 

**Upon the Closing of the Transaction, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Sellers immediately prior to the Closing, subject to adjustment and setoff as set forth in Section 9.6 of the Agreement.

 

*** Upon the Closing of the Transaction, this number will be the aggregate principal amount of Promissory Notes issued to Persons who were Sellers immediately prior to the Closing, subject to adjustment as a result of the Working Capital Adjustment, Indebtedness Adjustment and Transaction Expense Adjustment as set forth in Section 2.5, and setoff as set forth in Section 9.6 of the Agreement.

 

**** The “Earnout” means the cash payment from Airo Group to Sellers calculated as follows:

 

(a) An amount of up to $3,000,000 calculated as one (1) U.S. dollar per one (1) U.S. dollar of gross revenue earned (whether received or not) by Target Company from and including the date of the Closing through and including the 24 month anniversary of the Closing, provided, however, that such earnout shall be capped at $3,000,000.

 

(b) An additional amount of $3,500,000 shall become due and payable if, and only if, the Target Company achieves the following revenue target: $13,845,000 or more in aggregate gross revenue for fiscal year 2022; 2023 and the first two fiscal quarters of 2024, combined.

 

 

 
 

 

(c) Eligible Earnout payments as described in paragraph (a) and (b) shall only be remitted after the ordinary audit of the financial statements has concluded for the earlier of any applicable fiscal period ending within the above fiscal years and the 24-month period itself (i.e. if Earnout is earned already for 2022 pursuant to section (b) above, it shall be remitted after the ordinary audit for 2022). For purposes of calculating the Earnout, “gross revenue” shall mean revenue less returns, discounts and allowances as determined in accordance with GAAP, as applied on a consistent basis. The right of the Earnout recipients to receive the Earnout payments, if any, shall not be transferable, in whole or in part, to any other person without the express prior written consent of the AIRO Group, provided, however, that the Sellers may agree on an internal allocation of Holdings Common Stock, Promissory Notes, and Earnout that differs from their relative ownership percentages.

 

(d) For purposes of Danish tax law, the capitalized value of the Earnout is agreed to be $6,500,000. Such capitalization will not have any affect for any parties to the Agreement except the Sellers.

 

The payments of the Promissory Note(s) shall be adjusted to reflect variations in the exchange rate of Danish Kroner to U.S. Dollars as hereinafter provided. If the exchange rate, as published by the U.S. Federal Reserve on the Closing Date, between Danish Kroner and U.S. Dollars varies by more than five percent (5.00%) from DKK6.74 to $1.00 (the “Agreed Exchange Rate” or “AER”), the payment in of U.S. Dollars $13,600,000 shall be adjusted, up or down, as provided below, and the Promissory Note(s) issued therefor shall reflect such higher or lower amount. If the exchange rate, as published by the U.S. Federal Reserve on the day before the date of any payment of any Earnout, of Danish Kroner to U.S. Dollars varies by more than five percent (5.00%) from the AER, the payment in U.S. Dollars or such Earnout shall be adjusted, up or down, as provided below, and the payment therefor shall reflect such higher or lower amount. If the applicable exchange rate is below DKK6.403, the payment in U.S. Dollars shall be increased until the payment in U.S. Dollars as converted into Danish Kroner will correspond to the payment Sellers would otherwise have received in Danish Kroner, if the exchange rate had been DKK6.403 to $1.00. If the exchange rate is above DKK7.077 to $1.00, the payment in U.S. Dollars shall be reduced until the payment in U.S. Dollars as converted into Danish Kroner will correspond to the payment Sellers would have received in Danish Kroner, if the exchange rate had been DKK7.077 to $1.00.

 

 
 

 

ANNEX C

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization  

Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income

Taxes*

  Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)#   Partnership   AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)   AIRO Drone  

Illinois and

Delaware

                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)#   Partnership   Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)   Agile Defense  

Minnesota

and

Delaware

                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation   Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen Merger Sub”)   Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation   Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal Merger Sub”)   Coastal  

Pennsylvani

a and Delaware

                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt”) f/k/a Jaunt Air Mobility LLC   C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt Merger Sub”)

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)  

TBD

 

 

N/A

 

 

Sky-Watch

 

 

Denmark

and

Delaware

                 
VRCO LTD, an English company (“VRCO”)   TBD  

VRCO Merger Sub,

Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VRCO Merger Sub”)

  VRCO  

England and

Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Holdings Common Stock   Percentage of Holdings Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997    11.283%
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997    11.283%
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994    22.565%
C. Kathuria   1,763,463    5.819%
J. Burns   1,184,791    3.910%
J. Uczekaj   606,061    2.000%
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758    8.500%
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182    6.000%
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909    2.940%
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273    5.700%
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606    20.000%
Total   30,303,031    100.000%

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E

 

CALCULATION MODEL

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM PROMISSORY NOTE

 

See attached.

 

 
 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

December 15, 2021

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch AIS, Dangroup ApS, and Mekan 1/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen (each a “Party% and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 6, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction that AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Purchase Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Purchase Agreement to provide additional time to complete the 111O process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. The reference to December 15, 2021 in Section 6.1(i) is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 11.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 3 1, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

e. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO   AIRO f)X,T,MQ,LDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Executive Chairman   Executive Chairman
         
SKY-WATCH A/S   MEKAN US VIPER PEDERSEN & CLAUS 80 JENSE
     
By: /s/ Per-Erik d Svehag,  

By:

/s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik d Svehag,     Per Pedersen,
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
         
By: /s/ Soared csen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Soared csen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
         
By: /s/ Niels Jespen Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jespen Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP ARS(in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik E yard Svehag      
  Per-Erik E yard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Soren Pederson      
  Soren Pederson,      
  Manager      

 

 
 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

March 28, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch A/S, Dangroup ApS, and Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 2021(the “Purchase Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Equity Purchase Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Equity Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedules are now complete and final.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Purchase Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to limit Holdings’ and AIRO Group’s control of Target Company prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Purchase Agreement to provide disclosures for certain representations and warranties that do not currently specifically provide for disclosures.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to confirm the satisfaction and/or waiver of certain conditions to Closing.

 

 
 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. The reference to “Merger Consideration” in Section 2.5(a) is replaced with “Purchase Consideration.”

 

  b. Section 3.12(c) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

  c. Section 3.12(e) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(e) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

  d. Section 3.12(f) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(f) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Person has infringed,misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

 
 

 

  e. Section 3.15 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

  f. The following is added to the end of Section 6.1:

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings, and AIRO Group acknowledge and agree that (i) nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to give Holdings or AIRO Group, directly or indirectly, rights to control or direct Target Company’s operations prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, (ii) prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, the current directors and officers of Target Company shall exercise complete control and supervision of its operations and shall be under the supervision and instruction of the Sellers,(iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, no consent of Holdings or AIRO Group shall be required with respect to any matter to the extent the requirement of such consent would, upon the advice of Target Company’s counsel, violate any applicable Law, be inconsistent with the requirements of any Governmental Authority, or violate any contractual obligation to which Target Company is a party, and (vi) any attempt by Holdings or AIRO Group or their successors to terminate, replace, or supplement the directors or officers of the Target Company prior to the Closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger shall be null and void and of no force or effect. After the Closing, and until the IPO, if the Target Company, in the opinion of its board of directors is in need of financing for its continued operations, in the ordinary cause of business, and Holdings is unable or unwilling to provide Target Company the financing required for Target Company’s continued operations, the board of directors may, upon the approval of Holdings (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), authorize the Target Company to enter into non-equity based financing and/or loan agreements and incur Indebtedness. Holdings and Airo Group shall make best commercial efforts to assist in obtaining such financing. The Sellers shall be under no obligation to provide financing or loans after the Closing and before the IPO. However, if the Sellers are willing to offer non-equity based financing/loans during such period of time, the board of directors may, upon the approval of Holdings (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), authorize the Target Company to enter into a non-equity based financing or loan agreement with one or more of the Sellers (or their Affiliates) on terms similar to those entered into prior to the Closing, with such adjustments as shall be reasonable in terms of interest rates and other terms, based on market conditions. The Parties hereto agree, that this provision is in the best interest of all the Parties hereto, in order to secure the continued operations of the Target Company until the IPO and also in the event of a Rescission pursuant to Section 11.17 and also to help preserve the Sellers’ chance of making the Earnout. For the avoidance of doubt, it is noted that any such Indebtedness incurred after the Closing will survive the IPO and it will not result in any adjustment of the Purchase Consideration.

 

g. Section 6.11 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

6.11 Income Tax Receivable; Release of Guarantees.

 

(a) Dangroup ApS shall timely pay all amounts owed to the Company relating to the “Income Tax 2021 receivable” and “Income Tax 2022 receivable” set forth in the Closing Statement.

 

(b) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to remove Dangroup ApS from any credit card, bank or real estate guarantees pertaining to the Company. The Company shall indemnify Dangroup ApS for any damages (including, but not limited to, losses and expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees for the enforcement of this provision) resulting from Dangroup ApS’s on-going, post-Closing guarantee obligations not yet terminated.

 

 
 

 

h. Section 7.11 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

7.11 [Reserved].

 

i. The contact information for Holdings’ and AIRO Group’s legal counsel provided in Section 11.3 and in Exhibit A is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111. E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

j. Both references to March 31, 2022 in Section 11.17 are replaced with June 30, 2022.

 

k. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

l. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

m. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

n. Subsection (b) in Annex B is replaced in its entirety with the following: “An additional amount of $3,500,000 shall become due and payable if, and only if, the Target Company achieves the following revenue target: $13,845,000 or more in aggregate gross revenue for the first ten full calendar quarters beginning on April 1, 2022.”

 

o. The entire bottom row, in Annex C, pertaining to VRCO, Ltd. is deleted.

 

 
 

 

p. The table in Annex D is replaced with the following table:

 

Shareholder  Shares of Holdings Common Stock   Percentage of Holdings Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997    11.283%
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997    11.283%
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994    22.565%
C. Kathuria   1,763,463    5.819%
           
J. Burns   1,184,791    3.910%
J. Uczekaj   606,061    2.000%
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758    8.500%
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182    6.000%
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909    2.940%
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606    20.000%
Reserved Equity Pool   1,727,273    5.700%
Total   30,303,031    100%

 

2. The final Disclosure Schedules for Target Company are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

3. The final Disclosure Schedules for Holdings and AIRO Group are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

4. The Parties agree that all conditions to Closing set forth in Article VIII of the Agreement are either satisfied or hereby waived.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
 SKY-WATCH A/S   MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag      
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      

  

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S    MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edward Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen,
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag      
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      

  

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S    MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edward Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag       
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      

 

 
 

 

Exhibit A

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

 
 

 

Exhibit B

 

Holdings and AIRO Group Disclosure Schedules

 

 
 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

September 14, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch A/S, Dangroup ApS, and Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 6, 2021 as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by June 30, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Equity Purchase Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the completion of an IPO process did not occur prior to June 30, 2022; however, the Parties do not desire to rescind the Transaction at this time.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind

right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 11.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows: “SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and

Holdings.”

 

d. The final paragraph of Annex B is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“The payments of the Earnout shall be adjusted to reflect variations in the exchange rate of Danish Kroner to U.S. Dollars as hereinafter provided. If the exchange rate, as published by the U.S. Federal Reserve on the day before the date of any payment of any Earnout, of Danish Kroner to U.S. Dollars is below DKK 6.403 to USD 1.00, the payment in U.S. Dollars or such Earnout shall be increased until the payment in U.S. Dollars as converted into Danish Kroner will correspond to the payment Sellers would otherwise have received in Danish Kroner, if the exchange rate had been DKK 6.403 to USD 1.00.”

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S   MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edward Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen,
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag       
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen      
  Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen,      
  Member of the Board of Directors      

 

 

 
 

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

October 7, 2022

28

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch A/S, Dangroup ApS, and Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 6, 2021 as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”) are parties to this Fourth Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, Sky-Watch A/S is in need of an increase of its credit facility pursuant to an amendment to be dated on or about the same date as this Amendment, and Dangroup ApS is willing to offer an increased credit facility (hereinafter, as so and thereafter amended, the “Credit Facility”), subject to and conditional upon the Purchase Agreement being further amended, as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. In the event Target Company has a positive cash flow after fully paying all its obligations under the Credit Facility, and allowing Sky-Watch A/S to retain sufficient funds to continue its regular operations in the ordinary course of business without being impaired, Holdings shall make quarterly payments on the 15th of the month following each quarter-end equal to the amount of such net positive cash flow, as installment payments on the below obligations, regardless of whether they are otherwise then due and payable, in the order of priority as the obligations are listed below:

 

a.The Promissory Notes issued to the Sellers under the Agreement, as the same has or may hereafter be amended.
   
b.The Earnout of $3,000,000 as further described in Annex B in the Purchase Agreement.
   
c.The Earnout of $3,500.000 as further described in Annex B of the Purchase Agreement.

 

2. AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. agrees that, until the earlier of the date that the Earnout amounts are paid in full or the end of the Earnout measurement period, it shall not cause any dividend, intercompany payment, or other consideration to be made by Sky-Watch A/S to AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. or any other AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. subsidiary.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S    MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen,
  Chairman of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag       
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      
         
By: /s/ Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen      
  Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen,      
  Member of the Board of Directors      

 

 
 

 

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

December 21, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Sky-Watch A/S, Dangroup ApS, and Mekan I/S v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 6, 2021 as amended (the “Purchase Agreement”) are parties to this Fifth Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, Sky-Watch A/S is in need of an amendment to its credit facility pursuant to an amendment to be dated on or about the same date as this Amendment, and Dangroup ApS is willing to offer such amendment to the credit facility (hereinafter, as so and thereafter amended, the “Credit Facility”), subject to and conditional upon the Purchase Agreement being further amended, as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Subsection (b) within the definition of “Earnout” on Annex B is amended to read as follows:

 

“An additional amount of $7,500,000 shall become due and payable if, and only if, the Target Company achieves the following revenue target: $13,845,000 or more in aggregate gross revenue for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, combined.”

 

2. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Amendment may be executed and/or delivered by email. Signatures and documents delivered by email transmission shall be deemed to be original signatures and documents.

 

3. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Amendment and the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Amendment shall supersede and control. Except as modified herein, the Agreement remains unmodified, in full force and effect, and is hereby ratified by the parties hereto.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Fifth Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,     Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer     Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S   MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag       
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
By: /s/ Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen,      
  Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen,      
  Member of the Board of Directors      

 

 
 

 

 

This

 

Agreement on amendment of the EPA and CFA (as defined below)

 

was concluded on 31 March 2023 between

 

Dangroup ApS

CVR no. 29930759

Brogade 10A, 1.

5700 Svendborg

Denmark

(“Dangroup”)

 

Sky-Watch A/S

CVR no. 32653847

Østre Alle 6

9530 Støvring

Denmark

(“Sky-Watch”)

 

Mekan I/S

v/Per Pedersen & Claus Bo Jensen

Company reg. No.: 30863518

Østre Alle 6

9530 Støvring

Denmark

(“Mekan”)

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA

(“Airo”)

 

and

 

Old AGI, Inc. (f/k/a Airo Group, Inc.)

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100 A

lbuquerque, NM 87110, USA

(“Legacy AIRO”)

 

 
 

 

 

(Individually a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

1Purpose and background

 

1.1This Agreement on amendment of the EPA and CFA (as defined below) (the “Amendment”) is entered into between Dangroup, Sky-Watch, Mekan, Airo and Legacy AIRO for the purpose of outlining (i) the payment of the earnout as set out in the equity purchase agreement (the “EPA”), Annex B (a), entered into on 6 October 2021 (incl. appendices and later addendums), attached as schedule 1.1(a) in the amount of USD 3,000,000 (the “Earnout 1”), (ii) the payment of the earnout as set out in the EPA, Annex B (b), see schedule 1.1(a), as amended, in the amount of USD 7,500,000 (the “Earnout 2”), (iii) the repayment of the credit facility provided to Sky-Watch from Dangroup in the credit facility agreement (the “CFA”), entered into on 28 March 2022 (incl. appendices and later addendums), attached as schedule 1.1(b)) (the “Loan”), (iv) payment of the promissory note of USD 12,883,000 entered into on 28 March 2022 (the “Promissory Note”), and (v) payment of a new earnout in the amount of USD 4,000,000 on the terms set forth herein.

 

1.2The Parties hereto entered into the EPA on 6 October 2021 in which it was agreed to transfer all of the shares of Sky-Watch from Dangroup to Airo. Dangroup subsequently agreed to enter into the CFA to support Sky-Watch financially until the earlier of (a) Airo’s initial public offering on Nasdaq in USA, and (b) 31 March 2023 as set out in the latest amendment to the CFA executed on 21 December 2022.

 

1.3Dangroup wishes to receive repayment of the Loan (together with interest thereon) from Sky- Watch, and Dangroup, and Mekan, as applicable, wish to receive payment of the Earnout 1, Earnout 2, the new Earnout 3 (defined herein) and the Promissory Note from Airo as soon as possible.

 

1.4On the date of this Amendment, prior to the amendments hereunder, the total amount drawn on the Loan amounts to DKK 17,250,000 (corresponding to USD 2,464,000 at an f/x-rate of 0.142857) exclusive of interest, with a max credit line not to exceed DKK 33,000,000 and with expiry no later than March 31, 2023. Legacy AIRO, Airo, and Sky-Watch wish for the credit line to continue and for the due date for the Loan under the CFA to be extended to no later than 30 June 2023.

 

2Airo and Legacy AIRO’s obligations

 

2.1Airo, as the sole shareholder of Sky-Watch, and Legacy AIRO acknowledge that Sky-Watch shall make repayment on the Loan as suggested by the board of directors of Sky-Watch to Dangroup as instalments on the Loan, as agreed in section 5.4 of the CFA, provided that the board of directors of Sky-Watch will ensure that there are sufficient funds in Sky-Watch to continue its regular operations in the ordinary course of business without impairment. In the event that Airo raises debt or equity financing in an amount of USD 10,000,000 or greater following the date of this Amendment, and any amount remains outstanding on the Loan, such amount shall become due within ten (10) business days of AIRO’s receipt of such funds.

 

2
 

 

 

2.2Further, Airo and Legacy AIRO hereby agree not to raise any claims against Sky-Watch or Shy- Watch’s board of directors, officers or management in relation to the repayment of the Loan.

 

2.3Airo, as the sole shareholder of Sky-Watch, and Legacy AIRO agree that the Earnout 1 is deemed earned, due and payable on the earlier of (a) five (5) business days following the closing of AIRO’s business combination with Kernel Group Holdings, Inc., or (b) 10 August 2023 (such date, the “Earnout 1 Payment Date”), always subject to Sky-Watch having met the threshold connected to Earnout 1 as set out in Annex B of the EPA. Prior to the Earnout 1 Payment Date, in the event the Loan has been paid in full, Airo shall make payments on Earnout 1 in one or more instalments, as agreed in the Fourth Amendment to the EPA executed 28 October 2022 provided that the board of directors of Sky-Watch ensures that there are sufficient funds in Sky-Watch to continue its regular operations in the ordinary course of business without impairment. Further provided, that in the absence of a declaration of Dividends from Sky-Watch to Airo to provide liquidity to Airo for payment of Earnout 1, Airo shall nevertheless be obligated to pay the Earnout 1 at such time. To the extent that Legacy AIRO is liable for payment of Earnout 1 pursuant to the EPA, Airo agrees to assume such payment obligations and be liable therefore. The assumption by Airo of said obligations does not release Legacy AIRO therefrom. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event there is any cash available to declare a Dividend in Sky-Watch on or before 30 June 2023, and the Loan has been paid in full, a Dividend in such amount shall be declared and the amount of such Dividend (as assigned to Dangroup pursuant to the provisions herein) shall be applied to Earnout 1 as of such date. Further, if there is any cash available to declare a Dividend in Sky-Watch between 30 June 2023 and the Earnout 1 Payment Date, a Dividend in such amount shall be declared and amount of such Dividend shall be applied to Earnout 1 as of such date. Any remaining balance of Earnout 1 shall be payable on the Earnout 1 Payment Date.

 

2.4Further, Airo, as the sole shareholder of Sky-Watch, and Legacy AIRO agree that the Earnout 2 is deemed earned, due and payable no later than five business days after 31 May 2024, always subject to Sky-Watch having met the threshold connected to Earnout 2 as set out in Annex B of the EPA. Prior to 31 May 2024, in the event the Loan, Promissory Note and Earnout 1 have been paid in full, Airo shall make payments on Earnout 2 in one or more instalments, as agreed in the Fourth Amendment to the EPA executed 28 October 2022 provided that the board of directors of Sky-Watch ensures that there are sufficient funds in Sky-Watch to continue its regular operations in the ordinary course of business without impairment. Further provided, that in the absence of a declaration of Dividends from Sky-Watch to Airo to provide liquidity to Airo for payment of Earnout 2, Airo shall nevertheless be obligated to pay the Earnout 2 at such time. To the extent that Legacy AIRO is liable for payment of Earnout 2 pursuant to the EPA, Airo agrees to assume such payment obligations and be liable therefore. The assumption by Airo of said obligations does not release Legacy AIRO therefrom.

 

3
 

 

 

2.5Airo and Legacy AIRO agree that the Promissory Note is deemed due and payable no later than 31 December 2023. Prior to such date, in the event the Loan and Earnout 1 has been paid in full, AIRO shall make payments on the Promissory Note, in one or more instalments, as agreed in the Fourth Amendment to the EPA executed 28 October 2022, provided that the board of directors of Sky-Watch ensures that there are sufficient funds in Sky-Watch to continue its reg- ular operations in the ordinary course of business without impairment. Further provided, that in the absence of a declaration of Dividends from Sky-Watch to Airo, to provide liquidity to Airo for payment of Earnout 2, Airo shall nevertheless be obligated to pay remaining balance of the Promissory Note at such time.

 

2.6Airo and Legacy AIRO agree that Dangroup and Mekan, as directed by Dangroup, shall be entitled to an additional earnout payment in the amount of USD 4,000,000 if Sky-Watch achieves USD 17,000,000 or more in aggregate gross revenue for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, combined (“Earnout 3”). Eligibility for payment of Earnout 3 and the remittance of such earnout shall be determined pursuant to the procedures set forth in Annex B to the EPA for Earnout 1 and Earnout 2. If earned, and if the Loan, Promissory Note, Earnout 1 and Earnout 2 have been paid in full, Sky-Watch shall make payments on Earnout 3 in one or more instalments, provided that the board of directors of Sky-Watch ensures that there are sufficient funds in Sky-Watch to continue its regular operations in the ordinary course of business without impairment. Further provided, that in the absence of a declaration of Dividends from Sky-Watch to Airo, Airo shall nevertheless be obligated to pay the Earnout 3 (if earned) on the later of (a) 30 days following completion of the ordinary audit for the relevant fiscal period in which Earnout 3 is determined to have been earned, or (b) the due date for payment of Earnout 2 above.

 

2.7Airo hereby assigns in favor of Dangroup all of Airo’s rights, title and interests, present and future, in and to all amounts received by Airo from Sky-Watch by way of dividend, yield or in any other manner distributed from Sky-Watch to Airo (the “Dividend”).

 

2.8Further, Legacy AIRO hereby assigns in favor of Dangroup all of Legacy AIRO’s rights, title and interests, present and future, in and to all amounts received by Legacy AIRO from Airo by way of Dividend.

 

2.9Upon this assignment Airo and Legacy AIRO can only pay Dividend with discharging effect to such account as designated by Dangroup.

 

2.10Airo and Legacy AIRO hereby agree that notification of the assignment has been provided to Sky-Watch and Airo respectively, and Sky-Watch and Airo, respectively, hereby confirm having been notified of the assignment, that they have not been notified of any other assignment contrary thereto and that any distribution of Dividend from the date of this Agreement will only be made to the account designated by Dangroup.

 

2.11The assignment in non-terminable and will automatically lapse once Dangroup (or Mekan as applicable) has received the Earnout 1, Earnout 2, Earnout 3 and the Promissory Note in full.

 

2.12In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the terms of the CFA or EPA, as such agreements have been amended from time to time, the terms of this Amendment shall govern.

 

4
 

 

 

3Dangroup’s obligations

 

3.1Dangroup agrees to extend the term of the CFA until the earlier of i) the closing of an initial public offering or a SPAC or De-SPAC has occurred or ii) 30 June 2023. The interest rate of the loan granted in the CFA will, however, be increased to 15% due to the general interest increase on the financial markets since 28 March 2022. Such interest rate will be valid from the date of this Amendment. Further, Dangroup will charge Sky-Watch A/S DKK 75,000 for expenses in respect to this agreement, which shall be due at payment of the balance of the Loan as set forth herein.

 

4Effective date and termination

 

4.1Effective Date and term

 

4.1.1This Amendment will enter into force on the date hereof and will continue to be in force until Earnout 1, Earnout 2, Earnout 3, the Loan including interest and the Promissory Note has been fully paid to Dangroup and/or Mekan, if so designated by Dangroup, as applicable.

 

4.2Breach and penalty

 

4.2.1If the Parties breach the terms of this Amendment, the breaching Party will be liable for any loss towards the non-breaching Party, if such breach is not remedied within 10 business days of notice of breach of the Amendment, in accordance with the principles of Danish law.

 

4.2.2Reserved.

 

4.2.3Termination of this Amendment, for whatever reason, will not affect the Parties’ rights and obli- gations under the EPA including later amendments and the FCA including later amendments. Further, the Parties agree that Dangroup and/or Mekan’s right to receive the Earnout 1 and the Earnout 2 is intended to survive termination of the Amendment and will remain earned, due and payable without limitation after termination of the Amendment for whatever reason.

 

5Confidentiality and publication

 

5.1The Parties are obligated to keep confidential (i) the terms of the Amendment; and (ii) all infor- mation concerning the other Party received as part of the negotiations concerning the conclu- sion and fulfilment of the Amendment.

 

6Governing law and disputes

 

6.1The Amendment is governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with Danish Law, exclud- ing its conflicts of law rules.

 

6.2Any dispute arising out of the Amendment, including any dispute concerning its existence or validity that cannot be settled amicably between the Parties within 30 days after one Party’s receipt of Notice from the other Party including a detailed description of the dispute, will be decided with final effect by the Danish Institute of Arbitration (Danish Arbitration). The Danish Institute of Arbitration will apply the rules of procedure in force when the application for arbitra- tion is submitted.

 

6.3Dangroup and Airo will each appoint 1 arbitrator. The Danish Institute of Arbitration will appoint 1 further arbitrator who will act as the chairman of the arbitration tribunal. If a Party fails to appoint an arbitrator within 30 days of submitting an application for arbitration or of receiving Notice of arbitration, the Danish Institute of Arbitration will also appoint that arbitrator.

 

6.4The arbitration proceedings will take place in Copenhagen, and the language of the proceedings will be English.

 

6.5The Parties are not entitled to disclose any confidential information relating to the arbitration proceedings to any third party, including information on any decision or arbitration award, unless the other Party has consented in writing to such disclosure. However, either Party is entitled to disclose information relating to the arbitration proceedings to a third party if such disclosure is made to protect its interests in relation to the other Party or to comply with current legislation or public authority decisions, or if such disclosure is required under any listing agreements.

 

The Amendment has been executed in one electronic copy.

 

SIGNATURE SHEET FOLLOWS

 

5
 

 

 

SIGNATURE SHEET FOR THE AGREEMENT 

 

Old AGI, Inc. (f/k/a Airo Group, Inc.)   AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
         
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns,   Joseph Burns,
  Chief Executive Officer   Chief Executive Officer
         
SKY-WATCH A/S   MEKAN I/S V/PER PEDERSEN & CLAUS BO JENSEN
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag   By: /s/ Per Pedersen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Per Pedersen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen   By: /s/ Claus Bo Jensen
  Søren Pedersen,     Claus Bo Jensen,
  Member of the board of directors     Fully Liable Partner
       
By: /s/ Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen      
  Niels Jesper Jespersen Jensen,      
  Member of the board of directors      
         
DANGROUP APS (in its capacity as both a Seller and Seller Representative)      
         
By: /s/ Per-Erik Edvard Svehag   By: /s/ Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen
  Per-Erik Edvard Svehag,     Ole Steen Bruun Nielsen,
  Manager     Manager
         
By: /s/ Søren Pedersen      
  Søren Pedersen,      
  Manager      

 

6

 

 

Exhibit 10.18

 

CONFIDENTIAL Execution Version

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

BY AND AMONG

 

ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.

 

JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative,

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.

 

AND

 

ASPEN MERGER SUB, INC.

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS. - 2 -
   
ARTICLE II THE MERGER - 2 -
2.1 The Merger - 2 -
2.2 Closing - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Effective Time - 4 -
2.5 Effects of the Merger - 4 -
2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws - 4 -
2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers - 4 -
2.8 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock - 5 -
2.9 Dissenting Shares - 5 -
2.10 Surrender and Payment - 5 -
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Shares. - 6 -
2.12 Adjustments - 7 -
2.13 Withholding Rights - 7 -
2.14 Lost Certificates - 7 -
2.15 Closing Adjustments - 7 -
2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet - 8 -
2.17 PPP Escrow Amount - 8 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 9 -
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 9 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval - 9 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents - 10 -
3.4 Capitalization - 10 -
3.5 Subsidiaries - 11 -
3.6 Financial Statements - 11 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 12 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions . - 12 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 14 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property - 15 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets - 16 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 17 -

 

i

 

 

3.13 Inventory - 18 -
3.14 Accounts Receivable - 18 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 18 -
3.16 Insurance - 19 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders - 19 -
3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits - 19 -
3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 20 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 23 -
3.21 Taxes - 24 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 26 -
3.23 Books and Records - 27 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 27 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 27 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney - 27 -
3.27 Brokers - 27 -
3.28 CARES Act Matters. - 27 -
3.29 Indebtedness - 28 -
3.30 Full Disclosure - 28 -
     
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB - 28 -
4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings, - 28 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents - 28 -
4.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 29 -
4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations - 29 -
4.5 Brokers - 29 -
4.6 Legal Proceedings - 29 -
4.7 Full Disclosure - 29 -
4.8 Capitalization of Holdings - 29 -
4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group - 30 -
     
ARTICLE V COVENANTS - 31 -
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing - 31 -
5.2 Access to Information - 31 -
5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 32 -
5.4 Target Company Stockholders Consent - 33 -
5.5 Notice of Certain Events - 33 -
5.6 Debt Obligations - 34 -

 

ii

 

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents - 34 -
5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 35 -
5.9 Closing Conditions - 37 -
5.10 Public Announcements - 37 -
5.11 New Board - 37 -
5.12 Equity Securities - 37 -
5.13 Disclosure Schedules - 37 -
5.14 Employees - 38 -
5.15 Audit Expenses - 38 -
5.19 Transaction Expenses - 38 -
5.20 Target Company Options - 39 -
5.21 Further Assurances - 39 -
     
ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS - 39 -
6.1 Tax Covenants -39-
6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 39 -
6.3 Tax Indemnification - 39 -
6.4 Tax Returns - 40 -
6.5 Straddle Period - 41 -
6.6 Contests - 41 -
6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information - 41 -
6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 41 -
6.9 Payments to Holdings - 42 -
6.10 FIRPTA Statement - 42 -
6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction - 42 -
6.12 Survival - 42 -
6.13 Overlap - 42 -
     
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 42 -
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties - 42 -
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, - 43 -
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company - 44 -
     
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION - 45 -
8.1 Survival - 45 -
8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Stockholders - 45 -
8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group - 46 -
8.4 Certain Limitations - 46 -
8.5 Indemnification Procedures - 46 -

 

iii

 

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff - 48 -
8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 48 -
8.8 Effect of Investigation - 48 -
8.9 Exclusive Remedies - 48 -
     
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION - 49 -
9.1 Termination - 49 -
9.2 Effect of Termination - 50 -
     
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS - 50 -
10.1 Target Representative - 50 -
10.2 Expenses - 52 -
10.3 Notices - 52 -
10.4 Interpretation - 53 -
10.5 Headings - 53 -
10.6 Severability - 53 -
10.7 Entire Agreement - 53 -
10.8 Successors and Assigns - 53 -
10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries - 53 -
10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 54 -
10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 54 -
10.12 Arbitration Procedure - 55 -
10.13 Specific Performance - 56 -
10.14 Counterparts - 56 -
10.15 Representation Disclosure - 56 -
10.16 Certain Acknowledgments - 56 -
10.17 Unwind - 57 -
10.18 Post-Merger Attorney-Client Issues - 57 -

 

iv

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Target Company”), John Uczekaj, an individual solely in his capacity as Target Representative (“Target Representative”), AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation, AIRO Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings (“AIRO Group”), and Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub” and together with Target Company, Target Representative and Holdings, each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of Target Company’s equity in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and the assumption of the Indebtedness Assumed through a reverse subsidiary merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with and into Target Company, whereby Target Company will be the Surviving Entity thereof, and Holdings shall be the sole owner of the Surviving Entity after the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Target Company Board has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, are in the best interests of the Target Company and the Target Company Stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with the Act and all other applicable Laws;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement, Target Company shall seek to obtain, in accordance with the Act, a written consent of its stockholders approving this Agreement, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger, Indebtedness Assumed shall continue to be issued and outstanding obligations of the Surviving Entity, which obligations shall be paid in full at the closing of the SPAC Merger;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Target Company had certain Indebtedness Unassumed;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, (i) all of the Indebtedness Unassumed with respect to the Target Company’s outstanding secured convertible promissory notes (“Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured)”) shall be contributed to Target Company in exchange for a newly-issued senior preferred equity interest in Target Company (the “Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured)”); and (ii) all of the other Indebtedness Unassumed including, without limitation, with respect to the Target Company’s outstanding unsecured convertible promissory notes (“Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured)” and, together with the Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured), the “Indebtedness Unassumed”) shall be contributed to Target Company in exchange for a newly-issued preferred equity interest in Target Company that is junior to the senior preferred equity interest issued in the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured) but senior to all other equity interests in the Company (the “Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured)” and, together with the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured), the “Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion”);

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub and their respective stockholders, and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; and

 

-1-

 

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex D), Holdings will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex D (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex E (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the aggregate amount of the merger consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

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

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE MERGER

 

2.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Act, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Target Company, and (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and Target Company will continue its company existence under the Act as the Surviving Entity in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Target Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

-2-

 

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (2) resolutions of the Target Company Stockholders approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, and (3) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and all amendments thereto including, without limitation, all documents filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware to effect the Unassumed Indebtedness Conversion (the “Target Organization Documents”), (b) with respect to the resolutions of the Target Company Board and Target Company Stockholder, all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the Target Organizational Documents, such documents are in full force and effect and that no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(iv) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(v) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.16;

 

(vi) the FIRPTA Statement;

 

(vii) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Target Representative and the PPP Escrow Agent; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Target Company (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Target Company Stockholder in accordance with such Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(ii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (2) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and all amendments thereto of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, (b) with respect to the resolutions, that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, such documents are in full force and effect and that no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

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(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(v) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdings; and

 

(vi) such other documents or instruments as Target Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

2.4 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Target Company, on one hand, and Holdings and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall cause a certificate of merger or similar document effecting the Merger with respect to Target Company and Merger Sub (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C (attached hereto and incorporated herein fully by this reference) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the Act. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger (or similar document) has been duly filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C, or at such later date or time as may be agreed by such Target Company and Holdings in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Act (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.5 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the by-laws of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of such Surviving Entity or as provided by applicable Law. Additionally, in each case, that the name of the corporation or company set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Target Company.

 

2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers. The directors, managers and officers of the Target Company, in each case, as appropriate, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors, managers and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Entity.

 

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2.8 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Target Company or any Target Company Stockholder:

 

(a) Shares of Target Company common stock or such other equity security that are issued and outstanding in respect of Target Company (the “Shares”) that are owned by the Target Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

(b) Each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.8(a), and (ii) Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration at the time and subject to the contingencies specified herein.

 

(c) Each share of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.9 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.8, Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a)) and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights in accordance with Act (such Shares being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Act with respect to such Shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by the Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to dissent pursuant to the Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by the Act, such Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.8(b), without interest thereon. The Target Company shall provide Holdings prompt written notice of any demands received by the Target Company for appraisal of Shares, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Target Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Act that relates to such demand, and Holdings shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Target Company shall give notice to Target Company Stockholders of their right to dissent and such notice shall comply with the Act. Except with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Target Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

2.10 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, all Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.9, either (i) each holder of a certificate formerly representing any Shares (each, a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of the Target Company; or (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, such holder shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of the Target Company without any further action.

 

(b) Holdings, or a transfer agent appointed by Holdings, shall act as the exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”).

 

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(c) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall mail to each holder of Shares a letter of transmittal in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties (a “Letter of Transmittal”) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for the applicable portion of Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.8(b). Holdings shall, no later than the later of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Certificate, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and any other customary documents that Holdings may reasonably require in connection therewith, deliver to the holder of such Certificate such holder’s portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b) with respect to such Certificate so surrendered and the Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented Shares (other than Dissenting Shares) shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all purposes, to evidence the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b). If after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to Holdings, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.10.

 

(d) Each Target Company Stockholder shall also be entitled to any amounts that may be payable in the future in respect of the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate as provided in this Agreement, at the respective time and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein.

 

(e) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment or delivery shall pay to Holdings any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed by the Target Company Stockholders ninety (90) days after the Effective Time shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand, and any such Target Company Stockholder who has not exchanged Certificates for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.10 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Holdings for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings shall not be liable to any holder of Certificates for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by Target Company Stockholders two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Holdings free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(g) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand.

 

2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Shares. All Merger Consideration delivered or deliverable upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered or deliverable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Shares on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

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2.12 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock or equity securities of the Target Company shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2.13 Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

2.14 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Holdings, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Holdings may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

 

2.15 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the amount of outstanding Indebtedness as of the Closing and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Target Company to reach such mutual agreement will not give any Party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the Closing Working Capital is less than seventy-five percent (75%) of Target Working Capital the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital; (ii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital; or (iii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is within seventy-five percent (75%) and one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Target Working Capital, zero Dollars ($0.00).

 

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( ) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the amount of Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Adjusted Indebtedness Target, the amount by which the Indebtedness at Closing exceeds the Adjusted Indebtedness Target; or (ii) in the event Indebtedness at Closing is less than or equal to the Adjusted Indebtedness Target, zero dollars ($0.00).

 

(a) The Working Capital Adjustment and Indebtedness Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Base Holdings Equity Value, which will in turn reduce the Holdings Equity due to Target Company Stockholders as set forth in the respective definitions set forth on Annex A.

 

2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity deliverable in connection with the Merger, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein. In addition, it sets forth the aggregate amount of Indebtedness Assumed issued and outstanding at the Closing and paid in full in connection with the SPAC Merger closing or the IPO closing, as the case may be.

 

(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Target Company Stockholders and the number of Shares held by such Persons including all holders of the Series F Preferred and Series G Preferred;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Share Number; and

 

(iii) each Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Holdings Equity portion of the Merger Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings and Merger Sub shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.17 PPP Escrow Amount. Holdings and the Target Representative hereby agree that the PPP Escrow Amount shall be held by the PPP Escrow Agent in the PPP Escrow Account, in accordance with the PPP Escrow Agreement; provided, however, Holdings and the Target Representative shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter) deliver a joint written instruction to the PPP Escrow Agent, pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement, instructing the PPP Escrow Agent to release the PPP Escrow Amount to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share) upon the date on which the Target Company receives an SBA Determination; provided further, however, that if such SBA Determination indicates that less than 100% of the PPP Loan has been forgiven, then such joint written instruction shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release (a) only a portion of the PPP Escrow Amount that is equal to the amount of the PPP Loan that has been forgiven (if any) to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share), and (b) the remainder to Holdings.

 

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Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, and except as expressly described in other sections of this Agreement, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization as shown on Annex A and has full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

 

3.2 Authority; Board Approval.

 

(a) Target Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of Target Company Stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding Shares or such vote required under the Target Company Charter Documents (“Requisite Target Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Target Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote. The Requisite Target Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Target Company’s capital stock (or other equity securities) required to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

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(b) The Target Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors or managers of the Target Company duly called and held and, as of the hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, if applicable to it, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Target Company Stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the Act, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Target Company Stockholders for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Target Company Stockholders adopt the “plan of Merger” (if applicable to it) set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Target Company Board Recommendation”) and directed that such matter be submitted for consideration of the Target Company Stockholders at the Target Company Stockholders Meeting or, in lieu of such meeting, for approval by written consent of the Target Company Stockholders pursuant to Section 228 of the Act.

 

3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) subject to, in the case of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Target Company Vote, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized capital stock (or other equity securities) of the Target Company and the number Shares that are issued and outstanding as of close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Shares and the number of Shares owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any Shares.

 

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(d) All issued and outstanding Shares are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding Shares were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Shares are subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company, except pursuant to appraisal rights in the Act. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co- sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Capital Stock or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Holdings, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules regulations or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Target Company;

 

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(c) split, combination or reclassification of any shares of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(o) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, capital stock (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(p) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

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(q) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

(s) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its stockholders or current or former directors, officers and employees;

 

(t) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(u) except for the Merger and the adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(v) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(w) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(x) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(y) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

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(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of stock or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party, and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Holdings.

 

3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

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(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent, and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. No material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

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3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Target Company IP Registrations.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Target Company’s rights in the Target Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

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(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

 

3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Target Company not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 and for the four-month period ended June 30, 2021. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). There are no suppliers of products or services to the Target Company that are material to the Target Company’s business with respect to which practical alternative sources of supply are not generally available on comparable terms and conditions in the marketplace.

 

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3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Holdings. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non-U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing. All of such permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, accreditations, certificates, registrations and authorizations will be available for use by the Target Company immediately after the Closing.

 

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(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected. Except as disclosed in Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no Personal Information has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred or disclosed by any Person on behalf of the Target Company. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

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(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Holdings accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

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(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Holdings and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the audited balance sheet contained in the Closing Working Capital Statement) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

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(d) The Target Company has complied with the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would trigger the WARN Act.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

(f) Section 3.21(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Target Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

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(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed; and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.

 

(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(i) The Target Company has delivered to Holdings copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(k) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(m) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(n) Any Target Company which is taxed as a C corporation will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

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(o) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(p) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(q) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

(r) With respect to any Target Company that is subject to taxation in the United States of America, there is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Target Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(s) The Target Company is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

(t) Section 3.21(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

(u) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(v) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

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3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and stock record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Holdings, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Target Company Stockholders, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Target Company Stockholders, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or of the Shares (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 CARES Act Matters. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the CARES Act stimulus or relief programs (the “CARES Act Programs”) in which the Target Company is participating or has participated and the amount of funds requested or received by the Target Company under each CARES Act Program. The Target Company has made available to each other Party true, correct and complete copies of all applications, forms and other documents filed or submitted by the Target Company relating to any CARES Act Program, and all statements and information contained in such applications, forms and other documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All funds received by the Target Company under all CARES Act Programs (the “CARES Act Funds”) have been used by the Target Company in compliance in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms, and the Target Company has maintained accounting and other records relating to the CARES Act Funds and the use thereof that comply in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms (including records that track the costs and other expenses for which the CARES Act Funds have been used), true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available by the Target Company to the other parties.

 

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3.29 Indebtedness. Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.30 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Target Company in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Holdings or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF

HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. Holdings is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Holdings has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company and corporate action on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub enforceable against Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

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4.3 Tax Status of Holdings. Holdings is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings always has been taxed as a corporation since its inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.5 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub.

 

4.6 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’ AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

4.7 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

4.8 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) The Holdings Equity shall represent in the aggregate 8.5% of the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Merger, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”), as calculated on a fully diluted basis and subject to the adjustments set forth in Section 2.15. Annex E sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the Preliminary Capitalization.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex E, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

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(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

(b) (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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Article V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

(c) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(i) not incur any Indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business or other than that set forth in Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedules and Section 5.6; and

 

(j) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

5.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

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(b) Holdings and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement between Holdings and the Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

(c) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

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5.4 Target Company Stockholders Consent.

 

(a) Target Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Target Company Vote pursuant to written consents of the Target Company Stockholders in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Written Consent”), with such amendments as shall be appropriate to reflect the transactions with respect to the other Parties. The materials submitted to the Target Company Stockholders in connection with the Written Consent shall include the Target Company Board Recommendation, together with the information required by the Act. Promptly following receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall deliver a copy of such Written Consent to Holdings.

 

(b) Promptly following, but in no event later than five Business Days after, receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Target Company Stockholder Notice”) to every Target Company Stockholder that did not execute the Written Consent. The Target Company Stockholder Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Target Company Board determined in accordance with the Act that the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) is advisable in accordance with the Act and in the best interests of the Target Company Stockholders and unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) provide the Target Company Stockholders to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Written Consent, including the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act and the bylaws of the Target Company and (iii) if applicable, notify such Target Company Stockholders of their dissent rights pursuant to the Act. The Target Company Stockholder Notice shall include therewith a copy of Section 262 of the Act, if applicable, and all such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request. All materials submitted to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall be subject to Holdings’ advance review and reasonable approval.

 

5.5 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by such Party hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the knowledge of such Party, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting such Party that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall provide prompt written notice to Target Company when any of the Other Business Combination Party Agreements are executed and closed, or if there is any material breach, material amendment, or termination of such Other Business Combination Agreements.

 

(c) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement (including Sections 8.2 and 9.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

5.6 Debt Obligations.

 

(a) Immediately after the Closing, the Indebtedness Assumed shall continue to be an issued and outstanding obligation of the Surviving Entity. At the closing of the SPAC Merger, or in connection with the IPO closing, as the case may be, Holdings agrees to cause all amounts due on the Indebtedness Assumed to be paid in full at such closing and, in connection therewith, take all necessary steps to secure the agreement of the holders of those certain obligations to release all of the liens and security interests upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(b) Pursuant to the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured), and at least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing, all holders of Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured), as evidenced by those debt obligations set forth on Section 5.6(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, shall exchange such obligations for newly-issued Target Company Series G Preferred Stock (“Series G Preferred”). Prior to the effective time of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured), Target Company shall amend Target Company Organizational Documents to authorize the Series G Preferred.

 

(c) Pursuant to the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured), and at least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing, all holders of Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured), as evidenced by those debt obligations set forth on Section 5.6(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, shall exchange such obligations for newly-issued Target Company Series F Preferred Stock (“Series F Preferred”). Prior to the effective time of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured), Target Company shall amend Target Company Organizational Documents to authorize the Series F Preferred.

 

(d) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall be permitted to incur Indebtedness for operating expenses.

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

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(b) Target Company and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.7 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Holdings and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

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(b) For six years after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, the Surviving Entity, (the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Entity’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings shall not (and shall cause the Surviving Entity not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither Holdings, the Surviving Entity nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

 

(d) The obligations of Holdings and the Surviving Entity under this Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8).

 

(e) In the event Holdings, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity or entity in such consolidation or Merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Holdings or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

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5.9 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.

 

5.10 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

5.11 New Board. Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made by a simple majority vote of each New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of each New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which each New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of each New Board, Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of each New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 5.11. At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to the New Board, Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that Holdings has complied fully with its obligations in this Section 5.11.

 

5.12 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

 

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

5.13 Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete Disclosure Schedules shall be provided by each Party to this Agreement to each other Party to this Agreement on or before the Termination Date. In the event the Target Company (the “Breaching Target Company”) either (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Target Company, then Holdings shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1(b).

 

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5.14 Employees. At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

5.15 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s audited financial statements in connection with SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Target Representative, up to $100,000, for further distribution to the Target Company Stockholders, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

5.16 Cash and Cash Equivalents. The parties acknowledge and agree that all cash and cash equivalents (collectively, “Cash”) held by the Target Company immediately prior to the Closing shall be excluded from the calculation of Current Assets and may be used at Target Company’s discretion between the Effective Date and Closing to pay down Indebtedness or other obligations of the Target Company immediately prior to the Closing.

 

5.17 Management Compensation Incentive Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Target Company’s board of directors may, in its sole discretion, implement a written management compensation incentive plan (“Management Plan”) to reward, retain and incentivize Target Company’s management. Payments under such plan may be settled by Target Company in cash, Shares or both cash and Shares. If they are settled in cash they shall be paid by Target Company immediately prior to Closing and such payments shall be added to the definition of Transaction Expenses and included in the Closing Statement. If they are paid in Shares, such Shares shall be issued by the Target Company to its management and such Shares shall be included in the Consideration Spreadsheet but in any event all cash and Shares to be issued pursuant to the Management Plan shall be settled immediately prior to the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments under the Management Plan not paid in cash or Shares prior to the Closing shall be considered Indebtedness Assumed. To the extent the inclusion of such payments under the Management Plan in Indebtedness Assumed is in excess of the Target Indebtedness, a corresponding adjustment shall be made pursuant to the Indebtedness Adjustment calculation as set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

5.18 Investment Banking Fees. Target Company owes or will owe fees to an investment bank for services rendered pursuant to an engagement agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, payments under such engagement agreement may be settled by Target Company in cash, Shares, or both. If they are settled in cash they shall be paid by Target Company immediately prior to Closing and such payments shall be added to the definition of Transaction Expenses and included in the Closing Statement. If they are paid in Shares, such Shares shall be issued by the Target Company to the investment bank and such Shares shall be included in the Consideration Spreadsheet but in any event all cash and Shares to be issued pursuant to the engagement letter shall be settled as of immediately prior to the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, any investment banking fees not paid in cash or Shares prior to the Closing shall be considered Indebtedness Assumed. To the extent the inclusion of such investment banking fees in Indebtedness Assumed is in excess of the Target Indebtedness, a corresponding adjustment shall be made pursuant to the Indebtedness Adjustment calculation as set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

5.19 Transaction Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, prior to the Closing, Target Company shall be permitted to settle the Transaction Expenses it incurs either by payment of cash, Shares or both cash and Shares. If they are settled in cash they shall be paid by Target Company immediately prior to Closing. If they are paid in Shares, such Shares shall be issued by the Target Company and included in the Consideration Spreadsheet but in any event all cash and Shares to be issued pursuant to settle Transaction Expenses shall be settled immediately prior to the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, any Transaction Expenses not paid in cash or Shares prior to the Closing shall be considered Indebtedness Assumed. To the extent the inclusion of such Transaction Expenses in Indebtedness Assumed is in excess of the Target Indebtedness, a corresponding adjustment shall be made pursuant to the Indebtedness Adjustment calculation as set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

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5.20 Target Company Options. Prior to Closing, Target Company shall take all necessary actions to accelerate, redeem, exercise, or cancel all outstanding subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights as disclosed on Schedule 3.4(c), so that no such subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights shall remain outstanding at Closing.

 

5.21 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Target Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Article VI

TAX MATTERS

 

6.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Target Company Stockholders shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Holdings or the Surviving Entity in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Target Company Stockholders. The Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Target Company Stockholders when due. Target Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

6.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries, Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Target Company Stockholders pursuant to this Section 6.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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6.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Holdings shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Holdings to Target Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Target Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Target Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Holdings in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Holdings and Target Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Holdings and Target Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Holdings of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Holdings and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Holdings and Target Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Holdings.

 

(c) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, Holdings is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by Holdings or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Stockholders.

 

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6.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

6.6 Contests. Holdings agrees to give written notice to Target Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings pursuant to this Article VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Target Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Target Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Target Representative.

 

6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Target Representative, the Target Company or Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Merger Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

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6.9 Payments to Holdings. Any amounts payable to Holdings pursuant to this Article VI shall be satisfied from the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

6.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIRPTA Statement”).

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties intend that the Shares exchanged for Holdings Equity pursuant to the Merger are tax-deferred contributions of capital by the Target Company Stockholders in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

6.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.21 and this Article VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

6.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VI, the provisions of this Article VI shall govern.

 

Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

(b) The filings of Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(d) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked.

 

(e) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

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(f) Holdings must have received a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter (or similar written indication) from an underwriter contemplating an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

(g) John Uczekaj, currently employed by the Target Company, shall have received an employment offer from Holdings to become effective as of the closing of the SPAC Merger or at the effective time of the IPO, as the case may be.

 

(h) Completion of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion on terms and conditions that are satisfactory to the Parties.

 

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. The obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

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(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

(g) Holders of no more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding Shares as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the aggregate, shall have exercised, or remain entitled to exercise, appraisal rights pursuant to the Act with respect to such Shares.

 

(h) Target Company shall have received the consent of each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness to consummate the transactions set forth in this Agreement and provided satisfactory evidence of such consent to Holdings and Merger Sub.

 

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5, the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

(b) Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority shall have been obtained.

 

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Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Stockholders. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, the Target Company Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); provided, that (g) claims for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Target Company Stockholders, pursuant to this Agreement, the Target Company Stockholders representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Target Company Stockholders;

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Sellers or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VI);

 

(c) any claim made by any Target Company Stockholder relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Holdings Equity or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(d) any amounts paid to the holders of Dissenting Shares of Target Company, including any interest required to be paid thereon, that are in excess of what such holders would have received hereunder had such holders not been holders of Dissenting Shares; and

 

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(e) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, or Indebtedness, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission or misstatement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Adjusted Holdings Equity Value pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, Holdings and AIRO Group shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend the Target Company Stockholders, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI).

 

8.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article VIII, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

8.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article VIII, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative. Any payment received by Target Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Target Company Stockholder, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Target Representative and Holdings shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non- defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article VI hereof.

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Stockholders, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Target Company Stockholders (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be.

 

8.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 10.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or intentional misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. Nothing in this Section 8.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

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Article IX TERMINATION

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

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

 

(b) by Holdings by written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) none of Holdings, AIRO Group nor Merger Sub is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

(c) by Target Company by written notice to Holdings if:

 

(i) Target Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub within ten days of Holdings’, AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

 

(d) by Holdings or by Target Company if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) By Holdings if two days prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Target Company shall not have delivered to Holdings a copy of the executed Written Consent evidencing receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

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9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article IX, Section 5.2(b) and Article X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Target Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Target Company Stockholder shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed John Uczekaj as the initial Target Representative. The Target Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Target Representative pursuant to this Agreement, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.15;

 

(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Holdings pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document;

 

(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document;

 

(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Target Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Target Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

Holdings shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Target Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VIII) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Target Company Stockholder by Target Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Target Company Stockholder by Target Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Target Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Target Company Stockholders. Any decision or action by Target Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Target Representative and Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Target Company Stockholders and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Target Company Stockholder shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Target Company Stockholders, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

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(b) The Target Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 10.1(b).

 

(i) The Target Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Target Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Target Company Stockholders according to each Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Target Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Target Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Target Representative.

 

(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Target Representative, a new Target Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Target Representative shall be sent to Holdings, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Holdings; provided, that until such notice is received, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Target Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

(c) The Target Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Target Company Stockholders. If the Target Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Target Representative, the Target Representative must notify the Target Company Stockholders.

 

(d) The Target Representative shall not be liable to the Target Company Stockholders for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Target Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Target Company Stockholders shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Target Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Target Representative under this Agreement (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Target Representative, Target Representative shall reimburse the Target Company Stockholders the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied by the Target Company Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares).

 

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10.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, Holdings shall be responsible for reimbursing Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

10.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.3):

 

If to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub:

 

c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

Attention: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

If to Target Company or Target Representative:

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

Attention: John Uczekaj

Email: john.uczekaj@aspenavionics.com

 

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

 

Kutak Rock LLP

2300 Main Street

Suite 800

Kansas City, MO 64108

Attention: Mitch Woolery

Email: mitch.woolery@kutakrock.com

 

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10.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

10.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the Surviving Entity, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings, and Holdings shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.8, Section 6.3 and Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Requisite Target Company Vote is obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that, pursuant to applicable Law, requires further approval of the Target Company Stockholders, without the receipt of such further approvals. Any failure of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or Target Company, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub) or by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (with respect to any failure by such Target Company), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11(c).

 

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10.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”); provided that nothing in this Section 10.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Target Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Target Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 10.12. If Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

(d) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 10.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Target Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Target Company Stockholders and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

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(e) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(f) Holdings, on the one hand, and the Target Company Stockholders, on the other hand, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(g) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

10.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

10.14 Counterparts. 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

 

10.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

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10.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange Shares pursuant to a Merger in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings has retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Surviving Entity, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

10.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger or IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger or IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of stock. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Stockholders to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Stockholders) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such the former Target Company Stockholder) as part of the Rescission process.

 

10.18 Post-Merger Attorney-Client Issues

 

(a) Each party acknowledges that (i) the Target Company has retained Kutak Rock LLP (“Law Firm”) to act as its counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents (the “Merger Engagement”), (ii) Law Firm has not acted as counsel for any other Person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and (iii) no Person other than the Target Company has the status of a Law Firm client for conflict of interest or any other purpose as a result thereof. AIRO Group and Holdings (x) waive and will not assert, and will cause its Affiliates (including, after the Closing Date, the Surviving Entity) to waive and not assert, any conflict of interest arising out of the Merger Engagement in connection with Law Firm’s representation after the Closing Date of the Target Company, any Affiliate of the Target Company in any matter involving the Transaction Documents (including any litigation, arbitration, mediation or other Action) and (y) consents to, and will cause its Affiliates (including, after the Closing Date, the Surviving Entity) to consent to, any such representation by Law Firm of the Target Company, any Affiliate of the Target Company following the Closing in any matter involving the Transaction Documents, even though, in each case, the interests of the Target Company or any Affiliate of the Target Company may be directly adverse to AIRO Group or Holdings.

 

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(b) Holdings and AIRO Group agree that, after the Closing Date, neither Holdings nor AIRO Group will have any right to access or control any of Law Firm’s attorney-client privileged records relating exclusively to the Merger Engagement, which will be the property of (and controlled by) the Target Company. In addition, Holdings and AIRO Group agree that it would be impractical for the Target Company to remove all attorney-client privileged communications (including e-mails and other electronic files) between Law Firm, on one hand, and the Target Company, on the other hand, relating to the Merger Engagement. Accordingly, Holdings and AIRO Group agree that it will not, and will cause the Surviving Entity not to, use any such attorney-client privileged communications remaining in the records of the Target Company after the Closing Date in a manner that is adverse to the Target Company.

 

(c) Holdings and AIRO Group agree, on their own behalf and on behalf of their Subsidiaries (including, after the Closing Date, the Surviving Entity), that from and after the Closing Date, (i) the attorney-client privilege, all other evidentiary privileges and the expectation of client confidence as to all attorney-client privileged communications between Law Firm, on one hand, and the Target Company, on the other hand, relating exclusively to the Merger Engagement (the “Merger Engagement Privileged Materials”), belong to the Target Company and will not pass to or be claimed by Holdings or AIRO Group, and (ii) as between Holdings, AIRO Group and their Affiliates, on one hand, and the Target Company, on the other hand, the Target Company will have the exclusive right to control, assert or waive the attorney-client privilege, any other evidentiary privilege and the expectation of client confidence with respect to the Merger Engagement Privileged Materials. Accordingly, Holdings and AIRO Group will not and will cause its Subsidiaries (including, after the Closing Date, the Surviving Entity) not to (x) assert any attorney-client privilege, other evidentiary privilege or expectation of client confidence with respect to the Merger Engagement Privileged Materials in any Action involving the Target Company or its Affiliates or (y) knowingly take any action which could reasonably be expected to cause any the Merger Engagement Privileged Materials to cease being a confidential communication or to otherwise lose protection under the attorney-client privilege or any other evidentiary privilege, including waiving such protection in any dispute with a Person not involving the Target Company without the prior written consent of the Target Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any Action between Purchaser, or its Affiliates, on one hand, and any third party, on the other hand, Purchaser, and its Affiliates may assert the attorney-client privilege to prevent the disclosure of the Merger Engagement Privileged Materials to such third party; provided, however, that neither Purchaser nor its Affiliates may waive such privilege without the prior written consent of the Seller Parties. Furthermore, Holdings and AIRO Group agree, on their behalf and on behalf of each of its Subsidiaries (including, after the Closing Date, the Surviving Entity), that in the event of a dispute between the Target Company or an Affiliate of the Target Company, on the one hand, and the Surviving Entity, on the other hand, arising out of or relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, neither the attorney-client privilege, the expectation of client confidence, nor any right to any other evidentiary privilege will protect from disclosure to the Target Company or its Affiliates any Merger Engagement Privileged Materials.

 

[END OF AGREEMENT; BALANCE OF PAGE LEFT BLANK;

SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET COMPANY:
     
  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC., a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Name: John Uczekaj
  Its: President and CEO

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  HOLDINGS:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Dawarevampwration
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AIRO GROUP:
     
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Dplawateliparporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MERGER SUB:
     
  ASPEN MERGER SUB, INC.,
  a Dplawateliparporation
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  John Uczekaj, solely in his capacity as Target
  Representative
   
  /s/ John Uczekaj

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Accord Receivable” means the accounts receivable from Accord Global Technology Solutions to Target Company that have arisen in the ordinary course of business but which is less than 90 days past due.

 

Accord Payable” means the accounts payable to Accord Global Technology Solutions from Target Company that have arisen in the ordinary course of business but which is less than 90 days past due.

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

Act” means, with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, as applicable, the respective laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, authorizing its formation or incorporation, valid existence, and company or corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Adjusted Holdings Equity Value” means the Base Holdings Equity Value less the value of the Working Capital Adjustment and Indebtedness Adjustment as set forth in Section 2.15.

 

Adjusted Indebtedness Target” means the Indebtedness Target, plus (i) Cash, minus (ii) Transaction Expenses remaining unpaid at Closing.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Base Holdings Equity Value” means $72,250,000.00.

 

 

 

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or a similar provision of Law.

 

CARES Act Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Programs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Terms” means all terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority for the receipt of any funds under any CARES Act Program.

 

Cash” has the meaning set forth in F.

 

Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

CIRA” means the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali).

 

CIRA Payable” means the accounts payable to CIRA from Target Company that have arisen in the ordinary course of business but which is less than 90 days past due but does not include any payments due to CIRA from Target Company under the CIRA Settlement Agreement.

 

CIRA Settlement Agreement” means that certain release and settlement agreement between Target Company and CIRA dated as of [●].

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

 

Contribution Shares” means the aggregate number of Shares to be contributed to Holdings by the Target Company Stockholders, and subsequently cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a).

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

 

 

 

Current Assets” means accounts receivable, inventory, accrued license revenue, other current assets as reported in the Financial Statements, the Accord Receivable, and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Holdings will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes, the Accord Payable, the CIRA Payable, and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

 
 

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Fully Diluted Share Number” means the aggregate number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by the Target Company which are to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.8(a)). For the avoidance of doubt, the term Fully Diluted Share Number shall be include for each Share issued in connection with the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion, the Management Plan (as described in Section 5.17), and the engagement agreement (as described in Section 5.18).

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.000001 per share.

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Stockholders in exchange for the Contribution Shares as set forth on Annex B. Holdings Equity shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the Adjusted Holdings Equity Value, divided by (ii) $28.05.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) the fixed contingent put amount obligation of $4,250,000 to Accord Global Pte. Ltd. subject to formal exercise of such put to Target; (h) CIRA agreement as disclosed on the Interim Financial Statements; (i) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (h); and (j) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i).

 

 
 

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indebtedness Assumed” means Indebtedness that is an obligation of the Target Company immediately prior to the Effective Time and that will remain an obligation of the Target Company immediately after the Effective Time, to be paid and settled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, Section 5.6. For the avoidance of doubt, does not include any obligations included in Current Liabilities. To the extent that less than 100% of the secured convertible promissory note obligations are not included within Indebtedness Assumed due to the limitation in amount, any amount not assumed will be included in Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured). Indebtedness Assumed is reflected at Annex F.

 

Indebtedness Target” means $24,000,000.

 

“Indebtedness Unassumed” means Indebtedness which is not Indebtedness Assumed including both Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured) and Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured) but excluding any obligations included in Current Liabilities. Such Indebtedness Unassumed is reflected on the balance sheets within the Annual Financial Statements and Interim Financial Statements but shall be subject to the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured) pursuant to Section 5.6(b) prior to Closing and the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured) pursuant to Section 5.6(c) prior to Closing. Subsequent to such conversions and as of Closing, Indebtedness Unassumed is anticipated to be zero. Indebtedness Unassumed is reflected at Annex G, including the pre-conversion amounts, the effect of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured) and the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured), and the post- conversion amounts.

 

Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured)” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured)” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured)” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured)” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Target Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

 
 

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

 

Law Firm” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18(a).

 

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

 
 

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).

 

Management Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(i).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

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

 

Merger Consideration” means the Holdings Equity that the Target Company Stockholders shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Merger Engagement” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18(a).

 

Merger Engagement Privileged Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18(b).

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual, including any record that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual.

 

 
 

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post- Closing Tax Period.

 

PPP Escrow Account” means the segregated account in which the PPP Escrow Amount is held by the PPP Escrow Agent pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement.

 

PPP Escrow Agent” means for Target Company, the bank that provided the PPP Loan to Target Company.

 

PPP Escrow Agreement” means an agreement by and among the Target Representative, the PPP Escrow Agent and Holdings in form and substance acceptable to the parties.

 

PPP Escrow Amount” means, with respect to a Target Company, the full amount of principal and interest due in respect of the PPP Loan.

 

PPP Loan” means, with respect to any Target Company, the loan made to the Target Company by a bank pursuant to that certain promissory note under the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (pursuant to the CARES Act).

 

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

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Target Company Stockholder such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, determined by dividing (a) the number of Shares owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Effective time, by (b) the Fully Diluted Share Number.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

 
 

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).

 

Requisite Target Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

 

Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

SBA Determination” means the final and nonappealable written determination of the SBA that the PPP Loan is forgiven (in part or in full) or not pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (under the CARES Act).

 

Series F Preferred” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(c).

 

Series G Preferred” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b).

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Shares, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” when used outside of reference to Target Company Stockholder, means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

 
 

 

Target Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Target Company Stockholder” means a holder of Shares.

 

Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

Target Company Stockholder Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Target Organizational Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii).

 

Target Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Working Capital” means a TTM normalized level of Closing Working Capital, as agreed upon by the Parties prior to the Closing, and determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

 
 

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c), any cash amounts paid pursuant to the Management Plan as described in Section 5.17, and any cash amounts paid pursuant to the engagement agreement as described in Section 5.18.

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).

 

Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

 
 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE CONSIDERATION

 

Name of Entity  

Aggregate Percentage Holdings Equity** of Holdings Common

Assumed Stock *

  Aggregate Amount of Indebtedness

 

Column A  Column B   Column C   Column D 
To Target Company Stockholders   8.5%   2,575,758   $24,000,000 

 

*Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time. This percentage is an estimate based upon the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding if all Other Business Combinations between Holdings and the Other Business Combination Parties close. In the event that any Other Business Combinations fail to close, resulting in a decrease in the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding upon the close of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Other Business Combination Agreements, the percentage in Column B shall increase accordingly.

 

**Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Stockholders (including holders of Series F Preferred and Series G Preferred) immediately prior to the Effective Time. This number shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.15(d), if any such adjustments are applicable.

 

 
 

 

ANNEX C

 

PARTIES

 

Name of Party   Name of Office where Certificate of Merger will be filed for the Surviving Entity   Name of Office where Certificate of Merger will be filed for the Party   Surviving Entity of the Merger (“Surviving Entity”)   Governing Certificate of the Law

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.   Secretary of State of the State of Delaware   Secretary of State of Aspen Avionics, the State of Delaware Inc.   Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization  

Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income

Taxes*

  Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
                 
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”)   C Corporation   N/A   N/A   N/A
                 
New Generation Aerospace, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“New Generation”)   C Corporation   N/A   N/A   N/A
                 
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)#   Partnership   AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)   AIRO Drone  

Illinois and

Delaware

                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)#   Partnership   Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)   Agile Defense  

Minnesota

and

Delaware

                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation   Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen Merger Sub”)   Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation   Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal Merger Sub”)   Coastal  

Pennsylvani

a and Delaware

                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt”) f/k/a Jaunt Air Mobility LLC   C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt Merger Sub”)

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)   TBD   Sky-Watch Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sky-Watch Merger Sub”)   Sky-Watch  

Denmark

and

Delaware

 

 
 

 

ANNEX E

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 
 

 

ANNEX F

 

INDEBTEDNESS ASSUMED

 

[to come]

 

 
 

 

ANNEX G

 

INDEBTEDNESS UNASSUMED

 

Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured)

 

Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured)

 

[to come]

 

 
 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

December 16, 2021

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., Aspen Avionics, Inc. and John Uczekaj (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 10.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   By: /s/ John Uczekaj
 

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,

Executive Chairman

   

John Uczekaj,

President and CEO

         
ASPEN MERGER SUB, LLC   JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   /s/ John Uczekaj
 

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,

Executive Chairman

 

John Uczekaj, individually

         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.      
         
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria      

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,

Executive Chairman

     

 

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

April 1, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., Aspen Avionics, Inc. and John Uczekaj (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 16, 2021(the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedule are now complete and final.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to limit Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s control of Target Company prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to revise the tax treatment of the Merger as provided below.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to increase the Indebtedness Target.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to confirm the satisfaction and/or waiver of all conditions to Closing to facilitate an efficient Closing process.

 

1

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 2.3(b)(i) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(i) [Reserved].

 

d. The following is added to the end of Section 5.1:

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, or anything in the Agreement to the contrary, Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub acknowledge and agree that (i) nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to give Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, rights to control or direct Target Company’s operations prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, (ii) prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, the current directors and officers of Target Company shall exercise complete control and supervision of its operations and (iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, prior to the closing of an IPO or SPAC Merger, as applicable, no consent of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub shall be required with respect to any matter to the extent the requirement of such consent would, upon the advice of Target Company’s counsel, violate any applicable Law, be inconsistent with the requirements of any Governmental Authority, or violate any contractual obligation to which Target Company is a party.

 

e. Section 5.6(b) and (c) shall be amended to read as follows:

 

(b) Pursuant to the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured) all holders of Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured), as evidenced by those debt obligations set forth on Section 5.6(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, shall exchange such obligations for newly-issued Target Company Series G Preferred Stock (“Series G Preferred”). Prior to the effective time of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Secured), Target Company shall amend Target Company Organizational Documents to authorize the Series G Preferred.

 

( ) Pursuant to the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured) all holders of Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured), as evidenced by those debt obligations set forth on Section 5.6(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, shall exchange such obligations for newly-issued Target Company Series F Preferred Stock (“Series F Preferred”). Prior to the effective time of the Indebtedness Unassumed Conversion (Unsecured), Target Company shall amend Target Company Organizational Documents to authorize the Series F Preferred.

 

2

 

 

d. Section 5.13 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

5.13 [Reserved].

 

e. A new Section 5.22 is added as follows:

 

Holdings will use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate a financing transaction for the purpose of funding the working capital needs of Holdings, Target and other Targets prior to an IPO or SPAC transaction (the “Pre-IPO Financing”). Subject to consummation of a Pre-IPO Financing, AIRO will provide cash to Target to provide working capital for the purpose of supporting Target’s operations through the completion of an IPO or SPAC transaction. Such cash proceeds to Target will be in the form of a note payable with terms to be negotiated between the Parties in good faith (the “Pre-IPO Note”). The Pre-IPO Note issued by Target to Holdings will not be a deduction from any previously agreed to consideration in the Agreement, including Merger Consideration or Indebtedness Assumed.

 

f. Section 6.11 is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Merger is intended to constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code, or as an “exchange” satisfying the requirements of Section 351(a) of the Code (collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”). The parties to this Agreement hereby: (a) adopt this Agreement insofar as it relates to the Merger as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g) of the United States Treasury regulations, (b) agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Section 1.368-3 of the United States Treasury regulations, and (c) agree to file all Tax and other informational returns on a basis consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code.

 

g. Section 10.1(a) is amended and expanded to include Target Representative’s power, ability and authority to perform all of the acts, duties and calculations set forth or otherwise referred to in Exhibit A to this Amendment.

 

h. The contact information for Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

3

 

 

i. Both references to March 31, 2022 in Section 10.17 are replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

j. The reference to $24,000,000 in the definition of “Indebtedness Target” in Annex A is replaced with $25,150,000.

 

k. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

l. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

m. The reference to TTM in the definition of “Target Working Capital” in Annex A is replaced with “trailing six-month”.

 

n. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with August 31, 2022.

 

o. The reference to $24,000,000 in column D of Annex B is replaced with $25,150,000.

 

p. The table in Annex E is replaced with the following table:

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Reserved in Treasury   1,727,273 
Total   30,303,031 

 

4

 

 

q. Article II of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended by that certain Omnibus Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference.

 

2. AIRO Group, Inc. and AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. shall cooperate with the Target Representative to issue shares of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. Common Stock to the participants in Aspen Avionics 2021 Management Carve-out Plan in a manner that is consistent with such plan.

 

3. The Aspen Avionics, Inc. 2018 Stock Plan is hereby terminated except for the individual participants who have exercised their stock options on or prior to the date hereof (and who are listed on the Disclosure Schedules).

 

4. The final Disclosure Schedules for Target Company are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

5. The final Disclosure Schedules for Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

6. The final Annex F (Indebtedness Assumed) and the final Annex G (Indebtedness Unassumed (Secured) and Indebtedness Unassumed (Unsecured)) are attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

7. The Parties agree that all conditions to Closing set forth in Article VII of the Merger Agreement are either satisfied or hereby waived.

 

[End of Amendment; Balance of Page Left Blank; Signature Page on Following Page]

 

5

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   ASPEN AVIONICS, INC
       
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,    

John Uczekaj,

  CEO     President and CEO
       
ASPEN MERGER SUB, LLC   JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,   John Uczekaj, individually
  President      
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.      
         

By:

/s/ Joseph Burns      
  Joseph Burns,      
  CEO      

 

6

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   ASPEN AVIONICS, INC
       
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,    

John Uczekaj,

  CEO     President and CEO
       
ASPEN MERGER SUB, LLC   JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,   John Uczekaj, individually
  President      
         
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.      
         

By:

/s/ Joseph Burns      
  Joseph Burns,      
  CEO      

 

7

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub Disclosure Schedules

 

 

 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

August 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Aspen Avionics, Inc. and John Uczekaj (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). Aspen Merger Sub, Inc. is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into Aspen Avionics, Inc. on April 1, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by August 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 10.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings.”

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   ASPEN AVIONICS, INC
       
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,    

John Uczekaj,

  CEO     President and CEO
       
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.   JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,   John Uczekaj, individually
  CEO      

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

April 20, 2023

 

Old AGI, Inc., f/k/a AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Aspen Avionics, Inc. and John Uczekaj (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Fourth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). Aspen Merger Sub, Inc. is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into Aspen Avionics, Inc. on April 1, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to reflect the timing and structure of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.’s anticipated closing of its business combination with Kernel Group Holdings, Inc. and adjust the mechanism for distribution of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. shares to the former Aspen shareholders as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Article II of the Merger Agreement is hereby amended by that certain Omnibus Amendment attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. For the avoidance of doubt, the attached Omnibus Amendment replaces in its entirety that certain Omnibus Amendment contained in that certain Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 1, 2022.

 

2. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Amendment may be executed and/or delivered by email. Signatures and documents delivered by email transmission shall be deemed to be original signatures and documents.

 

3. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this Amendment and the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Amendment shall supersede and control. Except as modified herein, the Agreement remains unmodified, in full force and effect, and is hereby ratified by the parties hereto.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

OLD AGI, INC. F/K/A AIRO GROUP, INC.   ASPEN AVIONICS, INC
       
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,    

John Uczekaj,

  CEO     President and CEO
       
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.   JOHN UCZEKAJ, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ John Uczekaj
  Joseph Burns,   John Uczekaj, individually
  CEO      

 

Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.19

 

Execution Version

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY

 

AND AMONG

 

COASTAL DEFENSE INC.,

 

JEFFREY PARKER,

solely in his capacity as Target Company Representative,

 

AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.

 

AND

 

COASTAL MERGER SUB, INC.

 

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2021

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS - 2 -
     
ARTICLE II THE MERGER - 2 -
   
2.1 The Merger - 2 -
2.2 Closing - 2 -
2.3 Closing Deliverables - 2 -
2.4 Effective Time - 4 -
2.5 Effects of the Merger - 4 -
2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws - 4 -
2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers - 4 -
2.8 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock - 4 -
2.9 Dissenting Shares - 5 -
2.10 Surrender and Payment - 5 -
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Common Stock - 6 -
2.12 Adjustments - 6 -
2.13 Withholding Rights - 6 -
2.14 Lost Certificates - 7 -
2.15 Closing Adjustments - 7 -
2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet - 8 -
2.17 PPP Escrow Amount - 8 -
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY - 9 -
   
3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company - 9 -
3.2 Authority; Board Approval - 9 -
3.3 No Conflicts; Consents - 10 -
3.4 Capitalization - 10 -
3.5 Subsidiaries - 11 -
3.6 Financial Statements - 11 -
3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities - 12 -
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions - 12 -
3.9 Material Contracts - 14 -
3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property - 15 -
3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets - 16 -
3.12 Intellectual Property - 16 -
3.13 Inventory - 18 -

 

i
 

 

3.14 Accounts Receivable - 18 -
3.15 Customers and Suppliers - 18 -
3.16 Insurance - 19 -
3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders - 19 -
3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits - 19 -
3.19 Employee Benefit Matters - 20 -
3.20 Employment Matters - 23 -
3.21 Taxes - 24 -
3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities - 26 -
3.23 Books and Records - 26 -
3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations - 26 -
3.25 Related Party Transactions - 27 -
3.26 Powers of Attorney - 27 -
3.27 Brokers - 27 -
3.28 CARES Act Matters - 27 -
3.29 Indebtedness - 27 -
3.30 No Other Representations and Warranties - 27 -

 

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB - 28 -
   
4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings, - 27 -
4.2 No Conflicts; Consents - 28 -
4.3 Tax Status of Holdings - 28 -
4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations - 28 -
4.5 Brokers - 28 -
4.6 Legal Proceedings - 28 -
4.7 Full Disclosure - 29 -
4.8 Capitalization of Holdings - 29 -
4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group - 29 -
4.10 Reliance - 30 -
     
ARTICLE V COVENANTS - 30 -
   
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing - 30 -
5.2 Access to Information - 31 -
5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids - 32 -
5.4 Target Company Stockholders Consent - 32 -
5.5 Notice of Certain Events - 33 -
5.6 Reserved - 34 -

 

ii
 

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents - 34 -
5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance - 35 -
5.9 Closing Conditions - 36 -
5.10 Public Announcements - 36 -
5.11 New Board - 36 -
5.12 Equity Securities - 37 -
5.13 Disclosure Schedules - 37 -
5.14 Directors and Officers; Employees - 37 -
5.15 Audit Expenses - 37 -
5.16 Indebtedness Payoff - 37 -
5.17 Further Assurances - 38 -

 

ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS - 38 -
   
6.1 Tax Covenants - 38 -
6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements - 38 -
6.3 Tax Indemnification - 38 -
6.4 Tax Returns - 39 -
6.5 Straddle Period - 40 -
6.6 Contests - 40 -
6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information - 40 -
6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 40 -
6.9 Payments to Holdings - 40 -
6.10 FIRPTA Statement - 41 -
6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction - 41 -
6.12  Survival - 41 -
6.13 Overlap - 41 -
     
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING - 41 -
   
7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties - 41 -
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, - 42 -
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company - 43 -
     
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION - 44 -
   
8.1 Survival - 44 -
8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Stockholders - 44 -
8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group - 45 -
8.4 Certain Limitations - 45 -
8.5 Indemnification Procedures - 45 -
8.6 Payments; Setoff - 47 -

 

iii
 

 

8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments - 47 -
8.8 Effect of Investigation - 47 -
8.9 Exclusive Remedies - 48 -
     
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION - 48 -
   
9.1 Termination - 48 -
9.2 Effect of Termination - 49 -
     
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS - 49 -
   
10.1 Target Representative - 49 -
10.2 Expenses - 51 -
10.3 Notices - 51 -
10.4 Interpretation - 52 -
10.5 Headings - 52 -
10.6 Severability - 52 -
10.7 Entire Agreement - 52 -
10.8 Successors and Assigns - 53 -
10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries - 53 -
10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver - 53 -
10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial - 53 -
10.12 Arbitration Procedure - 54 -
10.13 Specific Performance - 55 -
10.14 Counterparts - 55 -
10.15 Representation Disclosure - 56 -
10.16 Certain Acknowledgments - 56 -
10.17 Unwind - 56 -

 

iv
 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2021, is entered into by and among Coastal Defense Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Target Company”), Jeffrey Parker (“Target Representative”), AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation, AIRO Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings (“AIRO Group”) and Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a newly-incorporated Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub” and together with Target Company, Target Representative and Holdings, each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a transaction in which Holdings will acquire all of Target Company’s equity in exchange for Holdings Common Stock and Promissory Notes through a reverse subsidiary merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub with and into Target Company, whereby Target Company will be the Surviving Entity thereof, and Holdings shall be the sole owner of the Surviving Entity after the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, the Target Company Board has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, are in the best interests of the Target Company and the Target Company Stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with the Act and all other applicable Laws;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement, Target Company shall seek to obtain, in accordance with the Act, a written consent of its stockholders approving this Agreement, including, as applicable, the Merger and the other transactions described in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act;

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub have unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub and their respective stockholders, and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (unless a different execution timeframe is specifically noted in Annex D), Holdings will be executing and delivering agreements and plans of merger or stock purchase agreements (or any other business combination permitted by such other agreements (collectively, the “Other Business Combination Agreements”)), with other target companies listed on Annex D (the “Other Business Combination Parties”) in the base consideration amounts listed on Annex E (subject to closing adjustments and offsets as set forth in the applicable Other Business Combination Agreements), effecting business combination transactions (each an “Other Business Combination”) on terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (except for the aggregate amount of the merger consideration to be paid to the equity owners of such Other Business Combination Parties).

 

- 1 -
 

 

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

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Certain terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Annex A.

 

Article II

THE MERGER

 

2.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Act, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into Target Company, and (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and Target Company will continue its company existence under the Act as the Surviving Entity in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the third Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at the Closing), or on such other date as the Parties mutually agree in writing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Parties (other than the Target Representative) and their respective counsel shall participate in a teleconference to confirm the satisfactory receipt of the deliveries set forth in Section 2.3 of this Agreement and to authorize the Closing and the delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all Parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken nor any documents deemed to have been executed or delivered until all proceedings and documents have been taken, executed and delivered. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

2.3 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At or prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings the following:

 

(i) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Target Company, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) have been satisfied;

 

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying that (a) attached thereto are true and complete copies of (1) all resolutions adopted by the Target Company Board authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (2) resolutions of the Target Company Stockholders approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, and (3) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and all amendments thereto (the “Target Organization Documents”), (b) with respect to the resolutions of the Target Company Board and Target Company Stockholder, all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (c) with respect to the Target Organizational Documents, such documents are in full force and effect and that no amendment to such documents has occurred since the date of the last amendment annexed thereto;

 

- 2 -
 

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Target Company certifying the names and signatures of the officers of the Target Company authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

( ) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Target Company is organized;

 

(i) the Consideration Spreadsheet contemplated in Section 2.16;

 

(ii) the FIRPTA Statement;

 

(iii) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Target Representative and the PPP Escrow Agent; and

 

(iv) such other documents or instruments as Holdings reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) At the Closing, Holdings shall deliver to Target Company (or such other Person as may be specified herein) the following:

 

(i) each of the Promissory Notes made payable to each Target Company Stockholder and in the principal amounts set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet duly executed by Holdings;

 

(ii) stock certificates representing the portion of Holdings Equity allocated to each Target Company Stockholder in accordance with such Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share, as shown in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(iii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Holdings, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied;

 

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the board of directors and consents of the stockholders of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

(v) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;

 

(vi) if applicable, the PPP Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdings;

 

(vii) such amendments, guarantees, collateral pledges, security agreements and other agreements and instruments, duly executed by Holdings and other Subsidiaries of Holdings as may be required by each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as Target Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

- 3 -
 

 

2.4 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Target Company, on one hand, and Holdings and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall cause a certificate of merger or similar document effecting the Merger with respect to Target Company and Merger Sub (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C (attached hereto and incorporated herein fully by this reference) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the Act. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger (or similar document) has been duly filed with the applicable offices set forth in Annex C, or at such later date or time as may be agreed by such Target Company and Holdings in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Act (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.5 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Target Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Entity.

 

2.6 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the by-laws of the Target Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, of such Surviving Entity or as provided by applicable Law. Additionally, in each case, that the name of the corporation or company set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Target Company.

 

2.7 Directors, Managers and Officers. The directors, managers and officers of the Target Company, in each case, as appropriate, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors, managers and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Entity and subject to Section 5.14.

 

2.8 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Holdings, Merger Sub, the Target Company or any Target Company Stockholder:

 

(a) Shares of Target Company Common Stock or such other equity security that are issued and outstanding in respect of Target Company (the “Shares”) that are owned by the Target Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

(b) Each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.8(a), and (ii) Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration at the time and subject to the contingencies specified herein.

 

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

 

2.9 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.8, Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a)) and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights in accordance with Act (such Shares being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the Act with respect to such Shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by the Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to dissent pursuant to the Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by the Act, such Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.8(b), without interest thereon. The Target Company shall provide Holdings prompt written notice of any demands received by the Target Company for appraisal of Shares, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Target Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Act that relates to such demand, and Holdings shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Target Company shall give notice to Target Company Stockholders of their right to dissent and such notice shall comply with the Act. Except with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Target Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

2.10 Surrender and Payment.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, all Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.9, either (i) each holder of a certificate formerly representing any Shares (each, a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of the Target Company; or (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, such holder shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of the Target Company without any further action.

 

(b) Holdings, or a transfer agent appointed by Holdings, shall act as the exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”).

 

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any event not later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall mail to each holder of Target Company Common Stock a letter of transmittal in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a “Letter of Transmittal”) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for the applicable portion of Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.8(b). Holdings shall, no later than the later of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Certificate, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and any other customary documents that Holdings may reasonably require in connection therewith, deliver to the holder of such Certificate such holder’s portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b) with respect to such Certificate so surrendered and the Certificate shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Target Company Common Stock (other than Dissenting Shares) shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all purposes, to evidence the right to receive the portion of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.8(b). If after the Effective Time, any Certificate is presented to Holdings, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.10.

 

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(d) Each Target Company Stockholder shall also be entitled to any amounts that may be payable in the future in respect of the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate as provided in this Agreement and the Promissory Notes, at the respective time and subject to the contingencies specified herein and therein. Unless otherwise provided herein or in the Promissory Notes, no interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of Target Company Stockholders on the Promissory Note Principal Amount.

 

(e) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment or delivery shall pay to Holdings any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Holdings that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed by the Target Company Stockholders ninety (90) days after the Effective Time shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand, and any such Target Company Stockholder who has not exchanged Certificates for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.10 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Holdings for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holdings shall not be liable to any holder of Certificates for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by Target Company Stockholders two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Holdings free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(g) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Holdings, upon demand.

 

2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Target Company Common Stock. All Merger Consideration delivered or deliverable upon the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered or deliverable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Shares on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II and elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

2.12 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock or equity securities of the Target Company shall occur, including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2.13 Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Holdings, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

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2.14 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Holdings, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Holdings may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Shares formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

 

2.15 Closing Adjustments.

 

(a) No later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Target Company will deliver to Holdings the Target Company’s calculation of the Merger Consideration, including the Company’s good-faith estimate of each of: (i) the Closing Working Capital and the resulting Working Capital Adjustment, (ii) the Closing Indebtedness Amount and the resulting Indebtedness Adjustment, and (iii) the total amount of Transaction Expenses that are incurred and unpaid by the Target Company as of the Closing and the resulting Transaction Expense Adjustment, in reasonable detail (the “Closing Statement”). Such estimates will be based on the Target Company’s books and records, the best estimate of the management of the Target Company and other information then available and will be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Holdings will have the right to review the Closing Statement and such supporting documentation or data of the Target Company as Holdings may reasonably request. If Holdings does not agree with the Closing Statement, the Target Company and Holdings will negotiate in good faith to mutually agree on an acceptable Closing Statement no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, and the Target Company will consider in good faith any proposed comments or changes that Holdings may reasonably suggest; provided, however, that the failure to include in the Closing Statement any changes proposed by Holdings, or the acceptance by Holdings of the Closing Statement, or the consummation of the Closing, will not limit or otherwise affect Holdings’ remedies under this Agreement, including Holdings’ right to include such changes or other changes in the Closing Statement, or constitute an acknowledgment by Holdings of the accuracy of the Closing Statement; provided, further, that the failure of Holdings and the Target Representative to reach such mutual agreement will not give any party the right to terminate this Agreement or otherwise fail to close the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

(b) The “Working Capital Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the Closing Working Capital is less than seventy-five percent (75%) of Target Working Capital the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital; (ii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the Target Working Capital, the amount by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital; or (iii) in the event the Closing Working Capital is within seventy-five percent (75%) and one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of Target Working Capital, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Working Capital Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from or added to, as the case may be) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Stockholders under the Promissory Notes.

 

(c) The “Indebtedness Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to: (i) in the event the amount of Target Company Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target, the amount by which the Target Company Indebtedness at Closing is greater than the Indebtedness Target or (ii) in the event Target Company Indebtedness at Closing is less than or equal to the Indebtedness Target, zero Dollars ($0.00). The Indebtedness Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Stockholders under the Promissory Notes.

 

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(d) The “Transaction Expense Adjustment” shall be an amount equal to the Transaction Expenses that remain unpaid at Closing as reflected on the Closing Statement. The Transaction Expense Adjustment shall be applied to (deducted from) the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Stockholders under the Promissory Notes.

 

2.16 Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

(a) Annex B to this Agreement describes the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Note Principal Amount deliverable in connection with the Merger, subject to any applicable adjustments contained herein.

 

(b) At least ten (10) Business Days before the Closing and concurrently with the delivery of the Closing Statement, Target Company shall prepare and deliver to Holdings a spreadsheet (the “Consideration Spreadsheet”), certified by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or their functional equivalent) of Target Company, which shall set forth, as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the Effective Date, the following:

 

(i) the names and addresses of all Target Company Stockholders and the number of Target Company Common Stock held by such Persons;

 

(ii) detailed calculations of the Fully Diluted Share Number; and

 

(iii) each Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share (as a percentage interest and the interest in dollar terms) of the Holdings Equity portion and the Promissory Notes portion of the Merger Consideration.

 

(c) The parties agree that Holdings and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the Consideration Spreadsheet in making payments under Article II and Holdings and Merger Sub shall not be responsible for the calculations or the determinations regarding such calculations in such Consideration Spreadsheet.

 

2.17 PPP Escrow Amount. Holdings and the Target Representative hereby agree that the PPP Escrow Amount shall be held by the PPP Escrow Agent in the PPP Escrow Account, in accordance with the PPP Escrow Agreement; provided, however, Holdings and the Target Representative shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter) deliver a joint written instruction to the PPP Escrow Agent, pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement, instructing the PPP Escrow Agent to release the PPP Escrow Amount to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share) upon the date on which the Target Company receives an SBA Determination; provided further, however, that if such SBA Determination indicates that less than 100% of the PPP Loan has been forgiven, then such joint written instruction shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release (a) only a portion of the PPP Escrow Amount that is equal to the amount of the PPP Loan that has been forgiven (if any) to the Target Representative (which shall thereafter pay such funds to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share), and (b) the remainder to Holdings.

 

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Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, which shall be delivered at the time set forth in, and in accordance with, Section 5.13, Target Company represents and warrants to Holdings that the statements contained in this Article III about Target Company are true and correct as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may submit Disclosure Schedules with respect to any section in Article III, regardless of that absence of a specific reference to applicable exceptions and applicable Disclosure Schedules in the specific sections in this Article III. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Target Company” in this Article III shall be deemed to refer to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Target Company. The Target Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization as shown on Annex A and has full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Target Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Target Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.2 Authority; Board Approval.

 

(a) Target Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of Target Company Stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding Shares or such vote required under the Target Company Charter Documents (“Requisite Target Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation by the Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Target Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Target Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote. The Requisite Target Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Target Company’s capital stock (or other equity securities) required to approve and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against the Target Company in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which the Target Company is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Target Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Target Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

(b) The Target Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors or managers of the Target Company duly called and held and, as of the hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, if applicable to it, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Target Company Stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the Act, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Target Company Stockholders for adoption in accordance with the Act and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Target Company, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Target Company Stockholders adopt the “plan of Merger” (if applicable to it) set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Target Company Board Recommendation”) and directed that such matter be submitted for consideration of the Target Company Stockholders at the Target Company Stockholders Meeting or, in lieu of such meeting, for approval by written consent of the Target Company Stockholders pursuant to Section 228 of the Act.

 

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3.3 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Target Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Target Company (“Target Company Charter Documents”); (ii) subject to, in the case of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Target Company Vote, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Target Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which the Target Company is a party or by which the Target Company is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Target Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Target Company. Except for any consent or approval required under, by, or pursuant to Government Contracts as set forth on Section 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedules, no consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Target Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

3.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the authorized capital stock (or other equity securities) of the Target Company and the number Shares that are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedules set forth, as of the date hereof, the name of each Person that is the registered owner of any Shares and the number of Shares owned by such Person.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Target Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Target Company to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Target Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Target Company Common Stock.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Target Company Common Stock (or other equity securities) are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Target Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Target Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by the Target Company in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Target Company Common Stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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(d) Except as disclosed on Section 3.4(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no outstanding Target Company Common Stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Target Company, except pursuant to appraisal rights in the Act. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Target Company or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Target Company were undertaken in compliance with the Target Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Target Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

3.5 Subsidiaries. Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules correctly sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Target Company, the jurisdiction of its organization and the Persons owning the outstanding equity interest of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Target Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to own its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business requires it to qualify, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the equity interest of each Subsidiary of the Target Company is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, all of the equity interest of each such Subsidiary is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase any equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company or any stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interest. No Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to any option or obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its equity interest or any warrants, options or other rights to acquire its equity interest. None of the equity interest of any Subsidiary of the Target Company is subject to, or was issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, co-sale or participation right, preemptive right, subscription right or similar right. Except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or holds the right to acquire any Capital Stock or any other security or interest in any other Person or has any obligation to make any Investment in any Person. Section 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all officers and directors of each of the Target Company’s Subsidiaries. The copies of each Subsidiary’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents or operating agreements) have been furnished to Holdings, reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement and are true, correct and complete.

 

3.6 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Complete copies of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ unaudited financial statements consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31 in each of the years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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(b) As soon as possible after the date of this Agreement, but in no event less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing, Target Company shall deliver to each of the other Parties complete copies of its audited Annual Financial Statements (for 2019 and 2020) and its reviewed Interim Financial Statements (consisting of reviewed consolidated unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2021 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow for the six-month period then ended). Upon delivery, the term Annual Financial Statements shall include such audited financial statements, the term Interim Financial Statements shall include such reviewed financial statements, and the term Financial Statements shall include both such audited and reviewed financial statements and shall be deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Annual Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, and fairly present the financial condition of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Target Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Target Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d) The audited Financial Statements shall have been audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

3.7 Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Balance Sheet as of the Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount.

 

3.8 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for any event that may have been caused by any Law, rules regulations or other requirements of any Governmental Authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has not been, with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the Target Company Charter Documents;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any shares of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

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(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) that have not been disclosed herein;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its capital stock (or other equity securities) or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its capital stock (or other equity securities);

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Target Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in the Target Company’s cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property or Target Company IP Agreements other than non-exclusive license in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any Material Contract ;

 

(o) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Target Company properties, capital stock (or other equity securities) or assets, tangible or intangible other than Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(p) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses associated with such change or termination exceed $10,000 or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;

 

(q) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(r) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement, in each case whether written or oral;

 

(s) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its stockholders or current or former directors, officers and employees;

 

(t) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(u) except for the Merger, the adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(v) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(w) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(x) action by the Target Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of the Target Company in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period;

 

(y) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing; or

 

(z) any material capital expenditures.

 

3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Target Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property (including without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all Target Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Target Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Target Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Target Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a Person or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Target Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;

 

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(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of stock or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, and agency Contracts to which the Target Company is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Target Company is a party, and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Target Company;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Target Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Target Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Target Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Target Company;

 

(xi) any Contracts with any customers; and

 

(xii) any other Contract that is material to the Target Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.9.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Target Company or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. To the Target Company’s Knowledge, no event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder.

 

3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.

 

(a) The Target Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple, or if the Real Property is located outside the United States of America, full and irrevocable) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and personal property and other assets reflected in the Annual Financial Statements or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):

 

(i) those items set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;

 

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(ii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(iii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent, and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company;

 

(iv) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company; or

 

(v) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Target Company.

 

(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) the street address of each parcel of Real Property; (ii) if such property is leased or subleased by the Target Company, the landlord under the lease, the rental amount currently being paid, and the expiration of the term of such lease or sublease for each leased or subleased property; and (iii) the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Target Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Target Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Target Company has delivered or made available to Holdings true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Target Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. The use and operation of the Real Property in the conduct of the Target Company’s business do not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. To the Target Company’s Knowledge, no material improvements constituting a part of the Real Property encroach on real property owned or leased by a Person other than the Target Company. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.

 

3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Target Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Target Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Target Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Target Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets used to conduct the business of the Target Company as currently conducted.

 

3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Target Company IP Registrations and (ii) Target Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Target Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Target Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Target Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing.

 

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(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Target Company IP Agreements. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of all such Target Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Target Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Target Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Target Company nor, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Target Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Target Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Target Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Target Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target Company has entered into written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Target Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Target Company Intellectual Property which such employees or independent contractors created or had a part in creating; and (ii) acknowledge the Target Company’s exclusive ownership of all Target Company Intellectual Property which such employees or independent contractors created or had a part in creating. The Target Company has provided Holdings with true and complete copies of a sample of such agreements.

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Target Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Target Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Target Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Target Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Target Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements or otherwise agree to protect and preserve the confidentiality thereof.

 

(f) The conduct of the Target Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Target Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Target Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Target Company Intellectual Property or the Target Company’s rights with respect to any Target Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Target Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Target Company Intellectual Property. The Target Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Target Company Intellectual Property.

 

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3.13 Inventory. All inventory of the Target Company, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheet, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Target Company free and clear of all Encumbrances, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Target Company.

 

3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Target Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (b) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company, are collectible in full within 90 days after billing. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Target Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

3.15 Customers and Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) customers (on a consolidated basis) (by gross revenues generated from such customers). Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ top twenty (20) suppliers (on a consolidated basis) (by aggregate cost of products and/or services purchased from such suppliers), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such customer to the effect that, and neither the Target Company has any Knowledge that, any such customer will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying or prescribing products and/or services from the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise). The Target Company has not received any oral or written notice from any such supplier to the effect that, and the Target Company has no Knowledge that, any such supplier will stop, decrease the rate of, or change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Target Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise).

 

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3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Target Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Target Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Holdings. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Target Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who have an A.M. Best rating of not less than B++; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Target Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Target Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Target Company and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Target Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened (i) against or by the Target Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (ii) against or by the Target Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred, or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards arising from any Action against or affecting the Target Company or any of its properties or assets. The Target Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

 

(a) The Target Company is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the operation of its business and the maintenance and operation of its properties and assets. No written notices have been received by, and no Actions have been initiated against, the Target Company alleging or pertaining to a violation of any such Laws. The Target Company has not made any bribes, kickback payments or other similar payments of cash or other consideration, including payments to customers or clients or employees of customers or clients for purposes of doing business with such Persons.

 

(b) The Target Company holds and is in compliance in all material respects with all material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations of all non-U.S., federal, state and local Governmental Authorities required for the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties, and the attached Section 3.18(b)) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all of such material permits, licenses, bonds, approvals, certificates, registrations, accreditations and other authorizations. No written notices have been received by the Target Company alleging the failure to hold any of the foregoing.

 

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(c) The Target Company has complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable data protection, privacy and other Laws, in each case, governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure (whether electronically or in any other form or medium) of all Personal Information, including by entering into agreements governing the flow of Personal Information across national borders and providing notice of such flow to each individual to whom such Personal Information relates as required by such Laws. All Personal Information in the custody or control of the Target Company has been collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed with the consent of each individual to whom it relates as required by such Laws and has been used only for the purposes for which it was initially collected except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Target Company has, and has had in place since December 31, 2016, a privacy policy governing the collection use, storage, distribution, transfer and disclosure of Personal Information by the Target Company, as the case may be, and has collected, used, stored, distributed, transferred and disclosed all Personal Information materially in accordance with such policy. Since December 31, 2016, there has not been any notice to, complaint against or audit, proceeding or investigation conducted or claim asserted with respect to the Target Company, by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) regarding the collection, use, storage, distribution, transfer or disclosure of Personal Information, and none is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Target Company, threatened (and to the Knowledge of the Target Company there is no basis for the same). The Target Company has implemented and is in compliance in all material respects with physical, technical and other measures complying with such Laws and meeting applicable industry standards to assure the integrity and security of transactions executed through its computer systems and of all confidential or proprietary data, including Personal Information. Except as set forth on Section 3.18(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2016, there has been no actual or alleged material breach of security or unauthorized access to or acquisition, use, loss, destruction, compromise or disclosure of any Personal Information, confidential or proprietary data or any other such information maintained or stored by or on behalf of the Target Company and there have been no facts or circumstances that would require the Target Company to give notice to any customers, vendors, consumers or other similarly situated Persons of any actual or perceived data security breaches pursuant to any Law or contract.

 

3.19 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Holdings or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Target Company has separately identified in Section 3.19(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Target Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).

 

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(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Target Company has made available to Holdings accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including, if applicable, ERISA and the Code). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Target Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Holdings or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(d) Neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (a) all contributions required to be paid by the Target Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (b) neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (c) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Target Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Target Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.19(e) of the Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

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(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Holdings, the Target Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Target Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post- termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Target Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Target Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Target Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Target Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

(k) Each individual who is classified by the Target Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

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(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(l) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Target Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Target Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code. The Target Company has made available to Holdings and the other Target Companies true and complete copies of any Section 280G calculations prepared (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual in connection with the transactions.

 

3.20 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Target Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full on the Interim Balance Sheet) and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Target Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Target Company, and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Target Company or any of its employees. The Target Company has no duty to bargain with any Union.

 

(c) The Target Company is and has been in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Contracts listed on Section 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedules and all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Target Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Target Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c), there are no Actions against the Target Company pending, or to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Target Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

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(d) The Target Company has complied with the WARN Act, and it has no plans to undertake any action that would trigger the WARN Act.

 

3.21 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Target Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Target Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b) The Target Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Target Company.

 

(e) The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before December 31, 2020 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Target Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, materially exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years except to the extent required by Tax Laws).

 

(f) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Target Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(g) The Target Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge threatened Actions by any taxing authority.

 

(h) The Target Company has delivered to Holdings copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Target Company for all Tax periods ending after December 31, 2017.

 

(i) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Target Company.

 

(j) The Target Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

 

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(k) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Target Company.

 

(l) The Target Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Target Company has no Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Target Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

(m) Any Target Company which is taxed as a C corporation will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

(n) The Target Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(o) The Target Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(p) The Target Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).

 

(q) With respect to any Target Company that is subject to taxation in the United States of America, there is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Target Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(r) The Target Company is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

(s) Section 3.21(s) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Target Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Target Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Target Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

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(t) The Target Company has never owned any “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.

 

(u) No property owned by the Target Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(a) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

3.22 Product Warranties and Liabilities. All products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company have been in conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and applicable Law and all express and implied warranties in all material respects, and the Target Company has no Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any such Liability) for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included on the face of the Balance Sheet (rather than the notes thereto). No products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company are subject to any guaranty, warranty or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of such sale as described on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules (including as a result of any course of conduct between the Target Company and any Person or as a result of any statements in any of the Target Company’s product or promotional literature). Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules includes copies of such standard terms and conditions of sale for the Target Company (containing applicable guaranty, warranty and indemnity provisions). The Target Company has not been notified in writing of any claims for (and the Target Company has no Knowledge of any threatened claims for) any extraordinary product returns, warranty obligations or product services relating to any of its products or services. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, there have been no product recalls, withdrawals or seizures with respect to any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, the Target Company has not had or has any Liability (and, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim or demand against it giving rise to any Liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any products manufactured, sold or delivered by the Target Company or with respect to any services rendered by the Target Company.

 

3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and stock record books of the Target Company, all of which have been made available to Holdings, are materially complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Target Company contain materially accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the Target Company Stockholders, the Target Company Board and any committees of the Target Company Board, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such Target Company Stockholders, Target Company Board or committee has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Target Company.

 

3.24 Bank Accounts; Names and Locations. Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules lists all of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries’ bank accounts (designating each authorized signatory and the level of each signatory’s authorization). Except as set forth Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules, during the five (5) year period prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, neither the Target Company nor its predecessors has used any other name or names under which it has invoiced account debtors, maintained records concerning its assets or otherwise conducted business. All of the tangible assets and properties of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries are located at the locations set forth on Section 3.24 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

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3.25 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Target Company or any person owning 5% or more of the Shares (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Target Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Target Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

3.26 Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 3.27 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

3.28 CARES Act Matters. Section 3.28 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the CARES Act stimulus or relief programs (the “CARES Act Programs”) in which the Target Company is participating or has participated and the amount of funds requested or received by the Target Company under each CARES Act Program. The Target Company has made available to each other Party true, correct and complete copies of all applications, forms and other documents filed or submitted by the Target Company relating to any CARES Act Program, and all statements and information contained in such applications, forms and other documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All funds received by the Target Company under all CARES Act Programs (the “CARES Act Funds”) have been used by the Target Company in compliance in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms, and the Target Company has maintained accounting and other records relating to the CARES Act Funds and the use thereof that comply in all material respects with the CARES Act and all CARES Act Terms (including records that track the costs and other expenses for which the CARES Act Funds have been used), true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available by the Target Company to the other parties.

 

3.29 Indebtedness. Section 3.29 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the amount and general terms of all of the Target Company’s Indebtedness as of the date of this Agreement.

 

3.30 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III (including the related portions of the Disclosure Schedule), neither Target Company nor any Target Company Stockholder has made or makes any other express or implied representation or warranty, either written or oral, on behalf of Target Company.

 

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Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDINGS, AIRO GROUP AND MERGER SUB

 

Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Target Company that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

4.1 Organization and Authority of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. Holdings is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Holdings has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of AIRO Group and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document to which they are a party and the consummation by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited liability company and corporate action on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub and no other proceedings on the part of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub enforceable against Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms. When each Ancillary Document to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Ancillary Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

4.2 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

4.3 Tax Status of Holdings. Holdings is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holdings always has been taxed as a corporation since its inception and will be taxed as a corporation upon the Closing Date.

 

4.4 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.5 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub.

 

4.6 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Holdings’ AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s Knowledge, threatened against or by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

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4.7 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub in this Agreement and no statement contained in the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to any Target Company or any of their Representatives pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

 

4.8 Capitalization of Holdings.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of thirty-five million (35,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) The Holdings Equity shall represent in the aggregate 6% of the capitalization of Holdings after giving effect to the Merger, assuming all of the Other Business Combinations close as well (the “Preliminary Capitalization”), as calculated on a fully diluted basis. Annex E sets forth a summary capitalization table with respect to the Preliminary Capitalization.

 

(c) Except as disclosed on Section 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules or in connection with the Other Business Combinations as set forth in Annex E, (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of Holdings is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by Holdings to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of Holdings or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Holdings common stock.

 

(d) All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Holdings organization documents or any agreement to which Holdings is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by Holdings in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of Holdings common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(e) No outstanding Holdings common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by Holdings. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to Holdings or any of its securities.

 

(f) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of Holdings were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of Holdings then in effect, any agreement to which Holdings then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.9 Capitalization of AIRO Group.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of AIRO Group consists of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of which 17,230,303 shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, all of which are directly owned by Holdings.

 

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(b) (i) no subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of AIRO Group is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by AIRO Group to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of AIRO Group or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of AIRO Group common stock.

 

(c) All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the AIRO Group organization documents or any agreement to which AIRO Group is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances created by AIRO Group in respect thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of AIRO Group common stock were issued in compliance with applicable Law.

 

(d) No outstanding AIRO Group common stock is subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by AIRO Group. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to AIRO Group or any of its securities.

 

(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of AIRO Group were undertaken in compliance with the articles of incorporation, by- laws or other organizational documents of AIRO Group then in effect, any agreement to which AIRO Group then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.

 

4.10 Reliance. Each of Holdings, AIRO Group, and Merger Sub acknowledges and agrees that none of them has executed this Agreement in reliance on any promise, representation or warranty not specifically set forth in this Agreement. Target Company shall have no legal liability for any of Holding’s, AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s use of any information provided or statement made by Target Company other than in this Agreement.

 

Article V

COVENANTS

 

5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Target Company shall (x) conduct the business of Target Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of Target Company and its Subsidiaries and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Target Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a) preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) pay its uncontested debts, Taxes and other obligations when due;

 

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(d) maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by it in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(e) continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law or where replaced by comparable Insurance Policies without any default or lapse in coverage;

 

(f) defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(g) perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(h) maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(i) comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws;

 

(j) not incur any Indebtedness without the prior written consent of Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); and

 

(k) not take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events or conditions described in Section 3.8 to occur.

 

5.2 Access to Information.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party shall (i) afford the other Parties and their respective Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to such Party and its Subsidiaries; (ii) furnish the other Parties and their respective Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Parties and their respective Representatives may reasonably request; and (iii) instruct its Representatives to cooperate with the other Parties and their respective Representatives in the investigation of such Party and its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as may be prohibited by Law or confidentiality obligations owed to other Persons. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of a Party and its Subsidiaries. No investigation by any Party or its respective Representatives or other information received by any Party or its respective Representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such Party in this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and Target Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement between Holdings and the Target Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

(c) Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Other Business Combination Party to provide reasonable access to Target Company and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

(d) Target Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to efforts to provide reasonable access to each Other Business Combination Party and its Representatives to the same extent as if the Other Business Combination Party were a Party subject to Section 5.2(a) above.

 

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5.3 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Target Company agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Target Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause its Affiliates and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Holdings or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange or other business combination transaction involving the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets. For the avoidance of doubt, Target Company may reply to any Person from whom a communication regarding an Acquisition Proposal is received without violation of the foregoing that the Target Company is then unable to reply substantively to such communication because the Target Company is under exclusivity obligation to Holdings.

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.3, Target Company shall promptly (and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Target Company or its Representatives) advise the other Parties orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Target Company agrees that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.3 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the other Parties and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the other Parties.

 

5.4 Target Company Stockholders Consent.

 

(a) Target Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Target Company Vote pursuant to written consents of the Target Company Stockholders, with such amendments as shall be appropriate to reflect the transactions with respect to the other Parties. The materials submitted to the Target Company Stockholders in connection with the Written Consent shall include the Target Company Board Recommendation, together with the information required by the Act. Promptly following receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall deliver a copy of such Written Consent to Holdings.

 

(b) Promptly following, but in no event later than five Business Days after, receipt of the Written Consent, Target Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Target Company Stockholder Notice”) to every Target Company Stockholder that did not execute the Written Consent. The Target Company Stockholder Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Target Company Board determined in accordance with the Act that the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) is advisable in accordance with the Act and in the best interests of the Target Company Stockholders and unanimously approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger (or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement) and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) provide the Target Company Stockholders to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Written Consent, including the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger and/or the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Act and the bylaws of the Target Company and (iii) if applicable, notify such Target Company Stockholders of their dissent rights pursuant to the Act. The Target Company Stockholder Notice shall include therewith a copy of Section 262 of the Act, if applicable, and all such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request. All materials submitted to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with this Section 5.4(b) shall be subject to Holdings’ advance review and reasonable approval.

 

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5.5 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Target Company shall promptly notify the other Parties in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (a) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by the Target Company hereunder not being true and correct or (c) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to the Target Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Target Company that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Holdings and AIRO Group shall provide prompt written notice to Target Company when any of the Other Business Combination Party Agreements are executed and closed, or if there is any material breach, material amendment, or termination of such Other Business Combination Agreements.

 

(c) Receipt of information by the other Parties pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by such other Party in this Agreement (including Sections 8.2 and 9.1(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(d) In the event that (i) any of the Other Business Combination Agreements is terminated for any reason; (ii) Holdings terminates negotiations with any Other Business Combination Party with respect to an Other Business Combination; or (iii) any of the Other Business Combination Parties terminates negotiations with Holdings with respect to an Other Business Combination, any Holdings Common Stock which would have been issued pursuant to such Other Business Combination shall not be issued, sold, assigned or transferred to any Person, including, without limitation, any Other Business Combination Party or any director, officer, or Affiliate of Holdings; provided, however, that such Holdings Common Stock may be issued, sold, assigned or transferred to the equityholders of PrecisionHawk, Inc., to the extent Holdings and the Representative agree that it shall become an Other Business Combination Party after the date hereof.

 

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5.6 Reserved.

 

5.7 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each Party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act) required under any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall cooperate fully with the other Party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders and approvals.

 

(b) Target Company and Holdings shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.2 of the Disclosure Schedules, including without limitation the approval and execution by Holdings, and the other Subsidiaries of Holdings of such security agreements, collateral pledges, and guarantees, on customary commercial terms, as each holder of Target Company Indebtedness may require as a condition to its consent to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill the condition set forth in Section 7.3(g).

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either Party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between the Target Company and Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other Party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each Party shall give notice to the other Party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other Party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance or contact.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.7 shall require, or be construed to require, the other Parties or any of their Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of the other Parties, the Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to the other Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

5.8 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) Holdings and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by Target Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of Target Company (each an “D&O Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Target Company Charter Documents, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedules, shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b) For six years after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, the Surviving Entity, (the “D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each D&O Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each D&O Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such D&O Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by such D&O Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such D&O Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Entity’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

(c) Prior to the Closing, Target Company shall obtain and fully pay for “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to the directors and officers of Target Company as such Target Company’s existing policies with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Target Company shall bear the cost of the D&O Tail Policy, and such costs, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, shall be included in the determination of Transaction Expenses. During the term of the D&O Tail Policy, Holdings shall not (and shall cause the Surviving Entity not to) take any action following the Closing to cause the D&O Tail Policy to be cancelled or any provision therein to be amended or waived; provided, that neither Holdings, the Surviving Entity nor any Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to pay any premiums or other amounts in respect of such D&O Tail Policy.

 

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(c) The obligations of Holdings and the Surviving Entity under this Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.8 applies without the consent of such affected D&O Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the D&O Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.8 applies shall be third-Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.8).

 

(d) In the event Holdings, the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or Surviving Entity or entity in such consolidation or Merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Holdings or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Target Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.8 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

5.9 Closing Conditions. From the date hereof until the Closing, each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.

 

5.10 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), none of the Parties shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the express prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the parties hereto shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

5.11 New Board. Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, but in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, Holdings shall appoint a new board of directors of Holdings which shall consist of Chirinjeev Kathuria, Joe Burns, and John Uczekaj (the “New Board”). The Parties agree that all material decisions concerning the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the decision to proceed with the Closing) shall be made on behalf of Holdings by a simple majority vote of the New Board (and not by any committee thereof). Members of the New Board shall be allotted one vote on matters on which the New Board may vote under this Agreement. Immediately prior to the establishment of the New Board, Holdings shall have in place director and officer insurance policies with such coverage, deductibles, exclusions and other reasonable terms and conditions. Further, Holdings shall agree in writing to indemnify all of the members of the New Board to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Holdings shall amend and modify its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to effect the provisions of this Section 5.11. Holdings shall submit, and shall ensure that each member of the New Board has submitted, prior to the Closing, any applications for security clearance as shall be required by any Governmental Authority. At least three Business Days prior to such directors being appointed to the New Board, Holdings shall provide to such directors written confirmation (in form and substance satisfactory to such directors and their respective legal counsel) that Holdings has complied fully with its obligations in this Section 5.11.

 

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5.12 Equity Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IV and Article V, Target Company shall be permitted to issue additional equity securities (and securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of Target Company), subject to the following conditions occurring:

 

(a) At least ten (10) days prior to a proposed issuance of additional equity securities, Target Company shall deliver to Holdings a notice detailing the information concerning such equity securities offering, including the amount and kind of securities issued or to be issued, the subscribers therefor and other materially related information (a “Plan of Issuance”);

 

(b) Holdings approves the Plan of Issuance, with such approval not being unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed;

 

(c) Any equity securities issued according to the approved Plan of Issuance shall be issued no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing; and

 

(d) Target Company shall timely update Annex B and the affected sections of the Disclosure Schedules pertaining to such equity securities offering.

 

5.13 Disclosure Schedules. True, correct and complete Disclosure Schedules shall be provided by each Party to this Agreement to each other Party to this Agreement on or before the Termination Date. In the event the Target Company (the “Breaching Target Company”) either (i) does not provide such Disclosure Schedules timely, or (ii) includes in such Disclosures Schedules any fact, circumstance or occurrence that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on such Target Company, then Holdings shall have the right to terminate this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1(b).

 

5.14 Directors and Officers; Employees.

 

(a) Following the Closing, (i) neither Jeffrey Parker nor Kyle Stanbro shall be removed as a director of the Surviving Entity other than as a result of his death; (ii) the number of members of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity shall not be increased nor decreased; (iii) neither Jeffrey Parker nor Kyle Stanbro shall be removed as an officer of the Surviving Entity or have their duties, authorities, or position materially altered without the consent of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity; and (iv) no Person shall be appointed as an officer or director of the Surviving Entity without having first obtained the appropriate clearances and approvals from each Governmental Authority necessary to conduct the business of the Surviving Entity as conducted by the Target Company immediately prior to Closing.

 

(b) At the Closing, all key employees of the Target Company shall continue to be employed and shall receive and maintain pay and benefits that are identical to or better than the levels prior to Closing.

 

5.15 Audit Expenses. The Target Company’s reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses related to the preparation of the Target Company’s reviewed and/or audited financial statements in connection with this Agreement, the SPAC Merger or of an IPO shall be paid by Holdings or its Affiliates to the Target Representative, up to $100,000, for further distribution to the Target Company Stockholders, at the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

5.16 Indebtedness Payoff. At the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by Holdings and the Representative, Holdings shall pay in full (or cause to be paid) all amounts owed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries to the holders of Target Company Indebtedness, including, without limitation, all Target Company Stockholder Indebtedness.

 

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5.17 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Target Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Entity any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Target Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Entity as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Article VI

TAX MATTERS

 

6.1 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Holdings, prior to the Closing, the Target Company, its Representatives and the Target Company Stockholders shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of the Target Company or the Surviving Entity in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Target Company agrees that Holdings is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Target Company, any of its Representatives or the Target Company Stockholders. The Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Holdings against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by the Target Company Stockholders when due. Target Representative shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Holdings shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

6.2 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Target Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

6.3 Tax Indemnification. Except to the extent treated as a liability in the calculation of Closing Working Capital, the Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), and without duplication, indemnify the Target Company, its Subsidiaries, Holdings, and each Holdings Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.21; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI; (c) all Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries or relating to the business of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor of the Target Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out- of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, the Target Company Stockholders shall, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), reimburse Holdings for any Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that are the responsibility of the Target Company Stockholders pursuant to this Section 6.3 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Holdings or the Target Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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6.4 Tax Returns.

 

(a) The Target Company and its Subsidiaries shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that are due on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).

 

(b) Holdings shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and for any Straddle Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and, if it is an income or other material Tax Return, shall be submitted by Holdings to Target Representative (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Target Representative, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If Target Representative objects to any item on any such Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, it shall, within 10 days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Holdings in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Holdings and Target Representative shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Holdings and Target Representative are unable to reach such agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by Holdings of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within 20 days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Holdings and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Holdings and Target Representative. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period shall be exclusively within the control of Holdings. In accordance with Section 8.6, Holdings shall be entitled to offset against any amounts owed to the Target Company Stockholders under the Promissory Notes (i) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and (ii) Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital.

 

(c) In addition to any rights pursuant to applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, Holdings is hereby authorized to set off Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Pre-Closing Tax Periods and Taxes due with respect to any such Tax Return that relate to Straddle Periods that are attributable under Section 6.5 to the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date, but only to the extent such Taxes due were not taken into account as liabilities in computing the Closing Working Capital, against any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by Holdings or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Stockholders, including with respect to the Promissory Notes.

 

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6.5 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

6.6 Contests. Holdings agrees to give written notice to Target Representative of the receipt of any written notice by the Target Company, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Holdings pursuant to this Article VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Holdings’ right to indemnification hereunder. Holdings shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Holdings shall obtain the prior written consent of Target Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Target Representative shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Target Representative.

 

6.7 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. The Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Target Representative, the Target Company and Holdings shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Target Representative, the Target Company or Holdings (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

6.8 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the amount of the Merger Consideration by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

6.9 Payments to Holdings. Any amounts payable to Holdings pursuant to this Article VI shall be satisfied: (i) by set-off against any amounts owed under the Promissory Notes in accordance with Section 8.6; and (ii) to the extent such amounts exceed the amount outstanding under the Promissory Notes, from the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.

 

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6.10 FIRPTA Statement. On the Closing Date, Target Company shall deliver to Buyer a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that no interest in the Target Company is a U.S. real property interest (such certificate in the form required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-3(c)) (the “FIPRTA Statement”).

 

6.11 Tax Treatment of Transaction. The parties intend that the Target Company Common Stock exchanged for Holdings Equity pursuant to the Merger are tax-deferred contributions of capital by the Target Company Stockholders in exchange for stock in Holdings under Section 351 of the Code. The Promissory Note Principal Amount is to be treated for income tax purposes as a sale of Target Company Common Stock by the Target Company Stockholders to Holdings. The parties agree to report the transactions consistent with the treatment described in this Section 6.11 for all Tax purposes.

 

6.12 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.21 and this Article VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.

 

6.13 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to Article VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this Article VI, the provisions of this Article VI shall govern.

 

Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite Target Company

Vote.

 

(b) The filings of Holdings and the Target Company pursuant to the HSR Act, if any, shall have been made and the applicable waiting period and any extensions thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(d) The Target Company shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.2 and Holdings shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.2, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the Target Company, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked.

 

(e) Duly executed employment agreements in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties by and between the Target Company and such key executives as determined by Holdings and the Target Company (and otherwise as consistent with the term sheets signed between the Target Company and Holdings) to be effective as of the Closing Date.

 

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(f) Holdings must have executed a letter of intent (or similar written indication) from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or have executed an engagement letter (or similar written indication) with an underwriter relating to an IPO, for a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, as of immediately following the Merger and the Other Business Combinations and prior to any other financing or investment (including, without limitation, any private investment in public equity) and prior to such SPAC Merger or IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.

 

(g) Each of Kyle Stanbro and Jeffrey Parker, currently employed by Target Company, shall have received employment offers from Holdings or its Affiliate to become effective as of the closing of a SPAC Merger or at the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be.

 

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub. The obligations of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Holdings’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27, the representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the Target Company contained in Sections 3.1, 3.2(a), 3.4, 3.6 and 3.27 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects).

 

(b) Target Company shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Target Company shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No Action shall have been commenced against Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.2 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Holdings at or prior to the Closing.

 

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(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Target Company shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables related to Target Company set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

(g) Holders of no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding shares of Target Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the aggregate, shall have exercised, or remain entitled to exercise, appraisal rights pursuant to the Act with respect to such shares of Target Company Common Stock.

 

(h) Target Company shall have received the consent of each lender holding any of the Target Company Indebtedness to consummate the transactions set forth in this Agreement and provided satisfactory evidence of such consent to Holdings and Merger Sub.

 

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of Target Company. The obligations of Target Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Target Company’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) Other than the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5, the representations and warranties of Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without regard to any “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect”, or similar materiality qualifiers) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of Holdings and Merger Sub contained in Sections 4.1 and 4.5 shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date.

 

(b) Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with by them prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Holdings shall have delivered each of the closing deliverables set forth in Section 2.3(b).

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Any approval required by Target Company from any Governmental Authority, including any consent to a change in control of target Company as required by Government Contracts, shall have been obtained.

 

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(g) Each of the Target Company Stockholders who has guaranteed any of the Target Company Indebtedness shall have been removed and released from such guaranty and replaced by Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or such other Person as shall be acceptable to the lender(s) of such Target Company Indebtedness.

 

Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.21 which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date or (b) the date of closing of a SPAC Merger or the effective time of an IPO, as the case may be. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article VI which are subject to Article VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

8.2 Indemnification by Target Company Stockholders. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, the Target Company Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), shall indemnify and defend each of Holdings and its Affiliates (including the Target Company) (collectively, the “Holdings Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Holdings Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Target Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of such Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.21, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); provided, that (i) claims for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) of $25,000 or less, made as a single claim or an aggregated claim with respect to Target Company shall be barred, but if the claim for indemnification ultimately is determined to exceed $25,000, the full amount shall be recoverable, and (ii) if a claim for indemnification under this Section 8.2(a) made prior to Closing exceeds ten percent (10%) of the value of the consideration of paid or payable to the Target Company Stockholders, pursuant to this Agreement, the Target Company Stockholders representing at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting rights of Target Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with respect to Target Company and its Target Company Stockholders;

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Target Company Stockholders or, prior to the Closing, the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article VI);

 

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(c) any claim made by any Target Company Stockholder relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Holdings Equity, the Promissory Notes, or the calculations and determinations set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet;

 

(d) any amounts paid to the holders of Dissenting Shares of Target Company, including any interest required to be paid thereon, that are in excess of what such holders would have received hereunder had such holders not been holders of Dissenting Shares;

 

(e) any Transaction Expenses of Target Company outstanding as of the Closing to the extent not paid or satisfied by Target Company at or prior to the Closing, or if paid by Holdings or Merger Sub at or prior to the Closing; and

 

(f) any Current Liabilities, overstated Current Assets, or Indebtedness, in each case not accounted for or misstated in the Closing Statement which, but for such omission or misstatement, would have resulted in a reduction of the Promissory Note Principal Amount payable to the Target Company Stockholders under the Promissory Notes pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

8.3 Indemnification by Holdings and AIRO Group. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article VIII, Holdings and AIRO Group shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend the Target Company Stockholders, and shall cause its owners to do the same, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Holdings and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Holdings or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Holdings or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article VI).

 

8.4 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) For purposes of this Article VIII, any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty shall be determined without regard to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualification contained in or otherwise applicable to such representation or warranty, except that GAAP principles of materiality shall nevertheless apply to the representations and warranties made in Section 3.6.

 

8.5 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”. For purposes of this Article VIII, (i) if Holdings (or any other Holdings Indemnitee) comprises the Indemnified Party, any references to Indemnifying Party (except provisions relating to an obligation to make payments) shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative, and (ii) if Holdings comprises the Indemnifying Party, any references to the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to refer to Target Representative. Any payment received by Target Representative as the Indemnified Party shall be distributed to the Target Company Stockholders in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a Party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is a Target Company Stockholder, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Target Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.5(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (a) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (b) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.5(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Target Representative and Holdings shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.5(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within 10 days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and, in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.5(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

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(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Target Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Target Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.21 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article VI hereof.

 

8.6 Payments; Setoff. Except for fraud, the sole remedy available to the Holdings Indemnitees is to set off any amounts owing or owed to the Holdings Indemnitees in respect of any Loss against (a) any amounts outstanding under any obligation at any time held or owing by the Holdings Indemnitees or any Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Target Company Stockholders, including with respect to the Promissory Notes, (b) any equity interests of Holdings held by the Target Company Stockholders (including, without limitation, the Holdings Equity), in whole or in part, by cancelling all or any part of such equity interests, or (c) both.

 

8.7 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments or offsets made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

8.8 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Sections 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be.

 

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8.9 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 10.13, the Parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud or criminal misconduct on the part of a Party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other Parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article VI and this Article VIII. Nothing in this Section 8.9 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any Party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

Article IX

TERMINATION

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

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

 

(b) by Holdings by written notice to Target Company if:

 

(i) none of Holdings, AIRO Group nor Merger Sub is then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Target Company pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by the Target Company within ten days of the Target Company’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Holdings; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of any of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

(c) by Target Company by written notice to Holdings if:

 

(i) Target Company is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub within ten days of Holdings’, AIRO Group’s or Merger Sub’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Target Company; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by the Termination Date, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of the Target Company to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing.

 

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(d) by Holdings or by Target Company if there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable; or

 

(e) By Holdings if two days prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Target Company shall not have delivered to Holdings a copy of the executed Written Consent evidencing receipt of the Requisite Target Company Vote.

 

9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this Article IX, Section 5.2(b) and Article X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Target Representative.

 

(a) By approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by executing and delivering a Letter of Transmittal, each Target Company Stockholder shall have irrevocably authorized and appointed Jeffrey Parker as the initial Target Representative. The Target Representative will act as such Person’s representative and attorney-in-fact to act on behalf of such Person with respect to this Agreement and the Promissory Notes and to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by Target Representative pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, including the exercise of the power to:

 

(i) give and receive notices and communications;

 

(ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders or otherwise handle any other matters described in Section 2.15;

 

(iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with orders of courts with respect to claims for indemnification made by Holdings pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(iv) litigate, arbitrate, resolve, settle or compromise any claim for indemnification pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII;

 

(v) execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

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(vi) make all elections or decisions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document (including the Promissory Notes);

 

(vii) engage, employ or appoint any agents or representatives (including attorneys, accountants and consultants) to assist Target Representative in complying with its duties and obligations; and

 

(viii) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the good faith judgment of Target Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.

 

Holdings shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Target Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VIII) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Target Company Stockholder by Target Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Target Company Stockholder by Target Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. Notices or communications to or from Target Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Target Company Stockholders. Any decision or action by Target Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Target Representative and Holdings relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Target Company Stockholders and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Target Company Stockholder shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or Target Company Stockholders, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.

 

(b) The Target Representative may be removed, etc. as provided in this Section 10.1(b).

 

(i) The Target Representative may resign at any time.

 

(ii) The Target Representative may be removed for any reason or no reason by the vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Target Company Stockholders according to each Target Company Stockholder’s Pro Rata Share (the “Majority Holders”); provided, however, in no event shall Target Representative resign or be removed without the Majority Holders having first appointed a new Target Representative who shall assume such duties immediately upon the resignation or removal of Target Representative.

 

(iii) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of Target Representative, a new Target Representative shall be appointed by the vote or written consent of the Majority Holders.

 

(iv) Notice of such vote or a copy of the written consent appointing such new Target Representative shall be sent to Holdings, such appointment to be effective upon the later of the date indicated in such consent or the date such notice is received by Holdings; provided, that until such notice is received, Holdings, Merger Sub and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to rely on the decisions and actions of the prior Target Representative as described in Section 10.1(a) above.

 

(c) The Target Representative shall act as a fiduciary with fiduciary duties to the Target Company Stockholders. If the Target Representative has a personal conflict of interest with respect to any action, decision or determination to be made by the Target Representative, the Target Representative must notify the Target Company Stockholders.

 

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(d) The Target Representative shall not be liable to the Target Company Stockholders for actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or the Promissory Notes, except to the extent such actions shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have constituted gross negligence or involved fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel, accountants and other professionals and experts retained by Target Representative shall be conclusive evidence of good faith). The Target Company Stockholders shall severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), indemnify and hold harmless Target Representative from and against, compensate it for, reimburse it for and pay any and all losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with its activities as Target Representative under this Agreement and the Promissory Notes (the “Representative Losses”), in each case as such Representative Loss is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event it is finally adjudicated that a Representative Loss or any portion thereof was primarily caused by the gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith of Target Representative, Target Representative shall reimburse the Target Company Stockholders the amount of such indemnified Representative Loss attributable to such gross negligence, fraud, intentional misconduct or bad faith. The Representative Losses shall be satisfied by the Target Company Stockholders, severally and not jointly (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares).

 

10.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred; provided, however, Holdings shall be responsible for reimbursing Target Company for all filing and other similar fees payable in connection with any filings or submissions under the HSR Act.

 

10.3 Notices. 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 following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.3):

 

If to Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub:

 

c/o AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Road NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

Attention: Joseph Burns

Email: joe.burns@airo.aero

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

511 N. Broadway, Suite 1100

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: kate.bechen@huschblackwell.com

 

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If to Target Company or Target Representative:

 

155 Orchard Hill Lane

Mill Hall, PA 17751

Attention: Jeffrey Parker

Email: jeff@gocdi.com

 

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

 

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Avant Building

200 Delaware Avenue, Suite 900

Buffalo, NY 14202

Attention: Joseph Kubarek, Esq.

Email: jkubarek@bsk.com

 

10.4 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Ancillary Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-solicitation terms agreed with respect to any Target Company in any term sheet with respect to any employees, customers, or partners shall remain in effect until the Closing occurs.

 

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10.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors (including the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings) and permitted assigns. In the event of any assignment, transfer or other disposition by Holdings and its subsidiaries, including the Surviving Entity, of all or any material portion of their respective assets, the assignee, transferee or recipient of such assets shall be and become automatically bound by this Agreement as a successor to Holdings, and Holdings shall cause such assignee, transferee or recipient expressly to assume this Agreement. No Party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the express prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; provided, that the surviving entity of any merger or consolidation involving Holdings shall succeed to this Agreement without any necessary consent of the other parties. No assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

10.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.8, Section 6.3 and Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

10.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that after the Requisite Target Company Vote is obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that, pursuant to applicable Law, requires further approval of the Target Company Stockholders, without the receipt of such further approvals. Any failure of Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or Target Company, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by Target Company (with respect to any failure by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub) or by Holdings, AIRO Group or Merger Sub (with respect to any failure by such Target Company), respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the Party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) 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).

 

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY OF, 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 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.

 

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(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS 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, THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (a) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (b) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (c) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (d) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11(c).

 

10.12 Arbitration Procedure.

 

(a) Except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any dispute, controversy, or claim arising under or relating to this Agreement or any breach or threatened breach hereof (“Arbitrable Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICA”), provided that nothing in this Section 10.12(a) shall prohibit a Party from instituting litigation to enforce any Final Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.12(a) or in the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, the arbitration procedures and any Final Determination hereunder shall be governed by and shall be enforced pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

(b) In the event that any Party asserts that there exists an Arbitrable Dispute, such Party shall deliver a written notice to each other Party involved therein specifying the nature of the asserted Arbitrable Dispute and requesting a meeting to attempt to resolve the same. If no such resolution is reached within thirty (30) days after such delivery of such notice, the Party delivering such notice of Arbitrable Dispute (the “Disputing Person”) may, within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice, commence arbitration hereunder by delivering to each other Party involved therein a notice of arbitration (“Notice of Arbitration”) and by filing a copy of such Notice of Arbitration with the ICA. Such Notice of Arbitration shall specify the matters as to which arbitration is sought, the nature of any Arbitrable Dispute and the claims of each Party to the arbitration and shall specify the amount and nature of any damages, if any, sought to be recovered as a result of any alleged claim, and any other matters required by the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time to be included therein, if any.

 

(c) Within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Notice of Arbitration, the parties shall use their best efforts to agree on an independent arbitrator expert in the subject matters of the Arbitrable Dispute (the “Arbitrator”). If the parties cannot agree on the identity of the Arbitrator, each of Holdings and the Target Representative shall select one independent arbitrator expert in the subject matter of the Arbitrable Dispute (the arbitrators so selected shall be referred to herein as the “Holdings Arbitrator” and the “Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator,” respectively). In the event that either Holdings or the Target Representative fails to select an independent arbitrator as set forth herein within twenty (20) days after delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, then the matter shall be resolved by the arbitrator selected by the other Party. Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall select the Arbitrator, and the Arbitrator shall resolve the matter according to the procedures set forth in this Section 10.12. If Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator are unable to agree on the Arbitrator within twenty (20) days after their selection, Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each prepare a list of three independent arbitrators. Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator shall each have the opportunity to designate as objectionable and eliminate one arbitrator from the other arbitrator’s list within seven (7) days after submission thereof, and the Arbitrator shall then be selected by lot from the arbitrators remaining on the lists submitted by Target Company Stockholder Arbitrator and Holdings Arbitrator.

 

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(d) The Arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 10.12(c) will determine the allocation of the costs and expenses of arbitration based upon the percentage which the portion of the contested amount not awarded to each Party bears to the amount actually contested by such Party. For example, if Holdings submits a claim for $1,000, and if the Target Representative contests only $500 of the amount claimed by Holdings, and if the Arbitrator ultimately resolves the Arbitrable Dispute by awarding Holdings $300 of the $500 contested, then the costs and expenses of arbitration will be allocated 60% (i.e., 300 ÷ 500) to the Target Company Stockholders and 40% (i.e., 200 ÷ 500) to Holdings.

 

(e) The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules and procedures of ICA as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise set forth herein or as modified by the agreement of all of the Parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chicago, Illinois. The Arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration so that a final result, determination, finding, judgment and/or award (the “Final Determination”) is made or rendered as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the delivery of the Notice of Arbitration nor later than ten (10) days following completion of the arbitration. The Final Determination must be agreed upon and signed by the Arbitrator. The Final Determination shall be final and binding on all parties hereto and there shall be no appeal from or reexamination of the Final Determination, except for fraud, perjury, evident partiality or misconduct by an arbitrator to correct manifest clerical errors.

 

(f) Holdings, on the one hand, and the Target Company Stockholders, on the other hand, may enforce any Final Determination first in any court in the state of Illinois or federal court in the state of Illinois or, if such courts do not have jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, then any other state or federal court having jurisdiction over the Arbitrable Dispute, where applicable. For the purpose of any action or proceeding instituted with respect to any Final Determination, each Party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts, irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail or personal service and hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may have or hereafter have as to personal jurisdiction, the laying of the venue of any such action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

(g) If any Party shall fail to pay the amount of any damages, if any, assessed against it within five (5) days after the delivery to such Party of such Final Determination, the unpaid amount shall bear interest from the date of such delivery at the lesser of (i) twelve percent (12%) and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable Laws. Interest on any such unpaid amount shall be compounded monthly, computed on the basis of a 365-day year and shall be payable on demand. In addition, such Party shall promptly reimburse the other Party for any and all costs or expenses of any nature or kind whatsoever (including but not limited to all attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in seeking to collect such damages or to enforce any Final Determination.

 

10.13 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

10.14 Counterparts. 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

 

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10.15 Representation Disclosure. This Agreement has been drafted by Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel for Holdings. By execution of this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge that it has been advised that a conflict of interest may exist between their interests and those of Holdings and further acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel in connection with this Agreement.

 

10.16 Certain Acknowledgments. Upon execution and delivery of a counterpart to this Agreement, each Party shall be deemed to acknowledge to Holdings as follows: (a) the determination of such Party to exchange Shares pursuant to a Merger in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement has been made by such Party independent of any Party and independent of any statements or opinions as to the advisability of such purchase or as to the properties, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parties which may have been made or given by any Party or by any agent or employee of any Party, (b) no Party has acted as an agent of such Party in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Party shall be acting as an agent of such Party in connection with monitoring such Party’s investment hereunder, (c) Holdings has retained Husch Blackwell LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and expects to retain Husch Blackwell LLP as legal counsel in connection with the management and operation of the investment in the Surviving Entity, (d) Husch Blackwell LLP is not representing and will not represent any Party or any affiliated principal in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any dispute which may arise between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand, and such Party or affiliated principal will, if such Person wishes counsel on the transactions contemplated hereby, retain such Person’s own independent counsel and (f) Husch Blackwell LLP may represent Holdings or any of its Affiliates in connection with any and all matters contemplated hereby (including any dispute between Holdings, on the one hand, and any Party or any affiliated principal, on the other hand) and such Party or affiliated principal waives any conflict of interest in connection with such representation by Husch Blackwell LLP.

 

10.17 Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated SPAC Merger or IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the SPAC Merger or IPO occurs. In the event the closing of a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the SPAC Merger or IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of stock. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Stockholders to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Stockholders) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such the former Target Company Stockholder) as part of the Rescission process.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET COMPANY:
     
  COASTAL DEFENSE INC., a Pennsylvania corporation
     
  By:  
  Name:                         
  Its:  

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  HOLDINGS:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AIRO GROUP:
     
  AIRO GROUP, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MERGER SUB:
     
  COASTAL MERGER SUB, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Name: Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Its: Executive chairman

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  TARGET REPRESENTATIVE:
     
  Jeffrey Parker, solely in its capacity as Target Representative
   
  /s/ Jeffrey Parker

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, certain terms defined in this Annex A have the following meanings ascribed thereto:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

Act” means, with respect to Holdings, AIRO Group, Merger Sub or Target Company, as applicable, the respective laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, as applicable, authorizing its formation or incorporation, valid existence, and company or corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Promissory Notes, and each of the agreements and documents described in this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or a similar provision of Law.

 

CARES Act Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Programs” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.28.

 

CARES Act Terms” means all terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority for the receipt of any funds under any CARES Act Program.

 

Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

 

 

 

Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness outstanding as of the Closing.

 

Closing Indebtedness Amount” means the total of all unpaid principal, interest, fees, or other charges due and payable in respect of Closing Indebtedness.

 

Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the Current Assets of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, less (b) the Current Liabilities of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).

 

Contribution Shares” means the aggregate number of shares of Target Company Common Stock to be contributed to Holdings by the Target Company Stockholders, and subsequently cancelled in accordance with Section 2.8(a).

 

Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Holdings will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Target Company’s Affiliates, directors, employees, officers or stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities, Transaction Expenses and the current portion of any Indebtedness of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

D&O Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

 

 

 

 

Disclosure Schedules” means, collectively, the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Target Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Target Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

FIRPTA Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Fully Diluted Share Number” means the aggregate number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by the Target Company which are to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.8(a)).

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(viii).

 

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

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Holdings Common Stock” means the common stock of Holdings, par value $0.001 per share.

 

 

 

 

Holdings Equity” means the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock issued by Holdings to the Target Company Stockholders in exchange for the Contribution Shares as set forth on Annex B.

 

Holdings Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.

 

Indebtedness Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c).

 

Indebtedness Target” means $10,500,000.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

 

Independent Accountant” means an impartial nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants appointed by mutual agreement of Holdings and Target Representative.

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that is effective by December 15, 2021; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

Intellectual Property Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

 

 

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Knowledge” means, when used with respect to a Party and its Subsidiaries, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member of such Party and its Subsidiaries, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

  

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

Majority Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(b).

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Party, any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any change, effect, occurrence, event, or development arising out of or attributable to (i) any change in general economic or political conditions; (ii) events or circumstances that generally affect the industry in which the Target Company operates; (iii) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities, or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (iv) any matter of which Holdings is aware on the date hereof; (v) any changes in applicable Laws; (vi) any natural or man-made disaster, act of God, pandemic, epidemic, outbreak of disease, similar health emergency, or civil unrest or disobedience (including any government-ordered shutdown or other governmental action undertaken in connection with any of the foregoing); or (vii) any failure by the Target Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, or revenue or earnings predictions provided, further that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (v) and (vi), if such effect disproportionately affects the Company and its Subsidiaries as compared to other Persons or businesses that operate in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, then the disproportionate aspect of such effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or will occur.

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

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

 

Merger Consideration” means the Holdings Equity and the Promissory Notes that the Target Company Stockholders shall receive at Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

 

 

 

New Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

 

Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Party” and “Parties” each has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

Personal Information” means any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about (i) any client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any donor, client, customer, employee, contractor, agent, consultant, officer, director, executive or supplier of any client or customer of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other identifiable individual that can be manipulated, linked or matched by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify an individual and that is covered by any applicable data security or privacy Law.

 

Plan of Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).

 

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

 

Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

PPP Escrow Account” means the segregated account in which the PPP Escrow Amount is held by the PPP Escrow Agent pursuant to the PPP Escrow Agreement.

 

PPP Escrow Agent” means for Target Company, the bank that provided the PPP Loan to Target Company.

 

PPP Escrow Agreement” means an agreement by and among the Target Representative, the PPP Escrow Agent and Holdings in form and substance acceptable to the parties.

 

PPP Escrow Amount” means, with respect to a Target Company, the full amount of principal and interest due in respect of the PPP Loan.

 

PPP Loan” means, with respect to any Target Company, the loan made to the Target Company by a bank pursuant to that certain promissory note under the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (pursuant to the CARES Act).

 

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

 

 

 

 

Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Target Company and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Preliminary Capitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

Promissory Note Principal Amount” means the principal amount set forth in Annex B.

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Target Company Stockholder such Person’s ownership interest in the Target Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, determined by dividing (a) the number of Shares owned of record by such Person as of immediately prior to the Effective time, by (b) the Fully Diluted Share Number.

 

Promissory Notes” means the Promissory Notes in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B in the aggregate principal amount equal to the Promissory Note Principal Amount, to be issued by Holdings at Closing for the benefit of the Target Company Stockholders, in form and substance satisfactory to the Parties.

 

Other Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Business Combination Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

Other Business Combination Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c).

 

Requisite Target Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

 

Rescission” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.17.

 

SBA” means the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

SBA Determination” means the final and nonappealable written determination of the SBA that the PPP Loan is forgiven (in part or in full) or not pursuant to the U.S. Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program (under the CARES Act).

 

SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings that is consummated by December 15, 2021.

 

Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

 

 

 

stock” when used outside of reference to Shares, means equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

stockholders” when used outside of reference to Target Company Stockholder, means the holder of equity securities of a corporation or the membership interests in a limited liability company, as applicable.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Target Company Board” means the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of the Target Company.

 

Target Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

Target Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Target Company Common Stock” has the meaning provided in the Disclosure Schedules.

 

Target Company Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Target Company and its Subsidiaries, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than Current Liabilities taken into account in the calculation of Closing Working Capital), (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) guarantees made by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries on behalf of any Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f); and (h) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g).

 

Target Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, beneficiary or otherwise bound other that (i) excluding shrink wrap, click wrap, or other similar agreements for commercially available off the shelf software; and (ii) Contracts between the Target Company and any of its customers containing non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

 

 

 

 

Target Company IP Registrations” means all Target Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Target Company Stockholder” means a holder of Target Company Common Stock.

 

Target Company Stockholder Indebtedness” means that portion of the Target Company Indebtedness that is owed by the Target Company, as borrower, to any Target Company Stockholder, as lender.

 

Target Company Stockholder Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

 

Target Company Stockholder Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Target Organizational Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii).

 

Target Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Working Capital” means a TTM normalized level of Closing Working Capital, as agreed upon by the Parties prior to the Closing, and determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, municipal, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Termination Date” means December 15, 2021.

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a).

 

Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred by the Target Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b).

 

Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

 

 

 

ANNEX B

 

PRELIMINARY AGGREGATE CONSIDERATION

 

Name of Entity  Aggregate Percentage of Holdings Common Stock *  Aggregate Number of Holdings Common Stock (Holdings Equity)**  Promissory Note Principal Amount***
Column A  Column B  Column C  Column D
To Target Company Stockholders  6%  1,818,182  $10,000,000

 

* Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate percentage of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time. This percentage is an estimate based upon the aggregate number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding if all Other Business Combinations between Holdings and the Other Business Combination Parties close. In the event that any Other Business Combinations fail to close, resulting in a decrease in the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock anticipated to be issued and outstanding upon the close of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Other Business Combination Agreements, the percentage in Column B shall increase accordingly.

 

**Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate amount of issued and outstanding Holdings Common Stock that will be held by Persons who were Target Company Stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

*** Upon the Effective Time of the Merger, this number will be the aggregate principal amount of Promissory Notes issued to Persons who were Target Company Stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

 

 

 

ANNEX C

 

PARTIES

 

Name of Party  

Name of Office where

Certificate of Merger

will be filed for the

Surviving Entity

 

Name of Office

where Certificate of

Merger will be filed

for the Party

 

Surviving Entity

of the Merger

(the “Surviving Entity”)

 

Governing

Law

Coastal Defense

Inc.

 

Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

 

Secretary of State of

the State of Pennsylvania

 

Coastal Defense Inc.

 

Pennsylvania and Delaware

 

 

 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization  

Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income

Taxes*

  Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
                 

AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)#

  Partnership   AIRO Drone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIRO Drone Merger Sub”)   AIRO Drone  

Illinois and

Delaware

                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)#   Partnership   Agile Defense Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Agile Defense Merger Sub”)   Agile Defense  

Minnesota

and

Delaware

                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation   Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen Merger Sub”)   Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation   Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Coastal Merger Sub”)   Coastal  

Pennsylvani

a and Delaware

                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt”) f/k/a Jaunt Air Mobility LLC   C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation (“Jaunt Merger Sub”)

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)   TBD   Sky-Watch Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sky-Watch Merger Sub”)   Sky-Watch  

Denmark

and

Delaware

                 
VRCO LTD., an English company (“VRCO”)   TBD   VRCO Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VRCO Merger Sub”)   VRCO  

England and

Delaware

 

 

 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former VRCO Shareholders   1,727,273 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Letter of Transmittal

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Promissory Note

 

Attached.

 

 

 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

January 5, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., Coastal Defense Inc. and Jeffrey Parker (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to December 15, 2021, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by December 15, 2021, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to receive an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO and to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the December 15, 2021 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Both references to December 15, 2021 in Section 10.17 are replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

b. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

c. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

d. The reference to December 15, 2021 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with March 31, 2022.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment. as of the date firs written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   COASTAL DEFENSE, INC.
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   By: /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria.     Jeffrey Parker,
  Executive Chairman     Vice President
     
COASTAL MERGER SUB, INC.   JEFFREY PARKER, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria   /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,   Jeffrey Parker, individually
  Executive Chairman    
       
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.    
     
By: /s/ Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria      
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria,      
  Executive Chairman      

 

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

April 26, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Coastal Merger Sub, Inc., Coastal Defense, Inc., and Jeffrey Parker, solely in his capacity as Target Representative (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being all of the parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021 as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 17, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”) effective as of the date hereof (the “Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides as a condition to consummating the Transaction, AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. must, prior to March 31, 2022, receive a letter of intent from a SPAC contemplating a SPAC Merger or an engagement letter from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for a valuation of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of at least $850 million.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by March 31, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are working diligently towards completing an IPO process, but believe more time is needed to complete the steps necessary to complete the IPO process than is currently provided by the March 31, 2022 deadlines in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties’ Disclosure Schedules are complete and final as of the Effective

Date.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to provide additional time to complete the IPO process.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 5.8(c) is replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

(c) [Reserved].

 

b. Section 7.1(f) is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Holdings must have received a valuation or similar report from an underwriter contemplating an IPO for Holdings common stock with a valuation of Holdings (and the Other Business Combination Parties, on a consolidated basis, prior to such IPO) of at least $850 million, assuming for purposes of such valuation that all Other Business Combinations have occurred.”

 

 

 

 

c. The contact information for Holdings’, AIRO Group’s and Merger Sub’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Dykema Gossett PLLC

111. E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1050

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Kate Bechen, Esq.

Email: KBechen@dykema.com

 

d. The contact information for Target Company’s legal counsel provided in Section 10.3 is replaced with the following contact information:

 

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

Avant Building

200 Delaware Avenue, Suite 900

Buffalo, NY 14202

Attention: Jeffrey P. Gleason, Esq.

Email: JGleason@bsk.com

 

e. Section 10.17 is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Unwind. The Parties acknowledge that but for the anticipated IPO, the Parties would not have executed and delivered this Agreement or contemplated completing the Merger. As a consequence, in the event the Merger closes but the effective time of the IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Merger (the “Rescission”) and to put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered this Agreement and consummated the Merger. To allow for the Rescission, the Parties agree that the Surviving Entity will operate independently to the extent reasonably possible from the date hereof until the IPO occurs. In the event the IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, or Holdings learns prior to that time that the IPO will not occur, Holdings will give prompt written notice to the Surviving Entity’s board of directors. Upon receipt of such notice, the Parties agree to execute all documents and take all necessary actions and consummate all necessary transactions to accomplish the Rescission for legal and Tax purposes by restoring the Parties to the position, or as close as possible to the position, they would have been in had the Merger not been consummated; which may include the return of cash payments and Promissory Notes, repurchase of assets and re-issuance of stock. The Parties further agree that in the event the Rescission occurs, for Tax purposes, they will take (and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the former Target Company Stockholders to take) the position that the Merger and the Rescission had not occurred. Each Party (and each of the former Target Company Stockholders) shall be solely responsible for all costs incurred by such Party (or such former Target Company Stockholder) as part of the Rescission process.”

 

 

 

 

f. The definition of “D&O Tail Policy” in Annex A is deleted in its entirety.

 

g. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

h. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

i. The reference to March 31, 2022 in the definition of “Termination Date” in Annex A is replaced with September 30, 2022.

 

j. The following clause is deleted from the end of the definition of “Transaction Expenses” on Annex A: “including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.8(c).”

 

k. Annex D is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex D attached hereto.

 

l. Annex E is replaced in its entirety with that revised Annex E attached hereto. The Parties acknowledge and agree that VRCO Ltd. (“VRCO”) is no longer party to a business combination agreement with Holdings and AIRO Group, and the shares previously allocated to the VRCO shareholders have been reserved by Holdings for future allocations of shares and restricted stock awards as set forth on Annex E and as further described on Schedule 4.8 of the Disclosure Schedules attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

2. The Disclosure Schedules for Target Company as of the Effective Date are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

3. The Disclosure Schedules for Holdings, AIRO Group and Merger Sub as of the Effective Date are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

[Signature Page on Following Page]

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   COASTAL DEFENSE, INC.
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,     Jeffrey Parker,
  Chief Executive Officer     Vice President
     
COASTAL MERGER SUB, INC.   JEFFREY PARKER, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
   
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,   Jeffrey Parker, individually
  Chief Executive Officer    
       
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.    
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns    
  Joseph Burns,    
  Chief Executive Officer    

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP, INC.   COASTAL DEFENSE, INC.
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,     Jeffrey Parker,
  Chief Executive Officer     Vice President
     
COASTAL MERGER SUB, INC.   JEFFREY PARKER, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
   
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,   Jeffrey Parker, individually
  Chief Executive Officer    
       
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.    
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns    
  Joseph Burns,    
  Chief Executive Officer    

 

 

 

 

ANNEX D

 

OTHER BUSINESS COMBINATION PARTIES

 

Name of Other Business

Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization

  Classification of Other Business Combination Party for Purposes of U.S. Federal Income Taxes   Name of Entity to be Merged into Other Business Combination Party and Jurisdiction of its Organization   Surviving Entity   Governing Law
                 
AIRO Drone LLC, an Illinois limited liability company (“AIRO Drone”)   Partnership  

AIRO Drone Merger Sub,

LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  AIRO Drone  

Illinois and

Delaware

                 
Agile Defense, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“Agile Defense”)   Partnership  

Agile Defense Merger

Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

  Agile Defense   Minnesota and Delaware
                 
Aspen Avionics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aspen”)   C corporation  

Aspen Merger Sub, Inc., a

Delaware corporation

  Aspen   Delaware
                 
Coastal Defense Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Coastal”)   C Corporation  

Coastal Merger Sub, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

  Coastal   Pennsylvania and Delaware
                 
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Jaunt”)   C corporation  

Jaunt Merger Sub, LLC, a

Delaware limited liability company

  Jaunt   Delaware
                 
Sky-Watch A/S, a Denmark company (“Sky-Watch”)   TBD   N/A   Sky-Watch   Denmark and Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX E

 

PRELIMINARY CAPITALIZATION

 

Shareholder  Shares of Common Stock 
Former AIRO Drone Members   3,418,997 
Former Agile Defense Members   3,418,997 
New Generation Aerospace, LLC   6,837,994 
C. Kathuria   1,763,463 
J. Burns   1,184,791 
J. Uczekaj   606,061 
Former Aspen Avionics Shareholders   2,575,758 
Former Coastal Defense Shareholders   1,818,182 
Former Sky-Watch Shareholders   890,909 
Former Jaunt Air Mobility Members   6,060,606 
Reserved Equity Pool   1,727,273 
Total   30,303,031 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Target Company Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

AIRO Group, Holdings, and Merger Sub Disclosure Schedules

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

August 25, 2022

 

AIRO Group, Inc., AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., Coastal Defense, Inc. and Jeffrey Parker (each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”), being parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) are parties to this Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amendment”). Coastal Merger Sub, Inc. is not a party to this Amendment as it merged into Coastal Defense, Inc. on April 26, 2022 upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, ceasing its separate corporate existence.

 

WHEREAS, any capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides that in the event the Transaction is consummated, but a SPAC Merger or IPO does not occur by September 30, 2022, that the Parties intend, for all legal and Tax purposes, to rescind the Transaction and put the Parties to where they would have been had they not executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and consummated the Transaction.

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Merger Agreement to eliminate the unwind right.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the date hereof, the Merger Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a. Section 10.17 is deleted in its entirety and reserved.

 

b. The definition of “Initial Public Offering” in Annex A is amended to read as follows:

 

Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means any underwritten public offering from Holdings pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and the “effective time” of an IPO means the time such IPO is declared effective by the United States Securities Exchange Commission.”

 

c. The definition of “SPAC Merger” in Annex A is amended to read as follows: “SPAC Merger” is a business combination transaction between a SPAC and Holdings.”

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

AIRO GROUP:   COASTAL DEFENSE, INC.
     
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   By: /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,     Jeffrey Parker,
  CEO     Vice President
     
AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.   JEFFREY PARKER, solely in his capacity as Target Representative
   
By: /s/ Joseph Burns   /s/ Jeffrey Parker
  Joseph Burns,   Jeffrey Parker, individually

 

Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.20

 

***Certain identified information has been excluded from this exhibit because it is both (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.

 

KUTAK ROCK LLP

EXECUTION COPY

 

AMENDMENT TO ENGAGEMENT LETTER

 

THIS AMENDMENT TO ENGAGEMENT LETTER (this “Amendment”), dated as of April 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made and entered into by and between KippsDeSanto & Co. (“KDC”) and Aspen Avionics, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. Pursuant to that certain engagement letter (the “Original Agreement”) dated August 7, 2018 by and between KDC and the Company, the Company engaged KDC for the provision of financial advisory and the other services set forth therein (the “Services”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original Agreement.

 

B. The Company has entered into, and subsequently closed, that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated October 6, 2021, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”) with AIRO Group, Inc. (“AIRO Group”) and the other parties thereto, pursuant to which the Company (i) was merged (the “AIRO Merger”) into a wholly-owned subsidiary of AIRO Group, and (ii) is the surviving corporation of the AIRO Merger.

 

C. The Company anticipates that by no later than August 31, 2022, AIRO Group (or its holding company) will file a Form S-1 or S-4 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to effect an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its common stock or a business combination transaction with a special acquisition company whose shares of common stock are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SPAC Merger”).

 

D. There was not any cash consideration received in connection with the closing of the AIRO Merger. The Company’s former stockholders are entitled to receive only shares of AIRO Group, and AIRO Group will assume certain indebtedness of the Company in the amount of $25,050,000 (“Assumed Debt”). The Assumed Debt is to be paid from the proceeds of the IPO or SPAC Merger.

 

E. The Company and KDC have each expressed various claims and positions as to performance under the Original Agreement and, upon discussion, have agreed to fully resolve hereby all claims between the parties in accordance with the terms of this Amendment. Accordingly, the parties desire to amend the Original Agreement and have negotiated a transaction payment in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Original Agreement with respect to fees and expenses.

 

F. The parties anticipate that Capital One, KDC’s parent company, will part of the AIRO Group Holdings IPO bank syndicate and will receive three to four percent of the syndicate economics.

 

 
 

 

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Original Agreement is hereby amended as set forth in this Amendment and is terminated as of April 30, 2022. From and after the Effective Date, KDC will no longer be obligated to provide and the Company shall not be required to receive the Services to the Company pursuant to the Original Agreement nor shall KDC be entitled to receive any fees for its Services except as set forth below in Section 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the rights and obligations of the Company and KDC contained in (a) the second full paragraph on page 3 of the Original Agreement, (b) each of the three paragraphs on page 4 of the Original Agreement and (c) Annex B of the Original Agreement shall survive the Effective Date and remain in effect in accordance with their terms.

 

2. KDC confirms that:

 

a.KDC has been paid in full the retainer fee (as described in the Original Agreement),

 

b.except as provided below in Section 3 of this Amendment, KDC is not due, and will not be due, any Transaction Fee, Alternative Fee or Tail Fee (each as described in the Original Agreement) in connection with any Transaction including, without limitation, the AIRO Merger, the transactions described in the Merger Agreement, the IPO, the SPAC Merger, or for any other Transaction consummated after the consummation of the transactions described in the Merger Agreement, and

 

c.KDC has been reimbursed in full for all expenses (as described in the Original Agreement).

 

3. The provisions of this Section 3 shall govern any payments due or to become due to KDC by the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than any payments pursuant to Annex B of the Original Agreement).

 

a.In connection with the closing of the IPO (or the SPAC Merger, as the case may be), the Company shall cause a one-time, final payment of $1,000,000 (the “Revised Tail Fee”) to be paid to KDC, in cash via wire transfer, on the closing date of the IPO (or, as the case may be, on the date on which the SPAC Merger is closed). The Revised Tail Fee shall be treated as liquidated damages and shall not be (and has not been) calculated in respect of the Transaction Value of the Company or any other entity.

 

b.If the IPO (or the SPAC Merger, as the case may be) is not consummated for any reason, but if both (i) an agreement is entered into with respect to a Transaction (other than the IPO or SPAC Merger) on or before April 30, 2023, and (ii) one of the parties to the Transaction was introduced to the Company by KDC as part of the Services, then the terms of the Original Agreement concerning Tail Fee shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with the Original Agreement. If either the agreement is entered into with respect to a Transaction after April 30, 2023 or if none of the parties to the Transaction was introduced to the Company by KDC, then KDC shall not be due (and shall not be paid) any Tail Fee. Under separate cover, KDC has provided to the Company a list of all parties to whom KDC has introduced the Company as part of its Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Tail Fee shall be calculated and paid solely in respect of the Company’s Transaction Value and any Tail Fee or Revised Tail Fee shall not be calculated or paid with regard to the Transaction Value of AIRO Group (or its holding company) or any of their Affiliates.

 

2
 

 

c.For the avoidance of doubt, KDC shall not be paid in respect of both (i) the IPO (or the SPAC Merger, as the case may be), and (ii) a Transaction described in subpart (b) of this Section 3.

 

4. This Amendment constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any and all prior and contemporaneous communications, representations, agreements or understandings, whether oral or written with respect to such subject matter. No amendment or modification of this Amendment shall be binding unless in a writing signed by both parties.

 

5. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Amendment shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company, KDC and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Amendment and the rights and obligations of the Company and KDC hereunder shall not be assigned or delegated by either party hereto without the express prior written consent of the other party.

 

6. Any dispute regarding this Amendment shall be settled in accordance with the provisions of the Engagement Letter.

 

7. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the terms and conditions of the Engagement Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

8. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of laws principles or rules.

 

[End of Agreement; Balance of Page Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

3
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Amendment have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date and year first written above.

 

  ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ John Uczekaj
  Name: John Uczekaj
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  KIPPSDESANTO & CO.
     
  By: /s/ Michael J. Misantone
  Name: Michael J. Misantone
  Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Amendment to Letter Agreement]

 

 
 

 

 

8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 1200

Tysons Corner, VA 22182

P 703.442.1400

F 703.442.1498

www.kippsdesanto.com
 

 

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

 

August 7, 2018

 

John Uczekaj

President and Chief Executive Officer

Aspen Avionics

5001 Indian School Road, NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

EIN: 20-3905031

 

Re: ENGAGEMENT LETTER

 

Dear Mr. Uczekaj:

 

We are pleased to confirm in this engagement letter (together with the Annexes, this “Engagement Letter”) the arrangements under which KippsDeSanto & Co. and its affiliates, as appropriate (“KDC”, “we” or “our”) is engaged by Aspen Avionics, Inc. (the “Company” or “you”) as financial advisor on an exclusive basis in connection with a potential Transaction and/or one or more Alternative Transactions involving the Company. Terms not defined in the body of this Engagement Letter have the meanings given to them in Annex A.

 

During the term of our engagement, we will provide you with financial advice and assistance in connection with the potential Transaction and/or one or more Alternative Transactions, which may include, to the extent requested by the Company and appropriate under the circumstances, assisting you in developing a strategy to effectuate a Transaction and/or Alternative Transaction(s), performing financial analyses, assisting in the preparation of materials describing the strategic and salient attributes of the Company including a so-called confidential information memorandum, searching for one or more purchasers acceptable to you, coordinating the Company’s interaction with and due diligence of potential purchasers, assist you in obtaining a confidentiality agreement from each prospective buyer (the form of which will be preapproved by you and your attorneys), assist you in organizing an online data room containing a preliminary set of information that will be supportive of the due diligence efforts of the prospective buyers, coordinating indications of interest and letters of intent from potential purchasers, and assisting you in negotiating the financial aspects of a Transaction and/or Alternative Transaction(s).

 

 

 

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

August 7, 2018
Page 2

 

In order to coordinate most effectively our efforts together to effect a Transaction and/or Alternative Transaction(s), during the term of our engagement, the Company and its stockholders and management will not initiate any discussions regarding a Transaction or Alternative Transaction except through KDC and will promptly inform us of any discussions they may have or of any inquiry they may receive concerning a potential Transaction or Alternative Transaction. Likewise, we agree that we shall not initiate contact with any prospective party to a Transaction or Alternative Transaction without the Company’s express prior written consent (which may be given via electronic mail). The fees for our engagement will largely depend on the outcome of our engagement. For KDC’s services hereunder, the Company shall pay KDC a non-refundable retainer fee of $[***], payable in four equal installments of $[***] with the first installment payable upon the execution of this Engagement Letter and the remaining three monthly installments payable beginning one month thereafter. Upon the closing of a Transaction, the Company agrees to pay KDC a transaction fee (“Transaction Fee”) (against which the retainer fee paid will be credited) equal to:

 

[***]

[***]

 

The minimum Transaction Fee for a Transaction shall be $[***].

 

The parties recognize that substantially all of the business of the Company may be sold in one Transaction or that the Company’s business may be sold in two or more Alternative Transactions or some combination thereof. For that reason, the parties have provided for various scenarios to ensure that any fees paid to KDC are fair to the KDC and to the Company, without duplication. If, prior to the closing of a Transaction, one or more Alternative Transactions is consummated, then the Company will pay a success-based fee for each such Alternative Transaction in the amount of $[***] (each, an “Alternative Transaction Fee”) upon the closing of each such Alternative Transaction. If, subsequent to the closing of one or more Alternative Transactions and payment of one or more Alternative Transaction Fees, a Transaction is consummated, the Transaction Fee would be computed based on the aggregate Transaction Value of both the Transaction and each such Alternative Transaction, and any Alternative Transaction Fee would be credited against such Transaction Fee.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if both a Transaction and an Alternative Transaction are consummated, or if two Transactions or two or more Alternative Transactions are consummated (involving different business units and/or subsidiaries of the Company) with different purchasers (each such consummated Transaction or Alternative Transaction, a “Completed Transaction”), the amount of the total Transaction Fee or Alternative Transaction Fee, as applicable, payable hereunder shall be increased by $[***] for each Completed Transaction following the first such Completed Transaction (and the minimum Transaction Fee shall be increased by the same amount). Accordingly, and for the avoidance of doubt, if there are a total of two Completed Transactions, the minimum fees payable hereunder would be $[***], and if there are a total of three Completed Transactions, the minimum fees payable hereunder would be $[***].

 

If any portion of Transaction Value consists of earnouts or payments based upon future contingencies (whether or not related to future earnings or operations), then that portion of the Transaction Fee attributable thereto shall be payable either (i) when and if such amounts are payable by the acquirer or its affiliates or (ii) upon consummation of the Completed Transaction, based on the fair market value of such contingent payments rights if mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Company and KDC in their sole discretion.

 

 

 

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

August 7, 2018
Page 3

 

Whether or not any Transaction or Alternative Transaction is consummated, and in addition to any retainer, Transaction Fee, Alternative Transaction Fee or indemnification or other expenses payable to KDC under Annex B, the Company will reimburse KDC, upon its request from time to time or upon the termination of this Engagement Letter, for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in performing services pursuant to this Engagement Letter, which expenses shall in no event exceed $[***] during the term of this Engagement Letter without the express prior written consent of the Company (which may be given via electronic mail, and shall not be unreasonably withheld). KDC will not, except with the express prior written consent of the Company (which may be given via electronic mail), incur any single expense in excess of $[***].

  

Our engagement shall have an initial term of one year. Thereafter, the engagement shall automatically be extended on a month-to-month basis. After the initial term, KDC’s engagement hereunder may be terminated at any time by either the Company or KDC upon thirty days written notice thereof. KDC shall be entitled to the applicable Transaction Fee and/or Alternative Transaction Fee(s) set forth above in the event that at any time prior to the expiration of the twelve month period after the effective date of the termination of KDC’s engagement an agreement is entered into with respect to a Transaction and/or Alternative Transaction (which is eventually consummated) in that period (the “Tail Fee”) with any party which (i) was presented by KDC to the Company as a prospective purchaser, (ii) was contacted or sought to be contacted by KDC during the term of our engagement, (iii) had contact during the term of our engagement with KDC or the Company (including its management, officers, directors, representatives and affiliates) with respect to pursuing a Transaction, or (iv) reviewed materials prepared by KDC concerning the Company and/or any proposed Transaction. The Company’s obligations to pay KDC the Tail Fee, if applicable, and to reimburse KDC’s expenses (that were incurred prior to the effective date of such termination), as well as the provisions of Annex B shall survive any expiration, completion or termination of KDC’s engagement hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, after the effective date of the termination of the Engagement Letter, the Company’s sole obligations to KDC will be to pay KDC the Tail Fee, if applicable, to reimburse KDC for any expenses incurred prior to the effective date of such termination, and to honor the Company’s obligations under the provisions of Annex B.

 

The Company agrees that, following closing of any Completed Transaction, KDC may, at its option and expense, place an advertisement or announcement on its own website and/or in such newspapers and periodicals as it may determine describing KDC’s role as financial advisor to the Company (such as a customary “tombstone” advertisement, including the Company’s logo or other identifying marks). The content of any such announcement shall not include any non-public, undisclosed information.

 

In connection with engagements such as this, it is our firm policy to receive indemnification. The Company agrees to the provisions with respect to our indemnity and other matters set forth in our Standard Terms and Conditions as attached hereto as Annex B.

 

This Engagement Letter incorporates by reference the defined terms in Annex A hereto and the Standard Terms and Conditions in Annex B, and the CNDA (as defined in Annex B), all of which are made a part hereof and are included in any reference to this Engagement Letter. This Engagement Letter and the CNDA embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto related to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings related to the subject matter hereof.

 

 

 

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

August 7, 2018
Page 4

 

This agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both KDC and the Company. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Engagement Letter shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Engagement Letter, which shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

The benefits of this Agreement and the indemnification provisions hereof shall inure to the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties to and persons indemnified under this Engagement Letter and their successors, permitted assigns and representatives, and the obligations and liabilities assumed in this Agreement and the indemnification shall be binding upon each party’s respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

This Engagement Letter and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Engagement Letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. Except as set forth below, no claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts located in the State of Delaware or in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company and KDC consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. EACH OF KDC AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS LETTER AGREEMENT. The parties agrees that a final nonappealable judgment in any proceeding or claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Engagement Letter brought in any such court of competent jurisdiction shall be conclusive and binding upon both of the parties and may be enforced in any other courts of jurisdiction of which either of the parties is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

 

 

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

August 7, 2018
Page 5

 

  

Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding by signing and returning to us the enclosed copy of this Engagement Letter together with the initial installment of the retainer fee in the amount of $[***]. We are delighted to accept this engagement and look forward to working with you on this assignment. This Engagement Letter is effective as of the date first above written after its execution and delivery by the parties hereto.

 

  Sincerely,
     
  KIPPSDESANTO & CO.
     
  By:  
  Name: Warren N. Romine
  Title: Managing Director

 

ACCEPTED and AGREED:  
     
ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.  
     
By:    
Name: John S. Uczekaj  
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer  

 

By signing above, the Company acknowledges the following:

 

Business Continuity Planning. The Company has been provided with KDC’s Business Continuity

Plan Notice.

 

Customer Identification Program. KDC is bound by law to notify the Company that KDC maintains a Customer Identification Program required by the USA PATRIOT Act. The Company acknowledges that it has received the Customer Identification Program Notice.

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A – DEFINITIONS

 

“Transaction” means, whether in one or a series of transactions, (i) any merger, consolidation, reorganization, extraordinary corporate transaction, joint venture or other business combination pursuant to which the business, the assets or the economic or voting interests of the Company are combined with that of a person or one or more persons formed or affiliated with such person whereby the stockholders of the Company who own more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own less than 50% of the total voting power of the surviving entity after such transaction; (ii) the acquisition directly or indirectly, of all or a majority of all of the equity securities of the Company, whether such equity securities are then issued and outstanding or newly issued, and whether by way of merger, consolidation, direct or indirect purchase, repurchase, exchange, joint venture or other means; and (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the assets, properties and/or businesses of, or any right to all or substantially all of the revenues or income of, the Company by way of a negotiated purchase, subcontract, lease, license, exchange, joint venture, purchase of newly-issued securities of the Company or other means.

 

“Alternative Transaction” shall mean, whether in one or a series of related transactions (other than a Transaction), (i) any merger, consolidation, reorganization, extraordinary corporate transaction, joint venture or other business combination pursuant to which the business of the Company is combined with that of a person or one or more persons formed or affiliated with such person whereby the stockholders of the Company who own more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the total voting power of the surviving entity after such transaction; (ii) any acquisition, directly or indirectly, of not more than 50% of the capital stock of the Company, whether such capital stock is then issued and outstanding or newly issued, and whether by way of merger, consolidation, direct or indirect purchase, exchange, joint venture or other means; (iii) any acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any business division or subsidiary of the Company, or a material portion of the assets, contracts or business of the Company, or any right to a material portion of the revenues or income of the Company by way of a negotiated purchase, subcontract, exchange, joint venture or other means or (iv) any debt or equity financing transaction involving the Company, including without limitation any employee stock ownership plan, stock repurchase or dividend recapitalization, with one or more investors.

 

“Transaction Value” shall mean, without duplication:

 

(i) in the case of the sale or exchange of equity securities in a Transaction or an Alternative Transaction, then the total cash, securities and other consideration paid or received or (subject to the limitations below on future payments) to be paid or received for such securities (including amounts payable to holders of options, warrants and convertible securities); and

 

A-1
 

 

 

( ) in the case of a sale or disposition of assets in a Transaction or an Alternative Transaction, then, the total cash, securities and other consideration paid or received or (subject to the limitations below on future payments) to be paid or received for such assets by the Company or its subsidiaries; plus in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii), without duplication, (A) amounts or consideration payable (x) on an installment or holdback basis or in an escrow, (y) under transaction bonus or retention oriented arrangements, agreements not to compete, or above-market consulting or employment agreements or similar arrangements, and (z) pursuant to earnouts or payments based upon future contingencies (whether or not related to future earnings or operations); and (B) the amount of any interest-bearing debt, deferred taxes, guarantees or any other non-operating liabilities assumed, paid off or retired by the acquirer as a part of such Transaction or Alternative Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the following are not included in Transaction Value to the extent they at market levels: consulting agreements, employment or similar arrangements.

 

In the case of a recapitalization (or other type of Transaction whereby less than 100% of the equity ownership or assets change hands), all equity securities (or assets as the case may be) retained by equity holders of the acquired company upon consummation of the Transaction will be deemed acquired in the Transaction. In such case, the Transaction Value shall be increased proportionately as if payment was made at the closing of the Transaction for all equity securities at the highest value per share paid for any transferred equity securities (or for all assets at the same pro rata value paid for all transferred assets, as the case may be). In addition, if the equity holders of the acquired company receive “rollover” equity securities in a new business entity in connection with any Transaction, the Transaction Value shall also be increased proportionately for all such “rollover” equity securities at the same per share value as all other equity securities in the new business entity.

 

Transaction Value also shall include the aggregate amount of any pre-closing redemptions, dividends, distributions or other transfers by the Company to its stockholders, employees, affiliates or others or, in the case of an asset sale, the aggregate value of any non-cash assets retained by the Company; provided, however, that Transaction Value shall not include normal recurring cash dividends in amounts not materially greater than historically paid nor dividends payable solely in Company capital stock. There shall be no increase or reduction in Transaction Value due to the Company’s working capital, net assets, net worth or other balance sheet or financial measure failing to meet a normalized or target amount as required as a closing or post-closing condition of a purchase agreement.

 

For purposes of calculating Transaction Value, equity securities constituting a part of the consideration payable in the Transaction or Alternative Transaction (i) that are traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the average closing price over the 30-day period ending three (3) days thereof prior to the date of the consummation or closing of the Transaction or Alternative Transaction; and (ii) that are traded in an over-the-counter market shall be valued at the average of the closing bid and ask prices over the 30-day period ending three (3) days prior to such date. Except as set forth above, any debt or other securities or other property shall be valued as the Company and KDC shall reasonably agree in good faith.

 

A-2
 

 

 

ANNEX B – STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

The following Standard Terms and Conditions are incorporated by reference into the Engagement Letter between the Company and KDC to which these terms are attached.

 

1. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) In the event that KDC or any of its affiliates, or any of the respective directors, officers, agents or employees of KDC or any of its affiliates (each such person or entity, an “Indemnified Person”) becomes involved in any capacity in any pending or threatened action, proceeding or investigation by or against any person (other than an action, proceeding or investigation initiated or brought by or on behalf of KDC against the Company that is not initiated or brought in connection with an action, proceeding or investigation brought by a third party against KDC in a matter otherwise covered by this Annex B), including stockholders of the Company, in connection with or as a result of either our engagement or any matter referred to in this Engagement Letter, the Company will promptly reimburse such Indemnified Person for its reasonable legal and other costs and expenses (including the reasonable cost and expense of any investigation and preparation) incurred in connection therewith as such costs and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be responsible for any such costs and expenses to the extent that they are finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of KDC, in each case, in performing the services which are the subject of this Engagement Letter. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company also will indemnify and hold each Indemnified Person harmless against any and all losses, claims, demands, damages or liabilities of any kind in connection with or as a result of either our engagement or any matter referred to in this Engagement Letter, except to the extent that such loss, claim, demand, damage or liability is finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from KDC’s fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of KDC, in each case, in performing the services that are the subject of this Engagement Letter.

 

(b) If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient to hold it harmless in respect of any losses, claims, demands, damages or liabilities (and related costs and expenses) referred to herein, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such loss, claim, demand, damage or liability (and related costs and expenses) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Company and its stockholders on the one hand and KDC on the other hand in the Transaction or Alternative Transaction (whether or not the Transaction or Alternative Transaction is consummated), as well as the relative fault of the Company and KDC with respect thereto and any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that, in no event shall the Indemnified Persons’ aggregate obligations with respect thereto exceed the aggregate amount of the fees actually received by KDC in performing the services that are the subject of this Engagement Letter unless such losses, claims, demands, damages or liabilities (and related costs and expenses) have resulted primarily from fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of KDC, in each case, in performing the services which are the subject of this Engagement Letter. For purposes of this Engagement Letter, the relative benefits to the Company and KDC of the Transaction or Alternative Transaction shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (i) the total value paid or contemplated to be paid or received or contemplated to be received by the Company or its securityholders, as the case may be, in connection with the Transaction or Alternative Transaction, whether or not any such Transaction or Alternative Transaction is consummated, bears to (ii) the fees paid or to be paid to KDC under this Engagement Letter.

 

B-1
 

 

 

(c) The reimbursement, indemnity and contribution obligations of the Company under this paragraph shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Company and the Indemnified Persons. The Company also agrees that no Indemnified Person shall be responsible for any loss, claim, demand, damage or liability (or related costs or expenses) (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Company or any of its securityholders or creditors for or in connection with or as a result of either our engagement or any matter referred to in this Engagement Letter, except to the extent that such loss, claim, demand, damage or liability (or related costs or expenses) incurred by the Company are finally judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of KDC, in each case, in performing the services that are the subject of this Engagement Letter. Prior to entering into any agreement or arrangement with respect to, or effecting, any sale, exchange, dividend or other distribution or liquidation of all or a material portion of its assets in one or a series of transactions, the Company shall notify KDC in writing thereof (if not previously notified thereof) and provide for the assumption of its obligations under this Section 1 by the purchaser or transferee of such assets or another party reasonably satisfactory to KDC, in each case on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to KDC and reasonably consistent with this Engagement Letter.

 

(d) In the event that an Indemnified Person becomes involved in any capacity in any pending or threatened action, proceeding or investigation in connection with or as a result of either our engagement or any matter referred to in this Engagement Letter (including but not limited to producing documents, answering interrogatories, attending depositions, and testifying at trial, and whether by subpoena, court process or order or otherwise), the Company shall pay KDC’s then current fees and hourly rates for such Indemnified Person for the time expended in rendering such services, including but not limited to time for meetings, conferences, preparation and travel, and all related out of pocket expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of legal counsel incurred in connection therewith).

 

2. Financial Advisory Role, Information, Reliance, Confidentiality, etc.

 

(a) The Company understands that KDC is acting solely as a financial advisor to the Company, and is not undertaking to provide any legal, accounting or tax advice in connection with its engagement under this Engagement Letter. We will provide our financial advice, written or oral, exclusively for the benefit of your board of directors who will make all decisions regarding whether and how to pursue any opportunity, Transaction or Alternative Transaction. Your board of directors will not base its decisions solely on our advice, but will also consider the advice of its legal, accounting, tax and other business advisors and other factors they consider appropriate. The Company understands and agrees that the Company is solely responsible for any Transaction or Alternative Transaction complying with applicable laws and for the Company conducting its activities in connection with the Transaction or Alternative Transaction in accordance with applicable laws.

 

B-2
 

 

 

(b) It is understood and agreed that KDC will act under this Engagement Letter as an independent contractor with contractual obligations and nothing in this Engagement Letter or the nature of our services shall be deemed to create a fiduciary or agency relationship. Except as set forth in Section 1 of this Annex B, nothing in this Engagement Letter is intended to confer upon any other person (including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company) any rights or remedies hereunder or by reason hereof.

 

(c) The Company recognizes that, in providing our services pursuant to this engagement, KDC will require significant financial and business-oriented information. KDC will be entitled to rely upon and assume, without any obligation of independent verification, the accuracy, completeness and reasonableness of all such financial, accounting, tax and other information discussed with or reviewed by us for such purposes, and we do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness thereof. The Company also recognizes that we will assume that all financial projections, synergy estimates, other estimates and other forward looking information that may be furnished by or discussed with the Company or any purchaser and their respective representatives will have been reasonably prepared and reflect the best then-currently available estimates and judgments of the Company’s and/or such purchaser’s senior management as to the expected future performance of the relevant company or entity. During the term of this Engagement Letter, the Company agrees to provide to KDC all information requested by KDC for the purpose of its engagement under this Engagement Letter and also to provide access to directors, executive officers and relevant employees of the Company. KDC will have no obligation to conduct any independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any other party or to advise or opine on any related solvency issues. The information to be furnished by you or on your behalf, when delivered, will, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, be true and correct in all material respects and will not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. You will promptly notify us if you become aware of (i) any material inaccuracy or misstatement in, or material omission from, any information previously delivered to us or (ii) any material event or change in the business, affairs and/or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or the purchaser that occurs during the term of this Engagement Letter.

 

(d) The Company agrees that any press release it may issue announcing a Completed Transaction will contain a reference to KDC’s role as financial advisor to the Company in connection with such Completed Transaction, and that KDC shall have the right to review and pre- approve any reference to it or its role as financial advisor under this Engagement Letter in any public statement made by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Company and each of its employees, representatives or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. income and franchise tax treatment and the U.S. income and franchise tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses, if any) that are provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure insofar as such treatment and/or structure relates to a U.S. income or franchise tax strategy, if any, provided to the Company by KDC or its affiliates. If requested by KDC, the Company also agrees that upon closing of any Completed Transaction, the Company shall notify KDC, in writing, (i) whether it expects to treat the Completed Transaction as a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b), and (ii) if so, the applicable category of “reportable transaction”.

 

B-3
 

 

 

(f) Under separate cover, KDC and the Company have executed and delivered a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement (the “CNDA”).

 

3. Other Business Relationships.

 

(a) The Company understands that KDC is a financial advisory firm which may have, and may in the future have, business relationships with parties other than the Company, which parties may have economic and other interests with respect to the Company, a purchaser, a Transaction or an Alternative Transaction. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that, in agreeing to provide the advisory services contemplated by this Engagement Letter, and subject to the CNDA, KDC reserves the right to pursue other business relationships and opportunities with respect to potential purchasers and other businesses that may compete with the Company. The Company acknowledges its understanding that the interests of KDC with respect to potential purchasers and other businesses may differ from those of the Company and the Company expressly waives any conflicts of interest which may result from KDC’s multiple relationships as advisor to the Company hereunder and with potential purchasers and other businesses.

 

(b) KDC has relationships with and provides services to a wide variety of clients and potential clients (including purchasers), some of whom may be competitors of yours. KDC is free to solicit and be engaged by any clients or potential clients (including any purchasers) in any matters that do not involve a Transaction or Alternative Transaction for which you have retained us. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, during the term of this Engagement Letter, KDC shall not provide financial advisory services similar to the services contemplated hereby to any party (including any lender) involved in a Transaction or Alternative Transaction with respect to such Transaction or Alternative Transaction (other than the Company itself). Although KDC in the course of its other relationships may acquire information about a purchaser or other parties, KDC shall have no obligation to disclose such information, or the fact that KDC is in possession of such information, to the Company or to use such information on the Company’s behalf.

 

4. Other. The provisions of this Annex B shall survive any termination or completion of the engagement provided by this Engagement Letter.

 

B-4

 

 

Exhibit 10.21

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SUCCESS FEE AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SUCCESS FEE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 2, 2023, by and between AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “AIRO”), and New Generation Aerospace, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NGA”). Each of the AIRO and NGA are referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, AIRO engaged NGA for the purposes of having NGA provide AIRO reasonable advisory services relating to AIRO’s consideration of and execution of an initial public offering pursuant to that certain Success Fee Agreement dated June 7, 2022 (the “Original Success Fee Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, AIRO and NGA desire to amend and restate the terms of the Original Success Fee Agreement to better align AIRO entering into a business combination with a SPAC (a “SPAC Transaction”) rather than completing an initial public offering, including but not limited to the change in economics resulting from moving from an initial public offering to a SPAC Transaction.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, the AIRO and NGA agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Services. NGA has in the past and shall in the future, upon AIRO’s request, provide reasonable advisory services (the “Services”) relating to AIRO’s consideration of and execution of roll-up mergers and a SPAC Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, all activities of NGA related to AIRO are deemed to be Services subject to this Agreement.

 

2. Success Fee. As consideration for the Services provided to AIRO by NGA, NGA shall be entitled to a Stock Issuance and Cash Payment, as defined below.

 

a. Issuance of AIRO Shares. No later than two (2) business days prior to the closing of the SPAC Transaction, AIRO shall issue to NGA 57,792 shares of AIRO Common Stock (the “Stock Issuance”). If NGA is otherwise subject to a lock-up agreement pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between AIRO and Kernel Group Holdings, Inc., eighty-five percent (85%) of the Stock Issuance to NGA shall be subject to those lock-up terms upon closing of the SPAC Transaction. The terms of any such lock-ups shall be set forth in separate lock-up agreements with NGA.

 

b. Cash Payment. Within five (5) business days of the closing of the SPAC Transaction, AIRO or its successor shall make a one-time cash payment to NGA in an amount of $150,007.78 (the “Cash Payment”).

 

3. Termination; Assignment. This Success Fee Agreement (this “Agreement”) shall be binding on AIRO and its successors and assigns and shall terminate upon the earlier of: (a) December 31, 2023, and (b) payment in full of the Success Fee pursuant to the terms herein (the “Termination Date”). Neither NGA nor AIRO may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the other Party’s prior written consent.

 

4. Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Jury Trial Waiver.

 

a. 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).

 

1

 

 

b. 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 DELAWARE, 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 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.

 

c. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS NOTE 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 NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS NOTE CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (ii) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS NOTE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 4(c).

 

5. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended or modified pursuant to a written instrument executed by AIRO and NGA.

 

6. Severability of Provisions. Each provision of this Agreement is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.

 

7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and cancels any prior communications, understandings, and agreements between the parties, including but not limited to the Original Success Fee Agreement.

 

8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, is an original, and all taken together, constitute one agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature page follows.]

 

2

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Success Fee Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

  AIRO:
     
  AIRO GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Joseph Burns
  Joseph Burns, Chief Executive Officer
     
  NGA:
     
  NEW GENERATION AEROSPACE, INC.,
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Chirinjeev Kathuria
  Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Executive Chairman

 

3

 

 

Exhibit 10.22

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION IDENTIFIED WITH [***] HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) OF THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OF CONFIDENTIAL

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

May 18, 2022

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria

[***]

VIA EMAIL

 

Re: Employment Offer Letter

 

Dear Chirinjeev:

 

We are pleased to offer you an outline of terms of employment with AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”). Subject to the recommendation of the Company’s compensation committee, its consultants, or other advisory groups typical of a publicly traded company (“Committee Recommendation”), your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of Chief Executive Officer. The general terms and conditions of the Company’s offer of employment to you are outlined in this Employment Offer Letter (collectively, the “Offer and Agreement”). Upon Committee Recommendation, the finalized terms of your employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, and said formal employment agreement shall control the terms and conditions of your employment.

 

1. Employment Effectiveness/Start Date. This Offer and Agreement is conditioned on, and only effective upon, the Company’s IPO Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC. Your employment start date will be the date on which the Company’s IPO Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the “Start Date”).

 

2. Position / Job Duties. The Company is offering you employment with the Company in a full- time capacity. As mentioned above, subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of Chief Executive Officer. You are expected to render services that are consistent with the position and responsibilities of a Chief Executive Officer.

 

3. Term. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your initial term of employment will be three (3) years.

 

4. Salary Range. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected annual base salary is $500,000, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies.

 

5. Benefits. The Company provides a very competitive benefits package for its eligible employees. You will be eligible to participate in all of the Company’s employee benefit programs, on the same terms and conditions as these programs are available to other employees of the Company in a similar job position as you, subject to the conditions of these plans.

 

1
 

 

You understand and acknowledge that the Company retains the right to amend, modify, rescind, delete, supplement or add to any of its existing employee benefit programs, at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, as permitted by law. The Company also retains the discretion to interpret any terms or language used in this letter, and any such interpretation will be binding on you.

 

6. Executive Equity Plan. Subject to Committee Recommendation, it is expected that you will participate in the Company’s executive option/incentive plan(s). It is further expected that your annual benefits under said plan will account for approximately forty percent (40%) of your annual compensation.

 

7. Restrictive Covenant Agreement. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your employment and eligibility for participation in the Company’s executive equity plan will be contingent upon you executing a restrictive covenant agreement containing reasonable non-competition, customer and employee non-solicitation and confidential information non-disclosure provisions.

 

8. Employment Status. This Offer and Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment for any period of time and your employment under this Offer and Agreement is at-will; however, your formal employment agreement, once effective, shall control your at-will employment status on a go-forward basis. The at-will nature of the employment relationship may not be modified or amended except by written agreement signed by you and the Company’s designated representative.

 

9. Termination of Prior Employment and Release. You hereby agree that immediately upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, your employment with AIRO Drone LLC and Agile Defense, LLC shall be considered voluntarily terminated by you. Furthermore, upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, you hereby release, acquit and forever discharge AIRO Drone LLC, Agile Defense, LLC, their respective parents and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the effective date of this Agreement, including but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements not accounted for on the Company’s accounts payable, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute, or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”); tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. For the avoidance of doubt, this release of claims shall not be a release of claims regarding any of your unpaid expense reimbursements that are accounted for on the Company’s accounts payable.

 

2
 

 

10. Payments Subject to Withholdings and Deductions. The amount of any payment made to you by the Company as set forth in this Offer and Agreement will be reduced by any required taxes, withholdings, and other authorized employee deductions as may be required by law or as you have elected under the applicable benefit plans.

 

11. Company Policies. At all times during your employment, you are expected to observe, respect and comply with all policies and procedures of the Company, whether written or oral.

 

12. Employment Eligibility. Your employment with the Company is contingent upon completing the Form I-9 within your first three days of employment. Review the “List of Acceptable Documents” contained on the enclosed I-9 Form. On your first day of employment, bring the Form I-9 plus the required original documentation specified in the “List of Acceptable Documents.” You must complete, sign, and date Section 1 of Form I-9 in front of your immediate manager or a Company designee and present the original required documentation to establish your identity and employment authorization.

 

13. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Offer and Agreement will be governed by the laws of the Delaware.

 

14. Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach of this Offer and Agreement will be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by the Company of any right under this Offer and Agreement will be construed as a waiver of any other right. The Company will not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Offer and Agreement.

 

15. Severability. If any provision, term, covenant or obligation of this Offer and Agreement, or its application, is held invalid, unenforceable, or unlawful, such invalidity, unenforceability or unlawfulness, shall not affect the other provisions, terms, covenants or obligations of this Offer and Agreement, or their application, which all shall remain valid and enforceable in full force and effect to the extent permitted by law.

 

16. Successors and Assigns. This Offer and Agreement will be binding upon your heirs, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.

 

17. Survival. The provisions of this Offer and Agreement shall survive the assignment of this Offer and Agreement by the Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.

 

18. Section Headings. The section headings appearing in this Offer and Agreement have been inserted for the purpose of convenience and reference only and shall not limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of this Offer and Agreement in any way whatsoever.

 

19. Entire Agreement. This Offer and Agreement, which includes all enclosures, sets forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements of the parties, whether oral or written.

 

3
 

 

Please signify your acceptance of this Offer and Agreement by signing below.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Joseph Burns    
Joseph Burns    
Chief Executive Officer    
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.    

 

 

 

Accepted on this 9th day of May, 2022, by:

 

Signature: /s/ Chirinjeev Kathuria  
     
Print Name: Chirinjeev Kathuria  

  

4

 

Exhibit 10.23

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION IDENTIFIED WITH [***] HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) OF THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OF CONFIDENTIAL

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

 

May 18, 2022

Joseph Burns

[***]

VIA EMAIL

 

Re: Employment Offer Letter

 

Dear Joe:

 

We are pleased to offer you an outline of terms of employment with AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”). Subject to the recommendation of the Company’s compensation committee, its consultants, or other advisory groups typical of a publicly traded company (“Committee Recommendation”), your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of Chief Executive Officer. The general terms and conditions of the Company’s offer of employment to you are outlined in this Employment Offer Letter (collectively, the “Offer and Agreement”). Upon Committee Recommendation, the finalized terms of your employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, and said formal employment agreement shall control the terms and conditions of your employment.

 

1. Employment Effectiveness/Start Date. This Offer and Agreement is conditioned on, and only effective upon, the Company’s IPO Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC. Your employment start date will be the date on which the Company’s IPO Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the “Start Date”).

 

2. Position / Job Duties. The Company is offering you employment with the Company in a full- time capacity. As mentioned above, subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of Chief Executive Officer. You are expected to render services that are consistent with the position and responsibilities of a Chief Executive Officer.

 

3. Term. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your initial term of employment will be three (3) years.

 

4. Salary Range. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected annual base salary is $825,000, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies.

 

5. Benefits. The Company provides a very competitive benefits package for its eligible employees. You will be eligible to participate in all of the Company’s employee benefit programs, on the same terms and conditions as these programs are available to other employees of the Company in a similar job position as you, subject to the conditions of these plans.

 

1
 

 

You understand and acknowledge that the Company retains the right to amend, modify, rescind, delete, supplement or add to any of its existing employee benefit programs, at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, as permitted by law. The Company also retains the discretion to interpret any terms or language used in this letter, and any such interpretation will be binding on you.

 

6. Executive Equity Plan. Subject to Committee Recommendation, it is expected that you will participate in the Company’s executive option/incentive plan(s). It is further expected that your annual benefits under said plan will account for approximately forty percent (40%) of your annual compensation.

 

7. Restrictive Covenant Agreement. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your employment and eligibility for participation in the Company’s executive equity plan will be contingent upon you executing a restrictive covenant agreement containing reasonable non-competition, customer and employee non-solicitation and confidential information non-disclosure provisions.

 

8. Employment Status. This Offer and Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment for any period of time and your employment under this Offer and Agreement is at-will; however, your formal employment agreement, once effective, shall control your at-will employment status on a go-forward basis. The at-will nature of the employment relationship may not be modified or amended except by written agreement signed by you and the Company’s designated representative.

 

9. Termination of Prior Employment and Release. You hereby agree that immediately upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, your employment with AIRO Drone LLC and Agile Defense, LLC shall be considered voluntarily terminated by you. Furthermore, upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, you hereby release, acquit and forever discharge AIRO Drone LLC, Agile Defense, LLC, their respective parents and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the effective date of this Agreement, including but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements not accounted for on the Company’s accounts payable, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute, or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”); tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. For the avoidance of doubt, this release of claims shall not be a release of claims regarding any of your unpaid expense reimbursements that are accounted for on the Company’s accounts payable.

 

2
 

 

10. Payments Subject to Withholdings and Deductions. The amount of any payment made to you by the Company as set forth in this Offer and Agreement will be reduced by any required taxes, withholdings, and other authorized employee deductions as may be required by law or as you have elected under the applicable benefit plans.

 

11. Company Policies. At all times during your employment, you are expected to observe, respect and comply with all policies and procedures of the Company, whether written or oral.

 

12. Employment Eligibility. Your employment with the Company is contingent upon completing the Form I-9 within your first three days of employment. Review the “List of Acceptable Documents” contained on the enclosed I-9 Form. On your first day of employment, bring the Form I-9 plus the required original documentation specified in the “List of Acceptable Documents.” You must complete, sign, and date Section 1 of Form I-9 in front of your immediate manager or a Company designee and present the original required documentation to establish your identity and employment authorization.

 

13. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Offer and Agreement will be governed by the laws of the Delaware.

 

14. Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach of this Offer and Agreement will be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by the Company of any right under this Offer and Agreement will be construed as a waiver of any other right. The Company will not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Offer and Agreement.

 

15. Severability. If any provision, term, covenant or obligation of this Offer and Agreement, or its application, is held invalid, unenforceable, or unlawful, such invalidity, unenforceability or unlawfulness, shall not affect the other provisions, terms, covenants or obligations of this Offer and Agreement, or their application, which all shall remain valid and enforceable in full force and effect to the extent permitted by law.

 

16. Successors and Assigns. This Offer and Agreement will be binding upon your heirs, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.

 

17. Survival. The provisions of this Offer and Agreement shall survive the assignment of this Offer and Agreement by the Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.

 

18. Section Headings. The section headings appearing in this Offer and Agreement have been inserted for the purpose of convenience and reference only and shall not limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of this Offer and Agreement in any way whatsoever.

 

19. Entire Agreement. This Offer and Agreement, which includes all enclosures, sets forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements of the parties, whether oral or written.

 

3
 

 

Please signify your acceptance of this Offer and Agreement by signing below.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Chirinjeev Kathuria    
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria    
Executive Chairman    
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.    

 

 

 

Accepted on this 9th day of May, 2022, by:

 

Signature: /s/ Joseph Burns  
     
Print Name: Joseph Burns  

 

4

 

Exhibit 10.24

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION IDENTIFIED WITH [***] HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) OF THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OF CONFIDENTIAL

 

 

January 12, 2007

Mr. John S. Uczekaj

[***]

 

Re: Employment with Aspen Avionics, Inc.

 

Dear John:

 

Aspen Avionics, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to offer you a position as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, on the terms of employment set forth in this letter agreement, effective upon your acceptance by execution of a counterpart copy of this letter where indicated below.

 

1. Reporting Duties and Responsibilities. In this position, you will report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). This offer is for a full time position, located at the Albuquerque, New Mexico offices of the Company, except as travel to other locations may be necessary to fulfill your responsibilities. Your duties will include duties consistent with your positions, as well as any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the Board. Upon your acceptance of this offer to become the Company’s Chief Executive Officer & President, the Company will take all necessary corporate action to elect you as a Director of the Board, and while you remain the Chief Executive Officer & President of the Company, the Board will continue to, subject to their fiduciary duties and the Company’s stockholders’ rights, support your membership on the Board.

 

2. Term of Employment. Your employment will begin at your employment commencement date at the Company (the “Commencement Date”) pursuant to Paragraph 13 of this letter agreement and shall continue until midnight on the third anniversary of such Commencement Date, unless (i) earlier terminated by you or the Company or (ii) the employment hereunder shall have been extended beyond such date by written agreement by the parties. For the avoidance of doubt, and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 8 below, your employment may be terminated by you or the Company at any time, for any reason, with or without cause.

 

3. Salary; Annua; Incentive Bonus. Your base salary will be $20,834 per month, (an annualized rate of $250.000) during the term of the employment, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practice as in effect from time to time. Such base salary shall be reviewed annually and may be increased by the Board in its sole discretion based upon such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, your performance and/or the financial condition and operating results of the Company, but may not be decreased except in connection with a general decrease in salaries of all the Company’s officers or employees of comparable rank. You will also be eligible to earn an annual bonus up to the amount of $50,000, payable on an annual basis, as further described in the following. As a special part of your bonus plan, the Company will guarantee your first year bonus of $50,000, which is earned upon completion of your first full year of continued employment and which will be payable immediately following your first full year of continued employment. Thereafter, the subsequent annual bonuses shall be based on your achievement of objectives that you and the Board will mutually determine in good faith within 60 days after the beginning of each year of continued employment with the Company; provided that any such subsequent bonuses which are approved by the Board shall be payable within 14 calendar days of the date of such Board approval.

 

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4. Benefits. During the term of the employment, you shall be entitled to participate in any benefit plans, including health insurance plans, together with any supplemental insurance plans, offered by the Company to its similarly situated employees. The Company also agrees that it will obtain for your personal benefit a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum cost to the Company of $2,500 per year and a long-term disability insurance policy, up to a maximum cost to the Company of $5,000 per year, and each of which shall be in effect during your employment. In addition, you shall be entitled to benefits afforded to other similarly situated employees under the Company’s vacation, holiday and business expense reimbursement policies.

 

5. Stock Option. You will be granted an option to purchase that number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock equal to 7.0% of Aspen Avionics fully diluted capitalization at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of that stock on the grant date. The options will become exercisable over a four-year exercise schedule with 25% of the shares vesting at the end of your first twelve months of continued service from the Commencement Date (the “Initial Vesting Date”) and with an additional 2.083% vesting upon the expiration of each additional full month of continued service from such Initial Vesting Date. Such option will be subject to the approval of the Board and the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2006 Stock Plan and the standard form of stock option agreement, which you will be required to sign as a condition of receiving the option.

 

6. Change of Control; Double Trigger. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below) during your employment, and if you are terminated other than for Cause (as defined below) or you resign for Good Reason (defined below), in either instance within 12 months of such Change of Control, you will be entitled to six months of your then base salary and accelerated vesting on 100% of any unvested portion of your option described in Paragraph 5.

 

For purposes of this letter agreement, a termination for “Cause” occurs if you are terminated as a result of your: (i) conviction of any misdemeanor involving theft or dishonesty or any felony, if in either case, it impairs your ability to perform your duties under this letter agreement, (ii) commission of any act or theft, fraud or dishonesty against, or involving the records of, the Company, (iii) material breach of the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement (defined below in Paragraph 6) and/or any other similar such agreement, provided that such material breach of Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement and/or any other similar such agreement will not constitute “Cause” if such material breach is cured, if curable, within ten (10) days of its occurrence, (iv) action which is intended to and does have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business, or (v) failure or inability to perform any assigned duties reasonably expected of an employee in your position after written notice from the Company to you, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability.

 

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Additionally, for purposes of this letter agreement, a resignation for “Good Reason” shall mean that you resign from employment with the Company due to any of the following: (i) any failure by the Company to comply with the material terms of this letter agreement after being provided written notice from you to the Company of its noncompliance, and such noncompliance is not promptly cured; (ii) any request by the Company that you perform any act which is illegal or you commit fraudulent acts or omissions; (iii) any material reduction in your responsibilities, duties or authority (unless consented to in writing by you) relative to that which was in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (iv) any material reduction of your compensation, incentive programs or benefits from that which was in effect immediately prior to the reduction (including a refusal by an acquiror to assume any stock option or stock purchase agreement to which you are a party in its entirety); (v) relocation of your place of employment to a location more than 50 miles from the current location; or (vi) a material adverse effect on the Company resulting expressly from the claim styled Eclipse Aviation v. Jeff Bethel, et al ., No. CV 2006 07896 such that the Company, despite its reasonable best efforts, is unable to obtain the funding (or commitments for funding) from current or prospective investors, or other financing sources, necessary for the operations of the Company’s business.

 

Additionally, for purposes of this letter agreement, a “Change of Control” shall mean: (i) a merger or consolidation or the sale, or exchange by the stockholders of the Company of all or substantially all of the capital stock of the Company, where the stockholders of the Company immediately before such transaction do not obtain or retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock or other voting equity of the surviving or acquiring corporation or other surviving or acquiring entity, in substantially the same proportion as before such transaction, or (ii) the sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (other than a sale or transfer to a subsidiary of the Company as defined in section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) where the stockholders of the Company immediately before such sale or exchange do not obtain or retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock or other voting equity of the corporation or other entity acquiring the Company’s assets, in substantially the same proportion as before such transaction.

 

7. Confidential Information. As an employee of the Company, you will have access to certain Company confidential information and you may, during the course of your employment, develop certain information or inventions that will be the property of the Company. To protect the interest of the Company, you will need to sign the Company’s standard “Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement “ as a condition of your employment. We wish to impress upon you that we do not wish you to, and you are instructed not to, bring with you any confidential or proprietary material of any former employer or to violate any other obligation to your former employers.

 

8. Severance Payments Upon Termination. If, and prior to a Change of Control as described in Paragraph 6, the Board terminates your employment with the Company without Cause or you terminate your employment with the Company by resigning for Good Reason, in addition to your base salary through the date of such termination plus any other benefits to which you may be entitled to through the date of termination pursuant to the applicable plans under Paragraph 3 (collectively, the “Basic Termination Entitlements”), the Company will pay you upon severance (i) an amount equal to your then base salary for a period of six months following the date of termination (payment to be made in accordance with the Company’s basic payroll policies and schedules), and (ii) solely in the event of such a termination of the employment prior to the Initial Vesting Date, accelerated vesting on the option granted pursuant to Paragraph 5 such that the total vested portion of such option equals 25%; provided, however, that you will be entitled to full vesting on your option in the event the Board is aware of a pending Change of Control within three (3) months of such a termination. Additionally, in the event you are covered by the Company’s group medical plan as of your employment termination and you timely elect to continue coverage under that plan pursuant to applicable law (“COBRA”), the Company will pay your COBRA premiums until the earliest of (i) the close of the six-month period following the termination of your employment, (ii) the expiration of your continuation coverage under COBRA or (iii) the date when you become eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment; thereafter, you shall be solely responsible for payment of your COBRA premiums. In the absence of COBRA coverage, the Company will pay up to the amount equal to your COBRA premiums until the earliest expiration of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii).

 

3

 

 

If your employment is terminated for any other reason than set forth in the foregoing, then you will be entitled to receive solely the Basic Termination Entitlements.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, you agree that the payments set forth in this letter agreement, provided that the Company fulfills its payment obligations to you, constitute all the payments that you shall be entitled to, and under any theory, in the event of any termination of employment. Receipt of these benefits shall be contingent upon receipt by the Company of a full release from you.

 

9. Temporary Housing and Commuting Expenses. The Company shall reimburse you for reasonable expenses that you incur for temporary housing and related living expenses thereto in the Greater Albuquerque area (e.g., rent for a two-bedroom apartment, utilities payments, and the like), up to a maximum of $1,500 per month. In addition, until you establish your primary residence in the Greater Albuquerque area, the Company shall reimburse you for reasonable expenses that you incur in connection with commute and travel between Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Greater Albuquerque area, up to a maximum of $1,500 per month. Reimbursement under this Section 6 shall be provided only for expenses that are incurred for the period starting from offer acceptance date and ending on the earlier of (i) the date 6 months after your Commencement Date; or (ii) the date that you and your family establish a primary residence in the Greater Albuquerque area. The Company shall reimburse you for expenses referred to in this Section 6 upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Company’s applicable policies.

 

10. Relocation Assistance. The Company shall reimburse you for all standard household moving expenses that you incur in connection with the relocation of your family from your current residence in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to the Greater Albuquerque area, such expenses to include packing/unpacking and shipment of standard household items and up to two automobiles from Sapulpa to the Greater Albuquerque area. The Company shall also provide you with a one-time cash relocation allowance of $15,000 to be paid upon the closing of the sale of your Sapulpa home and relocation to the Greater Albuquerque area provided that, if you voluntarily resign without Good Reason your employment within 12 months of your Commencement Date, you will repay the entire cash relocation allowance.

 

11. Authorization to Work. Because of Federal regulations adopted in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, you will need to present documentation demonstrating that you have authorization to work in the United States.

 

12. Term of Offer. This offer will remain open until January 26, 2007. If you decide to accept our offer, and I hope that you will, please sign the enclosed copy of this letter in the space indicated and return it to me. Upon your signature below, this will become our binding agreement with respect to the subject matter of this letter, superseding in their entirety all other or prior agreements by you with the Company as to the specific subjects of this letter, you will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of our respective successors and assigns, and your heirs, administrators and executors, will be governed by New Mexico law, and may only be amended in a writing signed by you and the Company.

 

13. Start Date. This offer is made with the understanding that you will be available to start employment with Aspen Avionics on or before February 12, 2007.

 

14. Governing Document. To the extent any express provisions of this letter agreement conflicts with the provisions of related agreements referred to herein (including the stock option agreement and the Company’s 2006 Stock Plan), the provisions of this letter agreement will control.

 

15. Entire Agreement. This letter agreement, along with any agreements relating to proprietary rights (including, without limitation, the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement) between you and the Company supersedes any previous discussion, agreement, or understanding between you and the Company regarding the subject matter of this letter.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

4

 

 

John, we are excited and pleased to have you join the Aspen Avionics team. I am confident that we will successfully capitalize on our unique market opportunity.

 

Sincerely,

 

ASPEN AVIONICS, INC.
   
/s/ Peter Lyons  
Peter Lyons  
CEO & President  
   
Dated: January 24, 2007  
   
Acknowledged, Accepted and Agreed  
   
/s/ John S. Uczekaj  
John S. Uczekaj  
   
Dated: January 24, 2007  

 

5

 

 

Exhibit 10.25

 

CERTAIN INFORMATION IDENTIFIED WITH [***] HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (1) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) OF THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

5001 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 100

Albuquerque, NM 87110

April 1, 2022

John Uczekaj

[***]

VIA EMAIL

 

Re: Employment Offer Letter

 

Dear John:

 

We are pleased to offer you an outline of terms of employment with AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”). Subject to the recommendation of the Company’s compensation committee, its consultants, or other advisory groups typical of a publicly traded company (“Committee Recommendation”), your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of President and Chief Operating Officer. The general terms and conditions of the Company’s offer of employment to you are outlined in this Employment Offer Letter (collectively, the “Offer and Agreement”). Upon Committee Recommendation, the finalized terms of your employment will be memorialized in a formal employment agreement, and said formal employment agreement shall control the terms and conditions of your employment.

 

1.Employment Effectiveness/Start Date. This Offer and Agreement is conditioned on, and only effective upon, the Company’s IPO Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC. Your employment start date will be the date on which the Company’s IPO Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the “Start Date”).
  
2.Position / Job Duties. The Company is offering you employment with the Company in a full-time capacity. As mentioned above, subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected role in the Company is intended to be that of President and Chief Operating Officer. You are expected to render services that are consistent with the position and responsibilities of a President and Chief Operating Officer.
  
3.Term. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your initial term of employment will be three (3) years.
  
4.Salary Range. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your expected annual base salary is $550,000, which shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies.
  
5.Benefits. The Company provides a very competitive benefits package for its eligible employees. You will be eligible to participate in all of the Company’s employee benefit programs, on the same terms and conditions as these programs are available to other employees of the Company in a similar job position as you, subject to the conditions of these plans.
  
 You understand and acknowledge that the Company retains the right to amend, modify, rescind, delete, supplement or add to any of its existing employee benefit programs, at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, as permitted by law. The Company also retains the discretion to interpret any terms or language used in this letter, and any such interpretation will be binding on you.

 
 

 

6.Executive Equity Plan. Subject to Committee Recommendation, it is expected that you will participate in the Company’s executive option/incentive plan(s). It is further expected that your annual benefits under said plan will account for approximately forty percent (40%) of your annual compensation.
  
7.Restrictive Covenant Agreement. Subject to Committee Recommendation, your employment and eligibility for participation in the Company’s executive equity plan will be contingent upon you executing a restrictive covenant agreement containing reasonable non-competition, customer and employee non-solicitation and confidential information non-disclosure provisions.
  
8.Employment Status. This Offer and Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment for any period of time and your employment under this Offer and Agreement is at-will; however, your formal employment agreement, once effective, shall control your at-will employment status on a go-forward basis. The at-will nature of the employment relationship may not be modified or amended except by written agreement signed by you and the Company’s designated representative
  
9.Termination of Prior Employment and Release. You hereby agree that immediately upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, your employment with Aspen Avionics, Inc. shall be considered voluntarily terminated by you. Furthermore, upon the effectiveness of this Offer and Agreement, you hereby release, acquit and forever discharge Aspen Avionics, Inc., its respective parents and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, shareholders, successors, assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to agreements, events, acts or conduct at any time prior to and including the effective date of this Agreement, including but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of or in any way connected with your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses, commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, severance pay, or any other form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law, statute, or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”); tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge; discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
  
10.Payments Subject to Withholdings and Deductions. The amount of any payment made to you by the Company as set forth in this Offer and Agreement will be reduced by any required taxes, withholdings, and other authorized employee deductions as may be required by law or as you have elected under the applicable benefit plans.
  
11.Company Policies. At all times during your employment, you are expected to observe, respect and comply with all policies and procedures of the Company, whether written or oral.

 

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12.

Employment Eligibility. Your employment with the Company is contingent upon completing the Form I-9 within your first three days of employment. Review the “List of Acceptable Documents” contained on the enclosed I-9 Form. On your first day of employment, bring the Form I-9 plus the required original documentation specified in the “List of Acceptable Documents.” You must complete, sign, and date Section 1 of Form I-9 in front of your immediate manager or a Company designee and present the original required documentation to establish your identity and employment authorization.

  
13.Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Offer and Agreement will be governed by the laws of the Delaware.
  
14.Waiver. No waiver by the Company of any breach of this Offer and Agreement will be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by the Company of any right under this Offer and Agreement will be construed as a waiver of any other right. The Company will not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Offer and Agreement.
  
15.Severability. If any provision, term, covenant or obligation of this Offer and Agreement, or its application, is held invalid, unenforceable, or unlawful, such invalidity, unenforceability or unlawfulness, shall not affect the other provisions, terms, covenants or obligations of this Offer and Agreement, or their application, which all shall remain valid and enforceable in full force and effect to the extent permitted by law.
  
16.Successors and Assigns. This Offer and Agreement will be binding upon your heirs, executors, administrators, and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit of the Company, its successors, and its assigns.
  
17.Survival. The provisions of this Offer and Agreement shall survive the assignment of this Offer and Agreement by the Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.
  
18.

Section Headings. The section headings appearing in this Offer and Agreement have been inserted for the purpose of convenience and reference only and shall not limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of this Offer and Agreement in any way whatsoever.

  
19.Entire Agreement. This Offer and Agreement, which includes all enclosures, sets forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements of the parties, whether oral or written.

 

Please signify your acceptance of this Offer and Agreement by signing below

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/Joseph Burns  
Joseph Burns  
Chief Executive Officer  
AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.  

 

3
 

 

Accepted on this 1st day of April, 2022, by:

 

Signature: /s/ John Uczekaj  
     
Print Name: John Uczekaj  

 

[Offer Letter]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

Subsidiaries of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Name of Subsidiary    Jurisdiction of Organization
AIRO Drone, LLC    United States (Illinois)
Agile Defense, LLC    United States (Minnesota)
Aspen Avionics, Inc.    United States (Delaware)
Coastal Defense, Inc.    United States (Pennsylvania)
Old AGI, Inc. f/k/a AIRO Group, Inc.    United States (Delaware)
Jaunt Air Mobility, LLC    United States (Delaware)
Sky-Watch A/S    Denmark

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements) dated February 21, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc., which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ BPM LLP

 

San Jose, California

February 21, 2025

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Consent to be Named as a Director Nominee

 

In connection with the filing by AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

 

Dated: February 21, 2025

 

  /s/ Elizabeth Ng
  Elizabeth Ng

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-1

 

AIRO Group Holdings, Inc.

 

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

   Security
Type
  Security
Class
Title
  Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
  Amount
Registered
   Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
   Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(1)(2)
   Fee
Rate
   Amount of
Registration
Fee(3)
 
Fees to Be Paid  Equity  Common stock,
par value
$0.000001 per
share
  457(o)           $100,000,000     0.00015310    $15,310 
   Total Offering Amounts             $100,000,000        $15,310 
   Total Fees Previously Paid                         
   Total Fee Offsets                       
   Net Fee Due                     $15,310 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

(2) Includes the aggregate offering price of additional shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase from the registrant, if any.

 

(3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.