Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 11, 2021, by and among Empower Ltd., Empower Merger Sub I Inc., Empower Merger Sub II LLC, and Holley Intermediate Holdings, Inc

EX-2.1 2 ea137482ex2_1empower.htm AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

Empower Ltd.

Empower Merger Sub I, Inc.,

Empower Merger Sub II, LLC,

and

Holley Intermediate Holdings, Inc.

dated as of March 11, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
Article I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS	3
Section 1.1.   Definitions	3
Section 1.2.   Construction	14
Section 1.3.   Knowledge	15
Article II THE MERGERS; CLOSING	15
Section 2.1.   The Mergers	15
Section 2.2.   Closing	15
Section 2.3.   Effective Times	15
Section 2.4.   Closing Deliverables	16
Section 2.5.   Governing Documents	17
Section 2.6.   Directors and Officers	17
Section 2.7.   Tax Free Reorganization Matters	18
Article III EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS	18
Section 3.1.   Conversion of Securities	18
Section 3.2.   Withholding	18
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY	19
Section 4.1.   Company Organization	19
Section 4.2.   Subsidiaries	19
Section 4.3.   Due Authorization	19
Section 4.4.   No Conflict	20
Section 4.5.   Governmental Authorities; Consents	20
Section 4.6.   Capitalization of the Company	20
Section 4.7.   Capitalization of Subsidiaries	21
Section 4.8.   Financial Statements	21
Section 4.9.   Undisclosed Liabilities	22
Section 4.10.   Litigation and Proceedings	22
Section 4.11.   Legal Compliance	23
Section 4.12.   Contracts; No Defaults	23
Section 4.13.   Company Benefit Plans	25
Section 4.14.   Labor Relations; Employees	26
Section 4.15.   Taxes	27
Section 4.16.   Brokers’ Fees	29
Section 4.17.   Insurance	29
Section 4.18.   Licenses	29
Section 4.19.   Equipment and Other Tangible Property	29
Section 4.20.   Real Property	30
Section 4.21.   Intellectual Property	31
Section 4.22.   Privacy and Cybersecurity	32
Section 4.23.   Environmental Matters	32
Section 4.24.   Absence of Changes	33
Section 4.25.   Anti-Corruption Compliance	33
Section 4.26.   Sanctions and International Trade Compliance	33
Section 4.27.   Information Supplied	34
Section 4.28.   Vendors and Customers	34
Section 4.29.   Government Contracts	34
Section 4.30.   Product Liability; Product Warranty	34
Section 4.31.   Transactions with Affiliates	35
Section 4.32.   No Additional Representation or Warranties; No Reliance	35

 

 

Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR, MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II	36
Section 5.1.   Acquiror Organization	36
Section 5.2.   Due Authorization	36
Section 5.3.   No Conflict	37
Section 5.4.   Litigation and Proceedings	37
Section 5.5.   SEC Filings	37
Section 5.6.   Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Listing	37
Section 5.7.   Governmental Authorities; Consents	38
Section 5.8.   Trust Account	38
Section 5.9.   Investment Company Act; JOBS Act	39
Section 5.10.   No Undisclosed Liabilities	39
Section 5.11.   Capitalization of Acquiror	39
Section 5.12.   Brokers’ Fees	40
Section 5.13.   Indebtedness	40
Section 5.14.   Taxes	40
Section 5.15.   Business Activities	41
Section 5.16.   Stock Market Quotation	41
Section 5.17.   PIPE Investment	41
Section 5.18.   Compensation and Benefit Matters	42
Section 5.19.   Affiliate Agreements	42
Section 5.20.   No Additional Representation or Warranties	42
Article VI COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY	43
Section 6.1.   Conduct of Business	43
Section 6.2.   Inspection	45
Section 6.3.   Preparation and Delivery of Additional Company Financial Statements	45
Section 6.4.   Affiliate Agreements	46
Section 6.5.   Consents	46
Section 6.6.   Company Stockholder Approval	46
Section 6.7.   No Trading	46
Section 6.8.   280G Approval	47
Article VII COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR	47
Section 7.1.   Stockholder Litigation	47
Section 7.2.   Trust Account	47
Section 7.3.   Listing	48
Section 7.4.   Conduct of Business	48
Section 7.5.   PIPE Subscriptions	49
Section 7.6.   Domestication	50
Section 7.7.   Post-Closing Directors and Officers of Acquiror	50
Article VIII JOINT COVENANTS	51
Section 8.1.   HSR Act; Other Filings	51
Section 8.2.   Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals	52
Section 8.3.   Support of Transaction	54
Section 8.4.   Tax Matters	54
Section 8.5.   Cooperation; Consultation	55
Section 8.6.   No Solicitation	55
Section 8.7.   Notification	56
Section 8.8.   Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance	56
Section 8.9.   Section 16 Matters	57
Section 8.10.   Employment Agreements	57

 

 

Article IX CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS	57
Section 9.1.   Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, and the Company	57
Section 9.2.   Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II	57
Section 9.3.   Conditions to the Obligations of the Company	58
Article X TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS	59
Section 10.1.   Termination	59
Section 10.2.   Effect of Termination	60
Article XI [reserved]	60
Article XII MISCELLANEOUS	60
Section 12.1.   Trust Account Waiver	60
Section 12.2.   Waiver	60
Section 12.3.   Notices	61
Section 12.4.   Assignment	62
Section 12.5.   Parties in Interest	62
Section 12.6.   Expenses	62
Section 12.7.   Governing Law	62
Section 12.8.   Headings; Counterparts	62
Section 12.9.   Company and Acquiror Disclosure Letters	62
Section 12.10.   Entire Agreement	62
Section 12.11.   Amendments	63
Section 12.12.   Publicity	63
Section 12.13.   Severability	63
Section 12.14.   Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial	63
Section 12.15.   Enforcement	64
Section 12.16.   Non-Recourse	64
Section 12.17.   Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants	64
Section 12.18.   Conflicts and Privilege	64

 

Exhibit A – Form of Acquiror Charter

 

Exhibit B – Form of Acquiror Bylaws

 

Exhibit C – Form of Registration Rights Agreement

 

Exhibit D – Form of Stockholders’ Agreement

 

Exhibit E – Form of Written Consent of the Company Stockholder

 

Exhibit F – Form of Allocation Notice

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 11, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Empower Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (“Acquiror”), Empower Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub I”), Empower Merger Sub II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub II”), and Holley Intermediate Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Acquiror is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Closing (as defined below) and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Acquiror will domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”) and Part XII of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (As Revised) (the “CICL”) (the “Domestication”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the Domestication, Acquiror shall file a certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware and adopt bylaws (in the forms attached as Exhibits A and B hereto, with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Domestication, (i) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Class A Common Stock (as defined below) shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Acquiror (after its domestication as a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware) (the “Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock”); (ii) each then issued and outstanding share of Acquiror Class B Common Stock (as defined below) shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock; (iii) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Public Warrant (as defined below) shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a warrant to acquire one share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock (“Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrant”); (iv) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Private Placement Warrant (as defined below) shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a warrant to acquire one share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock (“Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrant”), pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; and (v) each then issued and outstanding unit of Acquiror, which consists of one share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and one-third of one Acquiror Public Warrant, shall, to the extent not already split by the holder thereof, convert automatically, into one share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and one-third of one Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrant;

 

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL and Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended (the “DLLCA”), at the Closing, (x) Merger Sub I will merge with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub I will cease and the Company will be the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Company Merger I”), (y) the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub II, the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and Merger Sub II will be the surviving limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Company Merger II”, together with Company Merger I, the “Mergers”);

 

WHEREAS, each of the parties intends that, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) the Domestication will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the Treasury Regulations, to which Acquiror is to be party under Section 368(b) of the Code, (ii) the Mergers, taken together, will constitute an integrated transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, to which each of Acquiror and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code, and (iii) in each case, this Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g);

 

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has approved this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, declared it advisable for the Company to enter into this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and recommended the adoption and approval of this agreement, the Mergers and the transactions contemplated herein by the Company Stockholder;

 

WHEREAS, the Company Stockholder will approve and adopt the Company Stockholder Approvals (as defined below) in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Acquiror and Merger Sub I each have (i) determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of each of Acquiror and Merger Sub I and their respective shareholders and stockholders to enter into this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby, (ii) approved the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (iii) recommended the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by their respective shareholders;

 

WHEREAS, Acquiror, as sole shareholder of Merger Sub I and as sole member of Merger Sub II, has approved and adopted this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, each in accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor, Acquiror and the Company entered into the Sponsor Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, (i) waive certain anti-dilution rights with respect to its Acquiror Class B Common Stock and (ii) defer twenty percent (20%) of its Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock (as converted from Acquiror Class B Common Stock in connection with the Domestication) subject to satisfying certain trading price thresholds upon consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, in each case on terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, on or prior to the date hereof, Acquiror entered into Subscription Agreements (as defined below) with PIPE Investors (as defined below) pursuant to which such PIPE Investors agreed to purchase from Acquiror, prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing, certain amounts of shares of Acquiror Common Stock, in each case on terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Acquiror entered into an amended and restated Forward Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “A&R FPA”) with Empower Funding LLC (“Empower Funding”), pursuant to which the purchasers under the A&R FPA have agreed to purchase 5,000,000 Acquiror Units in connection with the Closing, in each case on terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Acquiror entered into a lock-up agreement (the “Seller Lock-Up Agreement”) with the Company Stockholder (as defined below), pursuant to which the Company Stockholder agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Securities Merger Consideration (as defined below) it will receive at Closing;

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing, the Sponsor and the Company Stockholder shall enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company Stockholder); and

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing, Acquiror, Sponsor, Company Stockholder and certain affiliates of Sponsor and Company Stockholder, shall enter into a Stockholders’ Agreement (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company Stockholder).

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and the Company agree as follows:

  

Article I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“2020 Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.3(a).

 

“2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act” means the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, or applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.

 

“A&R FPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Acquiror” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Acquiror Business Combination” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.6(b).

 

“Acquiror Class A Common Stock” means Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Acquiror.

 

“Acquiror Class B Common Stock” means Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Acquiror.

 

“Acquiror Common Stock” means (a) prior to the Domestication, Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Class B Common Stock, and (b) from and following the Domestication, Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock.

 

“Acquiror Common Warrant” or “Acquiror Public Warrant” means a warrant to purchase one (1) share of Acquiror Common Stock at an exercise price of eleven dollars fifty cents ($11.50) that was included in the units sold as part of Acquiror’s initial public offering.

 

“Acquiror Cure Period” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 10.1(g).

 

“Acquiror D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.8(d).

 

“Acquiror Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to ‎Article V.

 

“Acquiror Financing Certificate” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.4(d)(i).

 

“Acquiror Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, or occurrence, that, individually or when aggregated with other changes, events, or occurrences, has had or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impair the ability of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries to perform any of their respective material covenants or material obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or to timely consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

“Acquiror Private Placement Warrant” means a warrant to purchase one (1) share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of eleven Dollars fifty cents ($11.50) issued to the Sponsor.

 

“Acquiror SEC Filings” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.5.

 

“Acquiror Securities” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.11(a).

 

“Acquiror Share Amount” means the number of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock to be outstanding as of the Closing after giving effect to the Acquiror Share Redemptions.

 

“Acquiror Share Redemption” means the election of an eligible (as determined in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents) holder of Acquiror Class A Common Stock to redeem all or a portion of the shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock held by such holder at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account (including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) (as determined in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents) in connection with the Transaction Proposals.

 

 

“Acquiror Share Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable with respect to all Acquiror Share Redemptions.

 

“Acquiror Shareholder Approvals” means the approval of those Transaction Proposals identified in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of ‎Section 8.2(b), at an Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and held for such purpose, in accordance with the CICL, the Governing Documents of Acquiror, and the NYSE rules and regulations.

 

“Acquiror Shareholders” means the shareholders of Acquiror as of immediately prior to the Domestication.

 

“Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(b).

 

“Acquiror Transaction Expenses” means, without duplication, all out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with Acquiror’s pursuit of an initial business combination, the negotiation, documentation and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including: (i) fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers (including any deferred underwriting fees incurred by Acquiror in connection with its initial public offering, and expenses incurred in connection with the A&R FPA), (ii) 50% of the filing fees payable to the Antitrust Authorities and SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) 50% of the fees incurred in connection with the PIPE Investment (or any Alternative PIPE Investment), (iv) amounts owing or that may become owed, payable or otherwise due, directly or indirectly, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees, costs and expenses related to the termination of any Working Capital Loans, and (v) such expenses detailed in (i) through (iv) incurred by Affiliates of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated herein. For the avoidance of doubt, Acquiror Transaction Expenses shall exclude Indebtedness (other than Working Capital Loans).

 

“Acquiror Units” means each unit of Acquiror, which (a) prior to the Domestication, consists of one share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and one-third of one Acquiror Public Warrant and (b) from and following the Domestication, consists of one share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and one-third of one Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrant.

 

“Acquiror Warrants” means (a) prior to the Domestication, the Acquiror Common Warrants and the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants and (b) from and following the Domestication, the Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants and Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrants.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “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.

 

“Affiliate Agreements” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.12(a)(vi).

 

“Aggregate Merger Consideration” means the Securities Merger Consideration and Cash Merger Consideration.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Agreement End Date” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 10.1(e).

 

“Alternative PIPE Investment” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 7.5(c).

 

“Alternative Subscription Agreement” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 7.5(c).

 

“Ancillary Agreements” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.10.

 

 

“Anti-Bribery Laws” means the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and all other applicable anti-corruption and bribery Laws (including the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or other Laws of other countries implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials).

 

“Antitrust Authorities” means the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Federal Trade Commission or the antitrust or competition Law authorities of any other jurisdiction (whether United States, foreign or multinational).

 

“Antitrust Information or Document Request” means any request or demand for the production, delivery or disclosure of documents or other evidence, or any request or demand for the production of witnesses for interviews or depositions or other oral or written testimony, by any Antitrust Authorities relating to the transactions contemplated hereby or by any third party challenging the transactions contemplated hereby, including any so called “second request” for additional information or documentary material or any civil investigative demand made or issued by any Antitrust Authority or any subpoena, interrogatory or deposition.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.8(a).

 

“Available Cash Amount” means the amount of cash available in the Trust Account at the Closing, (i) after deducting the amount required to satisfy the Acquiror Share Redemption Amount (but prior to payment of any unpaid Acquiror Transaction Expenses and unpaid Company Transaction Expenses, as contemplated by ‎Section 12.6), plus (ii) the PIPE Investment Amount to be received by Acquiror at the closing of the PIPE Investment or any Alternative PIPE Investment, plus (iii) the proceeds to be received by Acquiror at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the A&R FPA.

 

“Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in Article 1.1 of Acquiror’s Governing Documents as in effect on the date hereof.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Governmental Authorities in the Cayman Islands (for so long as Acquiror remains domiciled in Cayman Islands) are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. 116-136 Mar. 27, 2020 (or applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time).

 

“Cash Merger Consideration” means $387,500,000, less the sum (which sum, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not increase the Cash Merger Consideration above $387,500,000) of (i) any COVID Deferral Taxes, (ii) all accrued and unpaid income Tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending on the Closing Date for which Tax Returns either (a) are first due (with extension) after the Closing Date or (b) have been filed and reflect Tax liabilities that have not been paid in full to the applicable Governmental Authority, in each case, giving effect to (x) Transaction Tax Deductions allocated to any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending on the Closing Date, but only if supported by applicable Law at a “more likely than not” standard of comfort (as determined by Acquiror in good faith), and (y) prepayments or estimated payments of such Taxes; provided that, the net amount included under this clause (ii) may not be less than zero and (iii) any Miscellaneous Payments (the “Base Cash Merger Consideration”); provided that, if at the time of Closing, the Available Cash Amount does not meet or exceed the Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount, “Cash Merger Consideration” means the difference equal to (a) the Shortfall Adjustment, subtracted from (b) the Base Cash Merger Consideration.

 

“CICL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Closing” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.2.

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.2.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

 

“Company Awards” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.6(b).

 

“Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.13(a).

 

“Company Business Combination” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.6(a).

 

“Company Cure Period” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 10.1(f).

 

“Company D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.8(c).

 

“Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to ‎Article IV.

 

“Company Financing Certificate” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.4(d)(ii).

 

“Company Group” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.18(b).

 

“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, or occurrence, that, individually or when aggregated with other changes, events, or occurrences: (a) has had a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (b) is reasonably likely to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated herein; provided, however, that no change, event, occurrence or effect arising out of or related to any of the following, alone or in combination, shall be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect pursuant to clause (a) has occurred: (i) acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, military or para-military actions or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts, or changes in global, national or regional political or social conditions; (ii) earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, epidemics and pandemics declared by the World Health Organization or any other reputable third party organization (including the COVID-19 virus) or other natural or man-made disasters; (iii) changes attributable to the public announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated herein (including the impact thereof on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees or Governmental Authorities); provided that the exceptions in this clause (iii) shall not apply with respect to references to Company Material Adverse Effect in the representations and warranties contained in ‎Section 4.4 and other similar representations and warranties with respect to the effect of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the like (and in Sections ‎9.1 and ‎10.1 to the extent related to such representations); (iv) changes or proposed changes in Law, regulations or interpretations thereof or decisions by courts or any Governmental Authority first announced after the date of this Agreement; (v) changes or proposed changes in GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) first announced after the date of this Agreement; (vi) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial, capital or reinsurance markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates or the price of any security, market index or commodity), in each case, in the United States or anywhere else in the world; (vii) events or conditions generally affecting the industries and markets in which the Company operates; (viii) any failure to meet any projections, forecasts, estimates, budgets or financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position, provided that this clause (viii) shall not prevent a determination that any change, event, or occurrence underlying such failure (unless otherwise excluded by the other clauses of this proviso) has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ix) any actions expressly required to be taken, or expressly required not to be taken, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; or (x) any action taken by, or at the written request of, Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or any actions required to be taken by Law; provided, however, that if a change or effect related to clause (ii) or clauses (iv) through (vii) disproportionately adversely affects the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other Persons operating in the same industry as the Company and its Subsidiaries, then such disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

 

“Company Material Contract” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.12(a).

 

“Company Merger I” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Company Merger I Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.3(a).

 

“Company Merger I Effective Time” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.3(b).

 

“Company Merger II” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

 

“Company Merger II Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.3(a).

 

“Company Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.21(a).

 

“Company Shares” means has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.6(a).

 

“Company Stockholder” means Holley Parent Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Company Stockholder Approval” means the irrevocable approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Company Merger I and the transactions contemplated thereby, by the affirmative vote or written consent of the Company Stockholder, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Company’s Governing Documents and applicable Law.

 

“Company Transaction Expenses” means, without duplication, all out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or investigating, pursuing or contemplating any other change of control or consideration of any strategic alternative to the transactions contemplated hereby, including: (i) fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, (ii) change-in-control payments, transaction bonuses, retention payments, severance or similar compensatory payments payable to any current or former employee, consultant, independent contractor, officer, or director as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby (and not subject to any subsequent event or condition, such as a termination of employment), including the employer portion of payroll Taxes arising therefrom (including any employment Taxes deferred under any COVID-19 Response Law), (iii) 50% of the filing fees payable to the Antitrust Authorities and SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (iv) 50% of the fees incurred in connection with the PIPE Investment (or any Alternative PIPE Investment), (v) amounts owing or that may become owed, payable or otherwise due (whether or not accrued), directly or indirectly, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees, costs and expenses related to obtaining any consents required to be obtained hereunder, and (vi) such expenses detailed in (i) through (v) incurred by Affiliates of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated herein. For the avoidance of doubt, Company Transaction Expenses shall exclude (i) Indebtedness and (ii) any payments that are payable pursuant to an agreement or other arrangement entered into by or at the direction of Acquiror or its Affiliates.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.10.

 

“Contracts” means any legally binding contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, and purchase orders, and all ancillary agreements, amendments, modifications, and waivers thereto.

 

“Copyleft License” means any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of software subject to such license, that such software subject to such license, or other software incorporated into, derived from, or used or distributed with such software subject to such license (i) in the case of software, be made available or distributed in source code form, (ii) be licensed for the purpose of preparing derivative works, (iii) be licensed under terms that allow the Company’s or any Subsidiary of the Company’s products or portions thereof or interfaces therefor to be reverse engineered, reverse assembled or disassembled (other than by operation of Law) or (iv) be redistributable at no license fee. Copyleft Licenses include the GNU General Public License, the GNU Lesser General Public License, the Mozilla Public License, the Common Development and Distribution License, the Eclipse Public License and all Creative Commons “sharealike” licenses.

 

“COVID Deferral Taxes” means any Taxes (including unpaid “applicable employment taxes” (as defined in Section 2302(d)(i) of the CARES Act)) that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has deferred as of the Closing Date pursuant to any COVID-19 Response Law that remain unpaid as of the Closing Date.

 

“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any natural evolutions thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks thereof.

 

“COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, Governmental Order, action, or directive by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including any COVID-19 Response Law, in each case as applicable to the jurisdictions and industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries currently conducts its business.

 

 

“COVID-19 Response Law” means the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the CARES Act, the FFCRA, and any other similar, future, or additional federal, state, local, or non-U.S. law, or administrative guidance that addresses or is intended to benefit taxpayers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic downturn.

 

“D&O Persons” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.8(a).

 

“DE SOS” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.3(a).

 

“DGCL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Disclosure Letter” means, as applicable, the Company Disclosure Letter or the Acquiror Disclosure Letter.

 

“DLLCA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Dollars” or “$” means lawful money of the United States.

 

“Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrants” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Domesticated Acquiror Units” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Domestication” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Effective Time” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 2.3(b).

 

“Employment Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.

 

“Empower Funding” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Empower Group” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.18(a).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to Hazardous Materials, pollution, or the protection or management of the environment or natural resources, or protection of human health (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials).

 

“ERISA” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.13(a).

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any Affiliate or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with the Company would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

 

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

 

“Export Approvals” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.26(a).

 

“FFCRA” means the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Pub. L. No. 116-127 (116th Cong.) (Mar. 18, 2020), as amended.

 

“Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.8(a).

 

“Forward Purchase Agreement” means the Forward Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020, by and between Acquiror and Empower Funding.

 

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

 

“GDC” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.18(a).

 

“Governing Documents” means the legal document(s) by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a corporation are its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, the “Governing Documents” of a limited liability company are its operating agreement and certificate of formation and the “Governing Documents” of an exempted company are its memorandum and articles of association.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court or tribunal.

 

“Governmental Authorization” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.5.

 

“Governmental Order” means any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

“Hazardous Material” means any (i) pollutant, contaminant, chemical, (ii) industrial, solid, liquid or gaseous toxic or hazardous substance, material or waste, (iii) petroleum or any fraction or product thereof, (iv) asbestos or asbestos-containing material, (v) polychlorinated biphenyl, (vi) chlorofluorocarbons, (vii) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and (viii) other substance, material or waste, in each case, which are regulated under any Environmental Law or as to which liability may be imposed pursuant to Environmental Law.

 

“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Incentive Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(b).

  

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of (a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of all indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest and any per diem interest accruals, (b) the principal and interest components of capital or finance lease obligations under GAAP, (c) amounts drawn (including any accrued and unpaid interest) on letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances and other similar instruments (solely to the extent such amounts have actually been drawn), (d) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes and similar instruments, (e) the termination value of interest rate protection agreements and currency obligation swaps, hedges or similar arrangements (without duplication of other indebtedness supported or guaranteed thereby), (f) the principal component of all obligations to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property and equipment which have been delivered, including “earn outs” and “seller notes,” (g) breakage costs, prepayment or early termination premiums, penalties, or other fees or expenses payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in respect of any of the items in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), and (h) all Indebtedness of another Person referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above guaranteed directly or indirectly, jointly or severally.

 

“Insurance Policies” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.17.

 

“Intellectual Property” means any rights in or to the following, throughout the world, including all U.S. and foreign: (i) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions, and extensions thereof; (ii) registered and unregistered trademarks, logos, service marks, trade dress and trade names, slogans, pending applications therefor, and internet domain names and social media accounts and handles, together with the goodwill of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses symbolized by or associated with any of the foregoing; (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights, and applications for registration of copyright, including such corresponding rights in software and other works of authorship; and (iv) trade secrets, know-how, processes, customer lists, business plans, databases, data compilations and other confidential information or proprietary rights.

 

 

“Interim Period” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 6.1.

 

“International Trade Laws” means all Laws relating to the import, export, re-export, deemed export, deemed re-export, or transfer of information, data, goods, and technology, including the Export Administration Regulations administered by the United States Department of Commerce, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations administered by the United States Department of State, customs and import Laws administered by United States Customs and Border Protection, any other export or import controls administered by an agency of the United States government, the anti-boycott regulations administered by the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of the Treasury, and other Laws adopted by Governmental Authorities of other countries relating to the same subject matter as the United States Laws described above.

 

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

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“JOBS Act” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.6(a).

 

“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, principle of common law, regulation or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority.

 

“Leased Real Property” means all real property leased, licensed, subleased or otherwise used or occupied by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Legal Proceedings” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.10.

 

“License” means any franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, consent, certificate, approval, order, waiver, registration, or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority.

 

“Lien” means all liens, mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, hypothecations, encumbrances, security interests, adverse claims, options, restrictions, claims or other liens of any kind whether consensual, statutory or otherwise (excluding licenses of Intellectual Property).

 

“Merger Sub I” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Merger Sub II” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Mergers” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount” means $540,000,000.00.

 

“Minimum PIPE Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.17.

 

“Miscellaneous Payments” means the payments set forth on Section 1.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

“Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(b).

 

“Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.13(c).

 

“NYSE” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.6(c).

 

“Offer Documents” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Open Source License” means any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative) or the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation), or any substantially similar license, including any license approved by the Open Source Initiative or any creative commons license. “Open Source Licenses” shall include Copyleft Licenses.

 

“Owned Real Property” means all real property owned in fee simple by the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries.

 

 

“Payoff Amount” means outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount of $100,000,000.

 

“Permitted Acquisitions” means the transactions set forth on Section 1.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter substantially in accordance with the terms described thereon.

 

“Permitted Liens” means (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to any amounts (A) not yet due and payable or (B) which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) Liens for Taxes (A) not yet due and payable or (B) which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (iii) defects or imperfections of title, easements, encroachments, covenants, rights-of-way, conditions, matters that would be apparent from a physical inspection or current, accurate survey of such real property, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances that do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the value or materially interfere with the present use of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, (iv) with respect to any Leased Real Property (A) the interests and rights of the respective lessors with respect thereto, including any statutory landlord liens and any Lien thereon and (B) any Liens encumbering the underlying fee title of the real property of which the Leased Real Property is a part, (v) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by any Governmental Authority that do not, in the aggregate, materially interfere with the current use of, or materially impair the value of, the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, (vi) ordinary course purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments under operating or capital lease arrangements for amounts not yet due or payable, (vii) other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security, (viii) reversionary rights in favor of landlords under any Real Property Leases with respect to any of the buildings or other improvements owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ix) Liens that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect, or materially disrupt, the ordinary course operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or instrumentality or other entity of any kind.

 

“PIPE Investment” means the purchase of shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.

 

“PIPE Investment Amount” means the aggregate gross purchase price received by Acquiror upon the closing of the PIPE Investment or any Alternative PIPE Investment.

 

“PIPE Investors” means those certain investors participating in the PIPE Investment pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.

 

“Privacy Laws” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.22(a).

 

“Prospectus” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.1.

 

“Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Proxy Statement/Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Purchaser Payments” has the meaning set forth in ‎Section 6.8.

 

“Q1 Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 6.3(b).

 

“Q1 Staleness Deadline” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 6.3(b).

 

“Real Property Leases” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.20(a)(ii).

 

“Qualified Health Plan Expenses” has the meaning specified in Section 4.15(p).

 

“Qualified Leave Wages” has the meaning specified in Section 4.15(p).

 

“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

 

“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-4, or other appropriate form, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, to be filed with the SEC by Acquiror under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration Statement Securities.

 

“Registration Statement Securities” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Release” means any actual or threatened release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

“Representatives” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.6(a).

 

“Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions Laws (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

“Sanctioned Person” means (i) any Person identified in any sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by (a) the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, or the United States Department of State; (b) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom; (c) any committee of the United Nations Security Council; or (d) the European Union; (ii) any Person located, organized, or resident in, organized in, or a Governmental Authority or government instrumentality of, any Sanctioned Country; and (iii) any Person directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting for the benefit or on behalf of, a Person described in clause (i) or (ii), either individually or in the aggregate.

 

“Sanctions Laws” means those trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws administered, enacted or enforced from time to time by (i) the United States (including the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), (ii) the European Union and enforced by its member states, (iii) the United Nations, or (iv) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Securities Merger Consideration” means a number of shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) $577,500,000, by (ii) $10.00; provided that, if at the time of Closing, the Available Cash Amount does not meet or exceed the Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount, “Securities Merger Consideration” shall mean a number of shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by (x) first adding (A) $577,500,000 plus (B) the Shortfall Adjustment, then dividing such sum by (y) $10.00.

 

“Seller Lock-Up Agreement” in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Sentinel Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(a)(iv).

 

“Shortfall Adjustment” means the difference obtained by subtracting (a) Available Cash Amount, from (b) the Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount.

 

“Sponsor” means Empower Sponsor Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Sponsor Agreement” means that certain Sponsor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Sponsor, Acquiror and the Company, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

“Stockholders’ Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Subscription Agreements” means the subscription agreements pursuant to which the PIPE Investment will be consummated.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person, of which an amount of the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first Person. For the purposes hereof, the term Subsidiary shall include all Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary.

 

 

“Subsidiary Awards” has the meaning set forth in ‎Section 4.7(c).

 

“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, statement, information statement or other document filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority (or provided to any payee) with respect to Taxes, including any claims for refunds of Taxes, any information returns and any schedules, attachments, amendments or supplements of any of the foregoing.

 

“Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority, including all income, gross receipts, license, payroll, recapture, net worth, employment, escheat and unclaimed property obligations, excise, severance, escheat, unclaimed property, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, ad valorem, value added, inventory, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, governmental charges, duties, levies and other similar charges imposed by a Governmental Authority in the nature of a tax, alternative or add-on minimum, or estimated taxes (in each case, whether imposed directly or through withholding and whether or not disputed), and including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto.

 

“Terminating Acquiror Breach” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 10.1(g).

 

“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 10.1(f).

 

“Title IV Plan” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.13(c).

 

“Top Customers” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.28.

 

“Top Vendors” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 4.28.

 

“Transaction Proposals” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 8.2(b).

 

“Transaction Tax Deductions” means the sum of (a) any change-in-control payments, transaction bonuses, retention payments, severance or similar compensatory payments payable to any current or former employee, consultant, independent contractor, officer, or director as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the employer portion of payroll Taxes arising therefrom (including any employment Taxes deferred under any COVID-19 Response Law), in each case, to the extent included in the calculation of Company Transaction Expenses, (b) any and all deductible amounts arising in connection with the retirement of Indebtedness as contemplated by this Agreement, and (c) any and all other deductible payments included in the calculation of Company Transaction Expenses. The parties agree to make the election to apply Rev. Proc. 2011-29 and that seventy percent (70%) of any Miscellaneous Payments shall be deductible under Rev. Proc. 2011-29 and shall be a Transaction Tax Deduction.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Department of the Treasury (whether in final, proposed or temporary form), as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

“Trust Account” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.1.

 

“Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.8.

 

“Trust Termination Letter” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 7.2.

 

“Trustee” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 5.8.

 

“Waived 280G Benefits” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 6.8.

 

“WARN Act” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended, or any similar or related Law.

 

 

“Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2020, between Acquiror and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

“Willkie” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 12.18(b).

 

“Working Capital Loans” means any loan made to Acquiror by any of the Sponsor, an Affiliate of the Sponsor, or any of Acquiror’s officers or directors, and evidenced by a promissory note, for the purpose of financing costs incurred in connection with a Business Combination.

 

“Written Consent” has the meaning specified in ‎Section 6.6.

 

Section 1.2. Construction.

 

(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” means “including, without limitation”; and (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive.

 

(b) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

(c) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.

 

(d) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

(e) The term “actual fraud” means, with respect to a party to this Agreement, an actual and intentional fraud with respect to the making of the representations and warranties pursuant to ‎Article IV or ‎Article V (as applicable), provided that such actual and intentional fraud of such Person shall only be deemed to exist if any of the individuals included on ‎Section 1.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter (in the case of the Company) or ‎Section 1.3 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (in the case of Acquiror) had actual knowledge (as opposed to imputed or constructive knowledge) that the representations and warranties made by such Person pursuant to, in the case of the Company, ‎Article IV as qualified by the Company Disclosure Letter, or, in the case of Acquiror, ‎Article V as qualified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, were actually breached when made, with the express intention that the other party to this Agreement rely thereon to its detriment.

 

(f)  Any actions reasonably taken in good faith (or reasonably omitted to be taken in good faith) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of or in response to COVID-19 Measures shall be deemed to be in the ordinary course of business and all references to the “ordinary course of business” or “ordinary course of business consistent with past practice”, in each case of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in this Agreement, shall be interpreted and qualified accordingly.

 

Section 1.3. Knowledge. As used herein, (i) the phrase “to the knowledge” of the Company means the knowledge of the individuals identified on ‎Section 1.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (ii) the phrase “to the knowledge” of Acquiror means the knowledge of the individuals identified on ‎Section 1.3 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, in each case, as such individuals would have acquired after reasonable inquiry of such individual’s direct reports.

 

 

Article II
THE MERGERS; CLOSING

 

Section 2.1. The Mergers.

 

(a) Company Merger I. In accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA, immediately following the Domestication and before the Effective Time (as defined below), the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub I, whereupon the separate existence of Merger Sub I will cease, and the Company will survive the merger. Company Merger I shall have the effects provided in this Agreement and as specified in the DGCL and DLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Company Merger I Effective Time, the Company will possess all properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Merger Sub I and the Company, and all of the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of Merger Sub I and the Company will become the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Company.

 

(b) Company Merger II. In accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA, immediately following Company Merger I, the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub II, whereupon the separate existence of the Company will cease, and Merger Sub II will survive the merger. Company Merger II shall have the effects provided in this Agreement and as specified in the DGCL and DLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, Merger Sub II will possess all properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub II, and all of the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of the Company and Merger Sub II will become the claims, obligations, liabilities, debts and duties of Merger Sub II.

 

Section 2.2. Closing. In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 200 Park Ave, New York, NY 10166, at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date which is two (2) Business Days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in ‎Article IX shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof) or such other time and place as Acquiror and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

 

Section 2.3. Effective Times.

 

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and the Company shall: (i) cause a certificate of merger with respect to Company Merger I (the “Company Merger I Certificate of Merger”) to be duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “DE SOS”) in accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA; and (ii) immediately after filing the Company Merger I Certificate of Merger, cause a certificate of merger with respect to Company Merger II (the “Company Merger II Certificate of Merger”) to be filed with the DE SOS in accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA.

 

(b) Company Merger I shall become effective at such time as the Company Merger I Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the DE SOS or as specified in the Company Merger I Certificate of Merger (such time Company Merger I is effective, the “Company Merger I Effective Time”). Company Merger II shall become effective at such time as the Company Merger II Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the DE SOS or as specified in the Company Merger II Certificate of Merger (such time Company Merger II is effective, the “Effective Time”).

 

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, the Closing and the Effective Time shall occur after the completion of the Domestication and Company Merger I.

 

 

Section 2.4. Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i)  to Acquiror, a certificate signed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in ‎Section 9.2(a), ‎Section 9.2(b) and ‎Section 9.2(c) have been fulfilled;

 

(ii) to Acquiror, the written resignations of all of the directors of the Company (other than any such Persons identified as initial directors of Merger Sub II, in accordance with ‎Section 2.6), effective as of the Effective Time;

 

(iii) to Acquiror, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company Stockholder;

 

(iv)  to Acquiror, the Stockholders’ Agreement, duly executed by the Company Stockholder; and

 

(v) to Acquiror, a certificate on behalf of the Company, prepared in a manner consistent and in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(g) and (h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that no interest in the Company is, or has been during the relevant period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “U.S. real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code, and a form of notice to the Internal Revenue Service prepared in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2).

 

(b) At the Closing, Acquiror will deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i)  [Intentionally Omitted];

 

(ii) to the Company, a certificate signed by an officer of Acquiror, dated the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in ‎Section 9.3(a), ‎Section 9.3(b) and ‎Section 9.3(c) have been fulfilled;

 

(iii) to the Company, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by duly authorized representatives of Acquiror and the Sponsor; and

 

(iv)  to the Company, the written resignations of all of the directors and officers of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II (other than those Persons identified as the directors and officers, of Acquiror after the Domestication, in accordance with ‎Section 2.6, ‎Section 7.6, and as otherwise agreed between the parties), effective as of the Effective Time.

 

(c) On the Closing Date, substantially concurrent with the Company Merger I Effective Time but prior to payment of the Aggregate Merger Consideration, Acquiror shall pay or reimburse or cause to be paid or reimbursed by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the following order (i) the Payoff Amount, (ii) all accrued and unpaid Acquiror Transaction Expenses and (iii) all accrued and unpaid Company Transaction Expenses.

 

(d) Closing Financing Certificates.

 

(i)  Not more than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, Acquiror shall deliver to the Company a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer, solely in such capacity and not in its personal capacity (the “Acquiror Financing Certificate”) setting forth (A) the Acquiror Share Amount and the Acquiror Share Redemption Amount, (B) the unpaid Acquiror Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date, which shall include the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, together with corresponding invoices for the foregoing, (C) the PIPE Investment Amount to be received by Acquiror at the closing of the PIPE Investment or any Alternative PIPE Investment and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, (D) the expected proceeds to be received by Acquiror at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the A&R FPA and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, (E) the amount of the Cash Merger Consideration, (F) the Securities Merger Consideration, and (G) the amount of cash available in the Trust Account at the Closing and corresponding Available Cash Amount calculation.

 

 

(ii) Not more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer, solely in such capacity and not in its personal capacity (the “Company Financing Certificate”), setting forth (A) the amount of unpaid Company Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date, which shall include the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, together with corresponding invoices for the foregoing; (B) any COVID Deferral Taxes, (C) all accrued and unpaid income Tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending on the Closing Date for which Tax Returns (a) are first due (with extension) after the Closing Date or (b) have been filed and reflect Tax liabilities that have not been paid in full to the applicable Governmental Authority, in each case, giving effect to (x) any Transaction Tax Deductions allocated to any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending on the Closing Date, but only if supported by applicable Law at a “more likely than not” standard of comfort (as determined by Acquiror in good faith), and (y) any prepayments or estimated payments of such Taxes and (D) any Miscellaneous Payments.

 

(iii) Each of the financing certificates delivered pursuant to this ‎Section 2.4(d) will confirm in writing that it has been prepared in good faith using the latest available financial information and will include materials showing in reasonable detail the support and computations for the amounts included therein. Each of Acquiror and the Company shall be entitled to review and make reasonable comments on the matters and amounts set forth in the other’s financing certificate so delivered. Each of Acquiror and the Company will cooperate in the other’s review of the delivered financing certificate, including providing the other and its Representatives with reasonable access to the relevant books, records and finance employees. Each of Acquiror and the Company will cooperate reasonably to revise the financing certificates to reflect the other’s reasonable comments; provided that the Company shall make the final determination of the amounts included in the Company Financing Certificate and Acquiror shall make the final determination of the amounts included in the Acquiror Financing Certificate.

 

Section 2.5. Governing Documents.

 

(a) Company Merger I. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Company Merger I Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the surviving company until thereafter amended as provided therein and under the DGCL.

 

(b) Company Merger II. The certificate of formation and operating agreement of Merger Sub II in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of formation and operating agreement of the surviving Merger Sub II until thereafter amended as provided therein and under the DLLCA.

 

Section 2.6. Directors and Officers.

 

(a) Company Merger I. The directors and officers set forth on ‎Section 2.6(a) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter shall be the directors and officers of the Company following the Company Merger I Effective Time until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with applicable Law and the Governing Documents of the Company or their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

(b) Company Merger II. The officers set forth on ‎Section 2.6(b) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter shall be the officers of Merger Sub II following the Effective Time until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with applicable Law and the Governing Documents of Merger Sub II or their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

 

Section 2.7. Tax Free Reorganization Matters. The parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) the Domestication will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations to which Acquiror is to be party under Section 368(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, and (ii) the Mergers, taken together, constitute an integrated plan that will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations to which each of Acquiror and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, and in each case, this Agreement is intended to be, and is adopted as, a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 354, 361 and 368 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g). None of the parties has taken or will take any action or has knowingly failed or will fail to take any action, if such fact, circumstance or action would be reasonably expected to cause the Mergers to fail to qualify as reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations. The Mergers shall be reported by the parties for all Tax purposes in accordance with the foregoing, unless otherwise required by a Governmental Authority as a result of a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. The parties shall cooperate with each other and their respective counsel to document and support the Tax treatment of each of the Mergers as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

Article III
EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS

 

Section 3.1. Conversion of Securities.

 

(a) Treatment of Company Shares. At the Company Merger I Effective Time, by virtue of Company Merger I and without any action on the part of any holder of Company Shares (i) each Company Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger I Effective Time shall be canceled and converted into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration (subject to the immediately following sentence) and (ii) any Company Share held in the treasury of the Company shall be canceled as part of Company Merger I and shall not constitute “Company Shares” hereunder. The Company Stockholder will be permitted, by written notice to Acquiror in a form substantially identical to Exhibit F delivered at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, to designate specific, identifiable blocks of Company Shares and allocate the equity and cash components of its Aggregate Merger Consideration among such blocks.

 

(b) Treatment of Merger Sub I Common Stock. At the Company Merger I Effective Time, each share of common stock of Merger Sub I issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger I Effective Time will be cancelled and retired and automatically converted into and exchanged for one (1) duly authorized, fully paid, non-assessable and validly issued share of the Company and will constitute the only outstanding equity interest of the Company following Company Merger I.

 

(c) Treatment of Merger Sub II Units. At the Effective Time, each share of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and retired and automatically converted into and exchanged for one (1) validly issued unit of Merger Sub II and will constitute the only outstanding units of Merger Sub II following Company Merger II.

 

(d) No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the transactions contemplated herein; any such fractional share of Acquiror Common Stock shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

 

Section 3.2. Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision to this Agreement, Acquiror and the Company, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount payable pursuant to this Agreement such Taxes that are required to be deducted and withheld from such amounts under the Code or any other applicable Law (as reasonably determined by Acquiror or the Company, respectively); provided, that other than with respect to withholding Taxes with respect to any employment compensation payment or to the extent any deduction or withholding is a result of a failure to timely deliver the certificate and notice described in Section 2.4(a)(v), Acquiror will, prior to any deduction or withholding, (a) notify the Company of any anticipated withholding and (b) reasonably cooperate with the Company to minimize the amount of any applicable withholding. To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be (i) timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (ii) treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

 

Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II by the Company on the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (each section of which, subject to ‎Section 12.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this ‎Article IV), the Company represents and warrants to Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II as follows:

 

Section 4.1. Company Organization. The Company has been duly formed or organized and is validly existing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The Governing Documents of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement and as previously made available by or on behalf of the Company to Acquiror, are true, correct and complete. The Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.2. Subsidiaries. A complete list of each Subsidiary of the Company and its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, is set forth on ‎Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter. The Subsidiaries of the Company have been duly formed or organized and are validly existing under the Laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and have the requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate all of their respective properties and assets and to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not have, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Other than the Company Subsidiaries set forth on ‎Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no other Persons in which the Company directly or indirectly owns, of record or beneficially, any direct or indirect capital stock or other equity interest or any right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire the same, nor is the Company directly or indirectly a member of or participant in any partnership, joint venture or similar arrangement. True, correct and complete copies of the Governing Documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries, in each case, as amended to the date of this Agreement, have been previously made available to Acquiror by or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 4.3. Due Authorization.

 

(a) Other than the Company Stockholder Approval, the Company has all requisite corporate power, as applicable, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other documents to which it is a party contemplated hereby and (subject to the approvals described in ‎Section 4.5) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform all of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved, and no other company or proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been and, on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the other Parties, this Agreement constitutes and on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

 

(b) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has duly adopted a written consent or resolutions (i) determining that this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company Stockholder, as applicable, and (ii) authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. No other action or proceeding is required on the part of the Company or any of the Company Stockholder to enter into this Agreement or the documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby or to approve Company Merger I other than the Company Stockholder Approval.

 

Section 4.4. No Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in ‎Section 4.5 and except as set forth on ‎Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the documents to which the Company is a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under the Governing Documents of the Company, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under any applicable Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (c) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, result in the loss of any right or benefit, or cause acceleration, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any Contract of the type described in ‎Section 4.12(a) to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such foregoing Contract or (d) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.5. Governmental Authorities; Consents. Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter, assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement, no franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, consent, certificate, approval, order, waiver, or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority (each, a “Governmental Authorization”) is required on the part of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Company’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) applicable requirements of the HSR Act; (ii) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or blue sky laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and appropriate documents received from or filed with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which the Company is licensed or qualified to do business; (iii) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) the filing of the Company Merger I Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA.

 

Section 4.6. Capitalization of the Company.

 

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Company Shares”), and there are no other authorized equity interests of the Company that are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding Company Shares (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, and all requirements set forth in (A) the Governing Documents of the Company and (B) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of the Company or any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens. All Company Shares are in uncertificated, book-entry form. The Company Stockholder owns all of the issued and outstanding Company Shares.

 

 

(b) Except as otherwise set forth in ‎Section 4.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not granted any outstanding subscriptions, options, stock appreciation rights, phantom units, incentive units, warrants, rights, equity-based awards or other securities (including debt securities) convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Shares, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests of the Company or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other equity interests of the Company (collectively, “Company Awards”), and there are no voting trusts, registration rights, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Shares.

 

(c) Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Award as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, accelerates or otherwise becomes triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).

 

Section 4.7. Capitalization of Subsidiaries.

 

(a) The outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are, to the extent applicable, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law and all requirements set forth in (A) the Governing Documents of each such Subsidiary, and (B) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of each such Subsidiary or any Contract to which each such Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(b) The Company owns of record and beneficially all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests of such Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(c) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, phantom units incentive units, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) exercisable or exchangeable for any capital stock of such Subsidiaries, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests of such Subsidiaries or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other equity interests of the Subsidiaries (collectively, “Subsidiary Awards”), and there are no voting trusts, registration rights, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock.

 

(d) Except as set forth in this ‎Section 4.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Subsidiary Award as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, accelerates or otherwise becomes triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).

 

Section 4.8. Financial Statements.

 

(a) Attached as ‎Section 4.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter are: true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, retained earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, together with the notes and schedules thereto and auditor’s reports thereon (the “Audited Financial Statements” and, together with the Q1 Financial Statements and 2020 Financial Statements, when delivered pursuant to ‎Section 6.3 as applicable, the “Financial Statements”).

 

 

(b) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Audited Financial Statements and, when delivered pursuant to ‎Section 6.3, the Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof, and the consolidated results of their operations, their consolidated incomes, their consolidated changes in unitholders’ equity (only with respect to the Audited Financial Statements) and their consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Q1 Financial Statements, to normal, recurring or immaterial year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of the Q1 Financial Statements, the absence of footnotes or the inclusion of limited footnotes), (iii) were prepared from, and are in accordance in all material respects with, the books and records of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) when delivered by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement for filing with the SEC following the date of this Agreement in accordance with ‎Section 6.3, will comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant, in effect as of the respective dates thereof.

 

(c) The Company (including, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee thereof) has not identified or been made aware of, and any independent auditor of the Company has not identified in writing to the Company, (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by the Company, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.

 

(d) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability.

 

(e) All accounts payable and notes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries to third parties reflected on the most recent balance sheet have arisen in bona fide arm’s-length transactions in the ordinary course of business and no such account payable or note payable is delinquent more than 90 days in its payment.

 

(f)  The inventories of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, whether reflected on the most recent balance sheet or subsequently acquired, unless reserved against on the most recent balance sheet, are of a quality and quantity usable and/or salable in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices.

 

Section 4.9. Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no other liability, debt (including Indebtedness) or obligation of, or claim or judgment against, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due), except for liabilities, debts, obligations, claims or judgments (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (c) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

Section 4.10. Litigation and Proceedings. Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, (a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, lawsuits, actions, suits, judgments, claims, arbitration or any other proceedings (including any audit, examination, assessment, investigation or inquiry or request for information initiated, pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority), or other proceedings at law or in equity (collectively, “Legal Proceedings”), against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets; and (b) there is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries; nor are any properties or assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ respective businesses bound or subject to any Governmental Order, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole

 

 

Section 4.11. Legal Compliance.

 

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and for past three (3) years has been, in compliance with all applicable Laws in all respects, except in each case, where such noncompliance with Law would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b) For the past three (3) years, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or any written allegation of a violation or potential violation of any Laws, except where such violation or potential violation has not been material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a program of policies, procedures and internal controls reasonably designed and implemented to provide reasonable assurance that violation of applicable Law by any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees or its or their respective agents, representatives or other Persons, acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, will be prevented, detected and deterred.

 

Section 4.12. Contracts; No Defaults.

 

(a) ‎Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Company Material Contract (as defined below) that is in effect as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Contract” means the following Contracts with the Company or Company Subsidiary (or which the Company or a Company Subsidiary is otherwise bound), whether or not listed on the Company Disclosure Letter. True, correct and complete copies of the Company Material Contracts listed on ‎Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter have previously been delivered to or made available to Acquiror or its agents or representatives:

 

(i)  Any material Contract with any of the Top Vendors;

 

(ii) Any material Contract with any of the Top Customers;

 

(iii) Each note, debenture or other evidence of Indebtedness or other Contract for money borrowed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, including any other agreement or commitment for future loans, credit or financing, in each case, in excess of $1,000,000;

 

(iv)  Each Real Property Lease, or lease, rental or occupancy agreement, license, installment and conditional sale agreement, or other Contract that provides for the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property that involves aggregate payments in excess of $500,000 in any calendar year, other than Contracts for the purchase or sale of the Owned Real Properties;

 

(v) Each Contract involving the formation of a (A) joint venture, (B) partnership, or (C) limited liability company (excluding, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(vi)  Contracts (other than employment agreements, employee confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, equity or incentive equity documents and Governing Documents) between the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Affiliates of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), the officers, directors and managers (or equivalents) of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, or any employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or a member of the immediate family of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (collectively, “Affiliate Agreements”);

 

 

(vii) Contracts containing covenants of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (A) prohibiting or limiting the right of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to engage in or compete with any Person in any line of business or (B) prohibiting or restricting the Company’s and the Company’s Subsidiaries’ ability to conduct their business with any Person in any geographic area;

 

(viii) Any collective bargaining (or similar) agreement or Contract between the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any labor union or other body representing employees of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, on the other hand;

 

(ix)  Each Contract (including license agreements, coexistence agreements, and covenants not to sue, but not including non-disclosure agreements, contractor services agreements, consulting services agreements, trademark licenses ancillary to marketing, printing, promotional or advertising Contracts) pursuant to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (A) grants to a third Person the right to use material Intellectual Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (B) is granted by a third Person the right to use Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Contracts granting nonexclusive rights to use commercially available off-the-shelf software or cloud software services, and Open Source Licenses), taken as a whole;

 

(x) Each Contract requiring capital expenditures by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement in an amount in excess of $500,000 in any calendar year;

 

(xi)  Any Contract that (A) grants to any third Person any “most favored nation rights” or (B) grants to any third Person price guarantees for a period greater than one (1) year from the date of this Agreement and requires aggregate future payments to the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 in any calendar year;

 

(xii) Any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract with any Governmental Authority;

 

(xiii) Any Contract for the disposition of any portion of the assets or business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with a value in excess of $2,500,000 or for the acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the assets or business of any other Person with a value in excess of $2,500,000 (other than purchases of inventory or services in the ordinary course of business) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any material continuing monetary obligations, including with respect to an “earn-out”, contingent purchase price or other contingent or deferred payment obligation;

 

(xiv) Contracts granting to any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) a right of first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire equity interests in the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries; and

 

(xv) Any outstanding written commitment to enter into any Contract of the type described in subsections ‎(i) through ‎(xiv) of this ‎Section 4.12(a).

 

(b) Except for any Company Material Contract that will terminate upon the expiration of the stated term thereof prior to the Closing Date, all of the Company Material Contracts listed pursuant to ‎Section 4.12(a) in the Company Disclosure Letter are (i) in full force and effect and (ii) represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto, except, in each case to the extent that any consents set forth in ‎Section 4.4 and ‎Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter are not obtained.

 

(c) Except, in each case, where the occurrence of such breach or default or failure to perform would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (x) the Company and its Subsidiaries have performed in all material respects all respective obligations required to be performed by them to date under such Company Material Contracts listed pursuant to ‎Section 4.12(a) and neither the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under any such Company Material Contract and to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default under any such Company Material Contract by the Company or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both).

 

 

Section 4.13. Company Benefit Plans.

 

(a) ‎Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list, as of the date hereof, of each material Company Benefit Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Company Benefit Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or any other plan, policy, program or agreement (including any employment, bonus, incentive or deferred compensation, employee loan, note or pledge agreement, equity or equity-based compensation, severance, retention, supplemental retirement, change in control or similar plan, policy, program or agreement) providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, individual consultant, or employee, which are maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, or to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a party or has or may have any liability, and in each case whether or not (i) subject to the Laws of the United States, (ii) in writing or (iii) funded, but excluding in each case any statutory plan, program or arrangement that is required under applicable Law. With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan, the Company has made available to Acquiror, to the extent applicable, true, complete and correct copies of (A) such Company Benefit Plan (or, if not written a written summary of its material terms) and all plan documents, trust agreements, insurance Contracts or other funding vehicles and all amendments thereto), (B) the most recent summary plan descriptions, including any summary of material modifications, (C) the most recent annual reports (Form 5500 series) filed with the IRS with respect to such Company Benefit Plan, (D) the most recent actuarial report or other financial statement relating to such Company Benefit Plan, and (E) the most recent determination or opinion letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Company Benefit Plan and any pending request for such a determination letter.

 

(b) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) each Company Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code; (ii) in all material respects, all contributions required to be made with respect to any Company Benefit Plan on or before the date hereof have been made and all obligations in respect of each Company Benefit Plan as of the date hereof have been accrued and reflected in the Company’s financial statements to the extent required by GAAP; (iii) each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS as to its qualification or may rely upon an opinion letter for a prototype plan and, to the knowledge of the Company, no fact or event has occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.13(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Benefit Plan is a multiemployer pension plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) (a “Multiemployer Plan”) or a pension plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (“Title IV Plan”) or Section 412 of the Code, and neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan or Title IV Plan. Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has within the six (6) year period immediately preceding the date hereof incurred any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA that has not been fully satisfied.

 

(d) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, no material actions, suits or claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such actions, suits or claims.

 

(e) No Company Benefit Plan provides welfare benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of the Company or any Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by applicable Law.

 

(f)  Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.13(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee, officer or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to any severance pay or any other compensation or benefits payable or to be provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any such employee, officer or other individual service provider by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) accelerate the vesting and/or settlement of any Company Award. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, either alone or in combination with another event, result in any “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. No Company Benefit Plan provides for a Tax gross-up, make whole or similar payment with respect to the Taxes imposed under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.

 

 

Section 4.14. Labor Relations; Employees.

 

(a) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, or any similar agreement, (ii) no such agreement is being negotiated by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, and (iii) no labor union or any other employee representative body has requested or, to the knowledge of the Company, has sought to represent any of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no labor organization activity involving any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In the past three (3) years, there has been no actual or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout or other material labor dispute against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been for the past three (3) years, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting labor and employment including, all Laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, health and safety, wages and hours, holiday pay and the calculation of holiday pay, working time, employee classification (with respect to both exempt vs. non-exempt status and employee vs. independent contractor and worker status), child labor, immigration, employment discrimination, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity and equal pay, plant closures and layoffs, affirmative action, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues and unemployment insurance, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(c) In the past three (3) years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received (i) notice of any unfair labor practice charge or material complaint pending or threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any other Governmental Authority against them, (ii) notice of any complaints, grievances or arbitrations arising out of any collective bargaining agreement or any other complaints, grievances or arbitration procedures against them, (iii) notice of any material charge or complaint with respect to or relating to them pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other Governmental Authority responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices, (iv) notice of the intent of any Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor, employment, wages and hours of work, child labor, immigration, or occupational safety and health Laws to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to them or notice that such investigation is in progress, or (v) notice of any complaint, lawsuit or other proceeding pending or threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee of such entities, any applicant for employment or classes of the foregoing alleging breach of any express or implied Contract of employment, any applicable Law governing employment or the termination thereof or other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship.

 

(d) To the knowledge of the Company, no present or former employee, worker or independent contractor of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ is in material violation of (i) any restrictive covenant, nondisclosure obligation or fiduciary duty to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or (ii) any restrictive covenant or nondisclosure obligation to a former employer or engager of any such individual relating to the right of any such individual to work for or provide services to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

(e) Neither the Company nor any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is party to a settlement agreement entered into within the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date hereof with a current or former officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries that involves allegations relating to sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination by either (i) an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) an employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries at the level of Vice President or above. To the knowledge of the Company, in the last three (3) years, no allegations of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination have been made against (i) an officer of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or (ii) an employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries at the level of Vice President or above.

 

 

(f)  Between the period commencing on January 1, 2020 through the date hereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in layoffs, furloughs, employment terminations (other than for cause) or effected any broad-based salary or other compensation or benefits reductions, in each case, triggering the notice requirements under the WARN Act.

 

Section 4.15. Taxes.

 

(a) All income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account any applicable extensions), all such Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and accurate in all material respects and all material Taxes due and payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid, other than Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment of stamp duties, the reporting and payment of sales, use, ad valorem and value added Taxes and related record retention (including to the extent necessary to claim any exemption from sales Tax collection and maintaining adequate and current resale certificates to support any such claimed exemptions).

 

(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have withheld from amounts owing to any employee, creditor or other Person all material Taxes required by Law to be withheld, paid over to the proper Governmental Authority in a timely manner all such withheld amounts required to have been so paid over and complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.

 

(c) There are no Liens for any material Taxes (other than Taxes described in clause (ii) of the definition of Permitted Liens) upon the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(d) No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Governmental Authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that remains unresolved or unpaid except for claims, assessments, deficiencies or proposed adjustments being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

(e) There are no Tax audits or other examinations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries presently in progress, and there are no waivers, extensions or requests for any waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to any Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(f)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made a request for an advance tax ruling, request for technical advice, a request for a change of any method of accounting or any similar request that is in progress or pending with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes.

 

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax indemnification or Tax sharing or similar agreement (other than any such agreement solely between the Company and its existing Subsidiaries and customary commercial Contracts not primarily related to Taxes).

 

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any transaction treated by the parties as a distribution of stock qualifying for Tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(i)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is liable for Taxes of any other Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law or as a transferee or successor or by Contract (other than customary commercial Contracts not primarily related to Taxes) or (ii) has ever been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes, other than a group the common parent of which was or is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(j)  No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction, which claim remains unresolved.

 

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, or has ever had, a permanent establishment in any country other than the country of its organization.

 

(l)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.6011-4(b)(2).

 

(m)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any amount in taxable income, exclude any item of deduction or loss from taxable income, for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) installment sale, excess loss account or deferred intercompany transaction described in the Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (ii) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue recognized prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (iii) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) “closing agreements” described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) executed prior to the Closing, or (v) by reason of Section 965(a) of the Code or election pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), or (vi) deferral of any payment of Taxes otherwise due (including through any automatic extension or other grant of relief provided by any COVID-19 Response Law), and to the knowledge of the Company, the IRS has not proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting method.

 

(n) The Company has not been, is not, and immediately prior to the Effective Time will not be, treated as an “investment company” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F) of the Code.

 

(o) The Company has not taken any action, nor, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, are there any facts or circumstances, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations.

 

(p) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, since April 1, 2020, retained all information required by the Internal Revenue Service to substantiate any “qualified sick leave wages” and any “qualified family leave wages” (collectively “Qualified Leave Wages”), each as defined in FFCRA, and any “qualified health plan expenses” as defined in Section 7001 of the FFCRA (“Qualified Health Plan Expenses”).

 

(q) Since April 1, 2020, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has funded or paid any Qualified Leave Wages, Qualified Health Plan Expenses, or any Medicare tax on Qualified Leave Wages, from amounts allocated to or reserved for the payment of employment taxes (including amounts already withheld) or that are set aside for deposit with the Internal Revenue Service, in each case, whether or not shown on the Financial Statements.

 

(r)  Since April 1, 2020, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested an “advance payment of employer credits” on Internal Revenue Service Form 7200 or otherwise and has not received a refund of tax credits for Qualified Leave Wages or the “employee retention credit” described in Section 2301 of the CARES Act.

 

(s) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made a claim for tax credits in respect of the same wages pursuant to any COVID-19 Response Law.

 

 

(t)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has applied for or received (i) any loan pursuant to the “Paycheck Protection Program” as defined in Sections 1102 and 1106 of the CARES Act, (ii) any funds pursuant to the “Economic Injury Disaster Loan” program or an advance on an “Economic Injury Disaster Loan” pursuant to Section 1110 of the CARES Act or (iii) any similar programs in any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction, in each case that remains outstanding.

 

(u) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has claimed any “employee retention credit” described in Section 2301 of the CARES Act.

 

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that could reasonably be expected to impair Acquiror’s eligibility to claim any payroll tax credit or deferral that is permitted by any COVID-19 Response Law.

 

(w)  The Company Shares are not “taxable Canadian property” for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

Section 4.16. Brokers’ Fees. Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ or any of their Affiliates for which Acquiror, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has any obligation.

 

Section 4.17. Insurance. ‎Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of, as of the date hereof, all material policies or binders of property, fire and casualty, director and officer, employment practices liability, product liability, workers’ compensation, and other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement (the “Insurance Policies”). True, correct and complete copies of the Insurance Policies as in effect as of the date hereof have previously been made available to Acquiror. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due have been paid, and no written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with respect to any such policy. Except as disclosed on ‎Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no insurer has denied or disputed coverage of any material claim under an insurance policy during the last twelve (12) months. No written notice of pending material premium increase, cancelation or termination has been received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any such policy, in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not maintain any self-insurance programs.

 

Section 4.18. Licenses. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain all Licenses necessary for the Company and its Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have, or the failure to be in full force and effect of, any License, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (a) is in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default or violation) in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any material License to which it is a party; (b) is or has been the subject of any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding by a Governmental Authority seeking the cancellation, revocation, suspension, termination, modification, or impairment of any material License; (c) has received any notice that any Governmental Authority that has issued any material License intends to cancel, terminate, revoke, rescind, modify, impair, deny, or not renew any material License, or (d) voluntarily allowed any material License then held to lapse or expire.

 

Section 4.19. Equipment and Other Tangible Property. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns and has good title to, and has the legal and beneficial ownership of or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use by license or otherwise, all material machinery, equipment and other tangible property reflected on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. All material personal property and leased personal property assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries are structurally sound and in good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear expected) and are suitable for the business as currently conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

Section 4.20. Real Property.

 

(a) ‎Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all Leased Real Property and all Real Property Leases (as hereinafter defined) pertaining to such Leased Real Property. With respect to each parcel of Leased Real Property:

 

(i)  The Company or one of its Subsidiaries holds a good and valid leasehold estate in such Leased Real Property, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.

 

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have delivered to Acquiror true, correct and complete copies of all leases, subleases or other agreements relating to the leasing, use or occupancy of, or otherwise granting a right in and to the Leased Real Property by or to the Company and its Subsidiaries, including all amendments and modifications thereof or guaranties relating thereto (collectively, the “Real Property Leases”), and none of such Real Property Leases have been modified in any material respect, except to the extent that such modifications have been disclosed by the copies delivered to Acquiror.

 

(iii) The possession and quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Property of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, as applicable under such Real Property Leases has not been materially disturbed (or if any such disturbance has occurred, it has been cured) and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no material disputes with the applicable counterparty of any of the Real Property Leases.

 

(iv)  As of the date of this Agreement and except as set forth on Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no party, other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, has any right to use or occupy the Leased Real Property or any portion thereof.

 

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any current condemnation proceeding or proposed similar Legal Proceeding or agreement for taking in lieu of condemnation with respect to any portion of the Leased Real Property.

 

(b) ‎Section 4.20(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all Owned Real Property. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title to the Owned Real Properties as reflected in the balance sheet contained in the most recent Financial Statements (except for such Owned Real Properties sold since the date of such Financial Statements or as permitted hereunder). All Owned Real Properties are free and clear of all Liens (except for Permitted Liens).

 

(i)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any: (i) material violations of building codes and/or zoning ordinances or other Laws affecting the Owned Real Properties, (ii) existing, pending or threatened in writing condemnation proceedings affecting the Owned Real Properties, or (iii) existing, pending or threatened in writing zoning, building code or other moratorium proceedings affecting the Owned Real Properties, which, in each case, would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect, or materially disrupt, the ordinary course operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, taken as a whole.

 

(ii) To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any material default under any restrictive covenants affecting any of the Owned Real Properties, except for such defaults as would not reasonably be expected to materially or adversely affect, or materially disrupt, the ordinary course operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, taken as a whole.

 

(iii) Except for Permitted Liens or as set forth on ‎Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no leases, subleases, licenses or other similar occupancy agreements pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted to any party or parties the right of use or occupancy of any portion of the Owned Real Properties and there is no Person (other than the Companies or its Subsidiaries) in possession of such Owned Real Properties.

 

 

Section 4.21. Intellectual Property.

 

(a) ‎Section 4.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each item of Intellectual Property that is registered and applied-for with a Governmental Authority and is owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, whether applied for or registered in the United States or internationally as of the date of this Agreement (“Company Registered Intellectual Property”). The Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive beneficial and record owner of all of the items of Company Registered Intellectual Property and all such Company Registered Intellectual Property subsisting and (except for any pending applications included in the Company Registered Intellectual Property), to the knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable.

 

(b) Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.21(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), or has a valid and enforceable right to use, all Intellectual Property used in the continued conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in substantially the same manner as such business has been operated during the twelve (12) months prior to the date hereof.

 

(c) Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.21(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, and have not within the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property of any third Person. Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.21(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, ss of the date of this Agreement, there is no action pending to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is a named party, or to the knowledge of the Company, that is threatened in writing, alleging the Company’s or any Subsidiaries’ infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property of any third Person and there has not been, within the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement, any such action brought or threatened in writing.

 

(d) Except as set forth on ‎Section 4.21(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) to the knowledge of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, no Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any material Intellectual Property of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in any material respect, and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not sent to any Person within the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement any written notice, charge, complaint, claim or other written assertion against such third Person claiming infringement or violation by or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries take commercially reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of trade secrets included in their Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, within the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement there has not been any material unauthorized disclosure of or unauthorized access to any trade secrets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to or by any Person in a manner that has resulted or may result in the misappropriation of, or loss of trade secret or other rights in and to such trade secrets.

 

(f)  Except as set forth on ‎‎‎Section 4.21(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, No present or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary, or agent, outside contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary, holds any right, title or interest, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or to any Intellectual Property owned by or purported to be owned by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(g) With respect to the software used or held for use in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company, no such software contains any undisclosed or hidden device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or otherwise impair the functioning of any software or any “back door,” “time bomb”, “Trojan horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” or other malicious code or routines that permit unauthorized access or the unauthorized disablement or erasure of such or other software or information or data (or any parts thereof) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

Section 4.22. Privacy and Cybersecurity.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain and are in compliance with, and during the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement have maintained and been in compliance with, (i) all applicable Laws relating to the privacy and/or security of personal information (collectively, “Privacy Laws”), (ii) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ posted or publicly facing privacy policies, and (iii) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ contractual obligations concerning cybersecurity, data security and the security of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ information technology systems, in each case of (i)-(iii) above, other than any non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. There are no Legal Proceedings by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) in connection with which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a named party nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such Legal Proceeding threatened in writing against the Company or its Subsidiaries alleging a violation of any Privacy Laws or any third Person’s privacy or personal information rights.

 

(b) During the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement (i) there have been no breaches of the security of the information technology systems of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which required notification to any Person (including Governmental Authority) and (ii) there have been no disruptions in any information technology systems that materially adversely affected the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business or operations, taken as a whole. The Company and its Subsidiaries take commercially reasonable and legally compliant measures designed to protect confidential, sensitive or personally identifiable information in their possession or control against unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure or other misuse, including through administrative, technical and physical safeguards. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has (A) experienced any data security breach in which personally identifiable information or other sensitive or confidential data was unlawfully accessed, and which required notification to any Person (including Governmental Authority), or (B) received any written notice or complaint from any.

 

Section 4.23. Environmental Matters.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are and for the past three (3) years been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where failure to be in compliance would not be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b) Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will require any material consent or approval of, or the giving of any material notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority pursuant to Environmental Law, nor result in the modification or termination of any material License required under Environmental Law, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written, unresolved notice regarding the revocation, suspension or material adverse amendment of any material License required under Environmental Law.

 

(c) There has been no Release of any Hazardous Materials by the Company or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person (i) at, in, on or under any Owned Real Properties or Leased Real Property or in connection with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations off-site of the Owned Real Properties or the Leased Real Property or (ii) at, in, on or under any formerly owned or Leased Real Property during the time that the Company owned or leased such property or at any other location where Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries have been transported to, sent, placed or disposed of, except as would not be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(d) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are subject to any current Governmental Order relating to any non-compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Materials, except where such Governmental Order would not be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(e) No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances which could reasonably be expected to form the basis of such a Legal Proceeding, except where such Legal Proceeding would not be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

 

(f)  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has assumed or retained by contract, operation of law, or otherwise, or indemnified or held harmless any Person for, any liability or obligation under Environmental Law, except where such indemnity would not be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(g) The Company has made available to Acquiror true and complete copies of all material environmental reports, assessments, audits and inspections in the possession or control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning any non-compliance of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with, or liability of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries under, Environmental Law.

 

Section 4.24. Absence of Changes. Since December 31, 2020, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted the business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and there has not been (a) any Company Material Adverse Effect; (b) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of any securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including any Company Award; (c) any split, combination or reclassification of any security of the Company; (d) any material change by the Company in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or Law; (e) any issuance of securities of the Company or Company Award; or (f) except as disclosed on ‎Section 4.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter, any action taken or agreed upon by any of the Company or its Subsidiaries that would be prohibited by ‎Section 6.1 if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of Acquiror.

 

Section 4.25. Anti-Corruption Compliance.

 

(a) For the past five (5) years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or agent acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, has offered or given anything of value to: (i) any official or employee of a Governmental Authority, any political party or official thereof, or any candidate for political office or (ii) any other Person, in any such case while knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value will be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any official or employee of a Governmental Authority or candidate for political office, in each case in violation of the Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(c) To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, there are no current or pending internal investigations, third-party investigations (including by any Governmental Authority), or internal or external audits that address any material allegations or information concerning possible material violations of the Anti-Bribery Laws related to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.26. Sanctions and International Trade Compliance.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are, and have been for the past five (5) years, in compliance in all material respects with all International Trade Laws and Sanctions Laws, and (ii) have obtained all required licenses, consents, notices, waivers, approvals, orders, registrations, declarations, or other authorizations from, and have made any material filings with, any applicable Governmental Authority for the import, export, re-export, deemed export, deemed re-export, or transfer required under the International Trade Laws and Sanctions Laws (the “Export Approvals”). There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, claims, complaints, charges, investigations, voluntary disclosures or Legal Proceedings against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries related to any International Trade Laws or Sanctions Laws or any Export Approvals.

 

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors or officers, or to the knowledge of the Company, employees or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective agents, representatives or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (i) is, or has during the past five (5) years, been a Sanctioned Person or (ii) has transacted business directly or knowingly indirectly with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions Laws.

 

 

Section 4.27. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries specifically in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement will, at the date on which the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is first mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders or at the time of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to: (a) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement of any Acquiror SEC Filings; or (b) any projections or forecasts included in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.

 

Section 4.28. Vendors and Customers. ‎Section 4.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, (i) the ten (10) largest customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (by volume of revenues received from such customers) for the twelve (12) month period ending on December 31, 2020 (the “Top Customers”), and (ii) the ten (10) largest suppliers of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (by volume of payments to such suppliers) for the twelve (12) month period ending on December 31, 2020 (the “Top Vendors”). No such Top Customer or Top Vendor has (a) canceled or otherwise terminated, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or indicated in writing, or to the Company’s knowledge otherwise, an intent to cancel or terminate, its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) decreased materially or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or indicated in writing, or to the Company’s knowledge otherwise, an intent to decrease materially its business with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (c) provided written or, to the Company’s knowledge, other notice of non-renewal or indicated an intent to materially adjust the terms of any applicable Contract, or to the Company’s knowledge, intends to provide notice of non-renewal or intent to materially adjust the terms of any applicable Contract.

 

Section 4.29. Government Contracts. The Company is not party to: (i) any Contract, including an individual task order, delivery order, purchase order, basic ordering agreement, letter Contract or blanket purchase agreement between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, or (ii) any subcontract or other Contract by which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has agreed to provide goods or services through a prime contractor directly to a Governmental Authority that is expressly identified in such subcontract or other Contract as the ultimate consumer of such goods or services. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has provided any offer, bid, quotation or proposal to sell products made or services provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, if accepted or awarded, would lead to any Contract or subcontract of the type described by the foregoing sentence.

 

Section 4.30. Product Liability; Product Warranty.

 

(a) Except as set forth in ‎Section 4.30(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, for the last three (3) years

 

(i)  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim, or to the Company’s knowledge, been threatened with a claim for liability arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of any products produced, manufactured, processed, marketed, distributed, shipped, imported, exported, or sold by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s knowledge, no defect or failure in any product imported, produced, manufactured, processed, marketed, distributed, shipped, exported or sold by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists that would reasonably be expected to result in material damages; and

 

(ii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has issued any recalls, withdrawals, notifications of potential product nonconformance (such as a product advisory bulletin) or other material corrective actions (in each case, whether voluntarily or involuntarily) of products produced, manufactured, processed, marketed, distributed, shipped, imported, exported, or sold by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries or been required to file, or has filed, a notification or other report with any Governmental Authority concerning actual or potential hazards with respect to any product produced, manufactured, processed, marketed, distributed, shipped, imported, exported, or sold by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

‎Section 4.30(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter discloses the approximate aggregate dollar amount of and circumstances associated with any products liability claims and product recalls of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the last three (3) years.

 

(b) The products produced, processed, marketed, distributed, shipped or sold by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries have conformed in all material respects with the written terms and conditions applicable thereto and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for replacement thereof or other damages in connection therewith materially in excess of current accruals reflected in the latest balance sheet. ‎Section 4.30(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter discloses the approximate aggregate dollar amount of and circumstances associated with any product warranty claims for the last three (3) years.

 

Section 4.31. Transactions with Affiliates. Except for employment relationships and compensation, benefits and travel advances provided in the ordinary course of business or as disclosed on ‎Section 4.31 of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with the Company Stockholder or any of its Affiliates. None of (a) the Company Stockholder, any Affiliate of the Company Stockholder, officer, director, employee or Affiliate of the Company, or (b) to the knowledge of the Company, any individual in any such officer’s, director’s, employee’s, or Affiliate’s immediate family or any entity in which any such Person, Company Stockholder, or other Affiliate of the Company Stockholder owns any material beneficial interest, is a party to or has a direct or indirect material financial interest in any contract, commitment or transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for employment agreements or solely in such Person’s capacity as an equityholder, director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) or owns or has a material financial interest in, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any material asset or property used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No such Person has any cause of action or other claim whatsoever against, or owes any amount to or is owed any amount by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for claims in the ordinary course of business such as for accrued vacation pay and accrued benefits and similar matters and agreements arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

Section 4.32. No Additional Representation or Warranties; No Reliance. Except as provided in this ‎Article IV (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter), and the representations and warranties as may be provided in other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor any of their respective Representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty of any kind or nature whatsoever, oral or written, express or implied, relating to or with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II or any of their Subsidiaries, Affiliates or Representatives. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS ‎SECTION 4.32 (INCLUDING THE COMPANY DISCLOSURE LETTER), THE COMPANY MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO ACQUIROR, MERGER SUB I OR MERGER SUB II, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES, OPERATIONS, PROPERTIES, LIABILITIES, OR OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OTHERWISE. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties contained in ‎Article V (as modified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter), neither Acquiror or its Affiliates nor any other Person has made or is making any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information, data, or statement regarding Acquiror or the transactions contemplated hereunder, including in respect of Acquiror the business, the operations, prospects, or condition (financial or otherwise), or the accuracy or completeness of any document, projection, material, statement, or other information not expressly set forth in ‎Article V (as modified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter). The Company is not relying on any representations or warranties other than those representations or warranties set forth in ‎Article V (as modified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter) and the representations and warranties as may be provided in other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Article V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR, MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II

 

Except as set forth in (i) in the case of Acquiror, any Acquiror SEC Filings filed or submitted prior to the date hereof (excluding (a) any disclosures in any risk factors section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimer and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature and (b) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such Acquiror SEC Filings will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in ‎Section 5.1, ‎Section 5.2, ‎Section 5.3, ‎Section 5.8, ‎Section 5.11 and ‎Section 5.14), or (ii) in the case of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, in the disclosure letter delivered to the Company (the “Acquiror Disclosure Letter”) on the date of this Agreement (each section of which, subject to ‎Section 12.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this ‎Article V), Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

Section 5.1.  Acquiror Organization. Each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II has been duly incorporated, organized or formed and is validly existing as a corporation or exempted company in good standing (or equivalent status, to the extent that such concept exists) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, and has the requisite company power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The copies of Governing Documents of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, in each case, as amended to the date of this Agreement, previously delivered to the Company, are true, correct and complete. Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II have no assets or operations other than those required to effect the transactions contemplated hereby. All of the equity interests of Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II are held directly by Acquiror. Each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation or company in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified would not be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.2.  Due Authorization.

 

(a)  Each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II has all requisite corporate power and authority to (i) execute and deliver this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby, and (ii) consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder and thereunder. This Agreement has been, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents contemplated hereby will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, and this Agreement constitutes, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents contemplated hereby will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, enforceable against Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been (i) duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and Merger Sub I, by Acquiror as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub I, and by Acquiror as the sole member of Merger Sub II, (ii) determined by the Board of Directors of Acquiror as advisable to Acquiror and the Acquiror Shareholders and recommended for approval by the Acquiror Shareholders and (iii) determined by the Board of Directors of Merger Sub I as advisable to Merger Sub I and the sole shareholder of Merger Sub I and recommended for approval by the sole shareholder of Merger Sub I. No other action or proceeding on the part of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby other than the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals.

 

 

Section 5.3. No Conflict. Subject to the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II and the other documents contemplated hereby by Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under the Governing Documents of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under any applicable Law or Governmental Order applicable to Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, (c) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, result in the loss of any right or benefit, or cause acceleration, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any Contract to which Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II is a party or by which Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such Contract or (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not have, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.4. Litigation and Proceedings. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened Legal Proceedings against Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, their respective properties or assets, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any of their respective directors, managers, officers or employees (in their capacity as such). There are no investigations or other inquiries pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened by any Governmental Authority, against Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, their respective properties or assets, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any of their respective directors, managers, officers or employees (in their capacity as such). There is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, nor are any assets of Acquiror’s, Merger Sub I’s or Merger Sub II’s respective businesses bound or subject to any Governmental Order the violation of which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Acquiror. As of the date hereof, each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects. Since Acquiror’s formation, Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II have not received any written notice of or been charged with the violation of any Laws, except where such violation has not been, individually or in the aggregate, material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.5.  SEC Filings. Acquiror has timely filed or furnished all statements, prospectuses, registration statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing through the date hereof, the “Acquiror SEC Filings”). Each of the Acquiror SEC Filings, as of the respective date of its filing, and as of the date of any amendment, complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Acquiror SEC Filings. As of the respective date of its filing (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), the Acquiror SEC Filings did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the Acquiror SEC Filings. To the knowledge of Acquiror none of the Acquiror SEC Filings filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof.

 

Section 5.6.  Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Listing.

 

(a)  Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Acquiror’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”), Acquiror has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Acquiror, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, is made known to Acquiror’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Acquiror’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Acquiror’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Acquiror has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Acquiror’s financial reporting and the preparation of Acquiror’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

 

(b)  Each director and executive officer of Acquiror has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Acquiror has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(c)  Acquiror has complied in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The Acquiror Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE. There is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened against Acquiror by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Acquiror Class A Common Stock or prohibit or terminate the listing of Acquiror Class A Common Stock on the NYSE.

 

(d)  Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the Acquiror SEC Filings was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and each fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Acquiror as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein. The books and records of Acquiror have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

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

 

(f)   Neither Acquiror (including any employee thereof) nor Acquiror’s independent auditors has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by Acquiror, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Acquiror’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by Acquiror or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5.7.  Governmental Authorities; Consents. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, no Governmental Authorization or consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any other Person is required on the part of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II with respect to Acquiror’s, Merger Sub I’s or Merger Sub II’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (ii) the Domestication in compliance with the applicable requirements under the CICL, (iii) the Domestication and the filing of the Company Merger I Certificate of Merger and Company Merger II Certificate of Merger with the DE SOS, (iv) the filing with the SEC of such reports under the Exchange Act, and such other compliance with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (v) the filing with NYSE and such other compliance with NYSE rules and regulations thereunder as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and (vi) as otherwise disclosed in ‎Section 5.7 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 5.8.  Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, Acquiror has at least $250,000,000 in the Trust Account (including, if applicable, an aggregate of approximately $8,750,000 of deferred underwriting commissions and other fees being held in the Trust Account), such monies invested in United States government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020, between Acquiror and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Trust Agreement”). There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Acquiror SEC Filings to be inaccurate or that would entitle any Person (other than shareholders of Acquiror holding Acquiror Common Stock sold in Acquiror’s initial public offering who shall have elected to redeem their shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents and the underwriters of Acquiror’s initial public offering with respect to deferred underwriting commissions) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payments with respect to all Acquiror Share Redemptions. There are no claims or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Acquiror has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, or breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder.

 

 

Section 5.9.  Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. Acquiror is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Acquiror constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

 

Section 5.10.  No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for any fees and expenses payable by Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, there is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim or judgment against Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due), except for liabilities and obligations (i) reflected or reserved for on the financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto included in Acquiror SEC Filings, (ii) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Acquiror SEC Filings in the ordinary course of business of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, or (iii) which would not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.11.  Capitalization of Acquiror.

 

(a)  As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of Acquiror is (i) 500,000,000 shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock, 25,000,000 of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Acquiror Class B Common Stock, of which 6,250,000 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (iii) 5,000,000 preferred shares of par value $0.0001 each, of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement ((i), (ii) and (iii), together with the Acquiror Warrants and Acquiror Units, collectively, the “Acquiror Securities”). The foregoing represents all of the issued and outstanding Acquiror Securities as of the date of this Agreement. All issued and outstanding Acquiror Securities (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) Acquiror’s Governing Documents, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound.

 

(b)  Subject to the terms of conditions of the Warrant Agreement, the Acquiror Warrants will be exercisable after giving effect to the Mergers for one share of Acquiror Common Stock at an exercise price of eleven Dollars fifty cents ($11.50) per share. As of the date of this Agreement, 8,333,333 Acquiror Common Warrants and 4,666,667 Acquiror Private Placement Warrants are issued and outstanding. The Acquiror Warrants are not exercisable until the later of (x) October 9, 2021 or (y) thirty (30) days after the Closing. All outstanding Acquiror Warrants (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Acquiror, enforceable against Acquiror in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (A) Acquiror’s Governing Documents and (B) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound. Except for the Subscription Agreements, the Working Capital Loans, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the A&R FPA, Acquiror’s Governing Documents and this Agreement, there are no outstanding Contracts of Acquiror to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Acquiror Securities.

 

 

(c)  Except as set forth in this ‎Section 5.11 or as contemplated by this Agreement or the other documents contemplated hereby, and other than in connection with the PIPE Investment (or any Alternative PIPE Investment), the Working Capital Loans, the Forward Purchase Agreement and the A&R FPA, Acquiror has not granted any outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, rights or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Acquiror Securities, or any other commitments or agreements providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares, for the repurchase or redemption of any Acquiror Securities or the value of which is determined by reference to the Acquiror Securities, and there are no Contracts of any kind which may obligate Acquiror to issue, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Acquiror Securities.

 

(d)  The Securities Merger Consideration when issued in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities Laws and not subject to, and not issued in violation of, any Lien, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents, or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound.

 

(e)  Acquiror has no Subsidiaries apart from Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, and does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests or other interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. Acquiror is not party to any Contract that obligates Acquiror to invest money in, loan money to or make any capital contribution to any other Person.

 

Section 5.12.  Brokers’ Fees. Except fees described in ‎Section 5.12 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by Acquiror or any of its Affiliates.

 

Section 5.13.  Indebtedness. Except for such Indebtedness described on ‎Section 5.13 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, none of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II has any Indebtedness.

 

Section 5.14.  Taxes.

 

(a)  All income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Acquiror or its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account any applicable extensions), all such Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and accurate in all material respects and all material Taxes due and payable by Acquiror or its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid, other than Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)  There are no Liens for any material Taxes (other than Taxes described in clause (ii) of the definition of Permitted Liens) upon the property or assets of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries.

 

(c)  No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Governmental Authority against Acquiror or its Subsidiaries that remains unpaid except for claims, assessments, deficiencies or proposed adjustments being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

(d)  There are no ongoing or pending Legal Proceedings with respect to any Taxes of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries and there are no waivers, extensions or requests for any waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to any Taxes of Acquiror or its Subsidiaries.

 

(e)  Neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is liable for Taxes of any other Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law or as a transferee or successor or by Contract (other than customary commercial Contracts not primarily related to Taxes) or (ii) has ever been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes, other than a group the common parent of which was or is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(f) Acquiror has not been, is not, and immediately prior to the Effective Time will not be, treated as an “investment company” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F) of the Code.

 

(g)  Acquiror and its Subsidiaries have not taken any action, nor, to the knowledge of Acquiror are there, any facts or circumstances, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations.

 

Section 5.15.  Business Activities.

 

(a)  Since their respective incorporations, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries has conducted any business activities other than activities: (i) in connection with its organization; or (ii) directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination in accordance with its Governing Documents. Except as set forth in the Governing Documents of Acquiror, there is no Contract or Governmental Order binding upon Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or to which any of them is a party which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any material business practice of it or the conduct of business by Acquiror as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing.

 

(b)  Except for this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the other documents and transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including with respect to expenses and fees incurred in connection therewith) or as described in the Acquiror SEC Filings, neither Acquiror nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to any Contract with any other Person that would require payments by Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate with respect to any individual Contract, other than Working Capital Loans. As of the date hereof, there are no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans.

 

Section 5.16.  Stock Market Quotation. The Acquiror Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “EMPW”. As of the date hereof, the Acquiror Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “EMPW.U”. As of the date hereof, the Acquiror Common Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “EMPW.WS”. Acquiror is in compliance with the rules of the NYSE and there is no Legal Proceeding or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened against Acquiror by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Acquiror Class A Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants or terminate the listing of Acquiror Class A Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants on the NYSE. None of Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Acquiror Class A Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.17.  PIPE Investment. Acquiror has made available to the Company true, correct and complete copies of the executed Subscription Agreements, dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions therein, the PIPE Investors have agreed to provide the PIPE Investment to Acquiror in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As of the date hereof, each Subscription Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquiror, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity. The shares to be issued in connection with the PIPE Investment will be, when issued, duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the PIPE Investors against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of each Subscription Agreement, such shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. There are no other Contracts between Acquiror and any PIPE Investor relating to any such Subscription Agreement and, as of the date hereof, Acquiror does not have actual knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in any such Subscription Agreement not being satisfied, or $240,000,000 (such amount, the “Minimum PIPE Investment Amount”) not being available to Acquiror, on the Closing Date. No event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of Acquiror under any material term or condition of any such Subscription Agreement and, as of the date hereof, Acquiror does not have reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy in all material respects on a timely basis any term or condition of closing to be satisfied by it contained in any such Subscription Agreement. No fees, cash consideration or other discounts are payable or have been agreed to be paid by Acquiror (including, from and after the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries) to any PIPE Investor in respect of its PIPE Investment, except as set forth in the Subscription Agreements.

 

 

Section 5.18.  Compensation and Benefit Matters. As of the date of this Agreement, each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II does not sponsor, maintain or contribute to (or has any liability, contingent or otherwise with respect to) or has made any plan or commitment to establish or adopt (a) any “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA, or (b) any other bonus, profit-sharing, compensation, pension, severance, savings, deferred compensation, fringe benefit, insurance, welfare, post-retirement health or welfare benefit, health, life, stock option, restricted stock unit, stock purchase, restricted stock, tuition refund, service award, company car, scholarship, relocation, disability, accident, sick pay, sick leave, accrued leave, vacation, holiday, termination, individual employment, individual consulting, executive compensation, incentive, commission, retention, change-in-control plan, policy, program, arrangement or agreement (whether written or oral) providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or other individual service provider of each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II or its dependents, spouses, or beneficiaries, in each case, prior to the Effective Time. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in connection with any other event, contingent or otherwise) will (i) result in any payment or benefit (including notice, severance, golden parachute, bonus, commission, or otherwise), becoming due to any employee or individual independent contractor of each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, (ii) result in any forgiveness of indebtedness to any employee or individual independent contractor of each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, (iii) increase any benefits otherwise payable by the each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II, (iv) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits except as required under Section 411(d)(3) of the Code, or (v) result in or satisfy a condition to the payment or vesting of any compensation or benefit (or any acceleration of the foregoing) that would, in combination with any other such payment, benefit, or acceleration, result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code. There is no Contract or plan by which each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is bound to compensate any Person for excise Taxes pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

 

Section 5.19.  Affiliate Agreements. Except as described in the Acquiror SEC Filings, there are no material transactions, Contracts, agreements, arrangements or undertakings between Acquiror and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any director, officer, employee, stockholder, warrant holder or Affiliate of Acquiror and its Subsidiaries, on the other hand.

 

Section 5.20.  No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this ‎Article V (as modified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter), and the representations and warranties as may be provided in the other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II nor any of their respective Representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty of any kind or nature whatsoever, oral or written, express or implied, relating to or with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS ‎Section 5.20 (INCLUDING THE ACQUIROR DISCLOSURE LETTER), EACH OF ACQUIROR, MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF ACQUIROR, MERGER SUB I AND MERGER SUB II OR ITS RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES, OPERATIONS, PROPERTIES, LIABILITIES, OR OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OTHERWISE. Each of Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties contained in ‎Article IV (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter), neither Company or its Affiliates nor any other Person has made or is making any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information, data, or statement regarding Company and its Subsidiaries or the transactions contemplated hereunder, including in respect of the Company and the business, the operations, prospects, or condition (financial or otherwise), or the accuracy or completeness of any document, projection, material, statement, or other information not expressly set forth in ‎‎Article IV (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter). Each of the Acquiror, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is not relying on any representations or warranties other than those representations or warranties set forth in ‎Article IV (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter) and the representations and warranties as may be provided in other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

Article VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 6.1.  Conduct of Business. From the date of this Agreement through the earlier of the Closing or valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to ‎Article X (the “Interim Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as otherwise explicitly required by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, as required by applicable Law or as consented to by Acquiror in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied) use reasonable best efforts to, operate the business of the Company in the ordinary course consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on ‎Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter or as consented to by Acquiror in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied) the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or required by Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures):

 

(a)  change or amend the Governing Documents of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or form or cause to be formed any new Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(b)  (i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer or encumber any shares of capital stock of, or other securities in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including Company Awards) or (ii) make or declare any cash or non-cash dividend or distribution to the Company Shares, or make any other distributions in respect of any of the Company Shares or equity interests of the Company;

 

(c)  split, combine, reclassify, recapitalize or otherwise amend any terms of any securities or series of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ capital stock or equity interests, except for any such transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company that remains a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company after consummation of such transaction;

 

(d)  purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for (i) the acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests (other than Company Awards) of the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the forfeiture or cancellation of such interests and (ii) transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or between wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(e)  enter into, modify or otherwise amend, waive any material right or obligation, or terminate (other than expiration in accordance with its terms) any Contract of a type required to be listed on ‎Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter had such Contract been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or as required by Law;

 

(f)   enter into, modify or otherwise amend, waive any material right or obligation, or terminate any Contract with an Affiliate of the Company (other than Agreements between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries);

 

(g)  sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of any material tangible assets or properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for (i) transactions among the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries or among its wholly owned Subsidiaries and (ii) transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

 

(h)  except as otherwise required by Law, existing Company Benefit Plans, this Agreement or the Contracts listed on ‎Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter , (i) grant any equity-based compensation, severance, retention, change in control or termination or similar pay, (ii) make any change in the key management structure of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, including the hiring of additional officers or the termination of existing officers, in each case, with base annual compensation in excess of $300,000, other than terminations for cause or due to death or disability, (iii) terminate, adopt, enter into or materially amend any Company Benefit Plan (other than to conduct its annual renewal and reenrollment of its health and welfare plans in the ordinary course of business), (iv) increase the cash compensation or bonus opportunity of any employee, officer, director or other individual service provider, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (v) establish any trust or take any other action to secure the payment of any compensation payable by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, or (vi) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or to accelerate the time of payment or vesting of any compensation or benefit payable by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(i) enter into or extend any collective bargaining agreement or similar labor agreement, other than as required by applicable Law, or recognize or certify any labor union, labor organization, or group of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries as the bargaining representative for any employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

 

(j) terminate the employment of any officer or other key employee or any group of employees (in each case, other than for cause), or hire any employee with base annual compensation in excess of $300,000;

 

(k)  (x) merge, consolidate or combine with any Person or (y) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or a portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets, or enter into any joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances;

 

(l)  (i) issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or otherwise incur, advance, make capital contributions to, or investments in, or assume any Indebtedness (including any loan pursuant to the provisions of the CARES Act), other than Indebtedness (but excluding convertible debt securities) incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions, (ii) guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) make or commit to make capital expenditures other than in an amount not in excess of $1,000,000, in the aggregate other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, or (iv) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, create any material Liens on any material property or assets of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any Indebtedness thereof (other than Permitted Liens);

 

(m)  (i) make or change any election in respect of material Taxes, (ii) amend, modify or otherwise change any filed material Tax Return, (iii) adopt or request permission of any taxing authority to change any accounting method in respect of material Taxes, (iv) enter into any closing agreement in respect of material Taxes executed on or prior to the Closing Date or enter into any Tax indemnification, Tax sharing or similar agreement, (v) settle any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (vi) surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, (vii) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes or in respect to any Tax attribute that would give rise to any claim or assessment of material Taxes, (viii) file or cause to be filed any material Tax Return other than on a basis consistent with past practice or (ix) fail to pay any material amount of Taxes when due;

 

(n)  take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act could reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations;

 

(o)  adopt a plan of, or otherwise enter into or effect a, complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than the Mergers);

 

(p)  waive, release, settle, compromise or otherwise resolve any inquiry, investigation, claim, litigation or other Legal Proceedings, other than in the ordinary course of business or where such action is solely monetary in nature and any payments related to such settlement are made prior to the Closing;

 

 

(q)  transfer, dispose of, abandon or permit to lapse any rights to any material Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries except for in the exercise of reasonable business judgment or the expiration of Company Registered Intellectual Property in accordance with the applicable statutory term (or in the case of domain names, applicable registration period);

 

(r)   terminate without replacement or amend in a manner materially detrimental to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole any License or Insurance Policy; or

 

(s)  authorize, agree in writing or otherwise agree, commit or resolve to take any of the actions described in this ‎Section 6.1.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any reasonable action taken, or reasonably omitted to be taken, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (including pursuant to any applicable Law, directive, pronouncement or guideline issued by a Governmental Authority related to the COVID-19 pandemic) shall in no event be deemed to constitute a breach of this Section 6.1; provided that prior to taking, or omitting to take, any such action, the Company shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, notify Acquiror of such action (or failure to act) and take into account in good faith any suggestions of Acquiror with respect to such action or failure to act.

 

Section 6.2.  Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information that is subject to attorney-client privilege (provided that to the extent possible, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to permit disclosure of such information in a manner that preserves such privilege or compliance with such confidentiality obligation), and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Acquiror and its accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period (including for the purpose of coordinating transition planning for employees), during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to all of their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and shall furnish such representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such representatives may reasonably request; provided, that such access shall not include any unreasonably invasive or intrusive investigations or other testing, sample or analysis of any properties, facilities or equipment of the Company or its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the Company, and (b) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to Acquiror and, if applicable, its accountants, counsel or other representatives, (x) such information and such other materials and resources relating to any Legal Proceeding initiated, pending or threatened during the Interim Period, or to the compliance and risk management operations and activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the Interim Period, in each case, as Acquiror or such representative may reasonably request, (y) prompt written notice of any material status updates in connection with any such Legal Proceedings or otherwise relating to any compliance and risk management matters or decisions of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (z) copies of any communications sent or received by the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with such Legal Proceedings, matters and decisions (and, if any such communications occurred orally, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, memorialize such communications in writing to Acquiror). All information obtained by Acquiror and its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives pursuant to this ‎Section 6.2 shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

Section 6.3.  Preparation and Delivery of Additional Company Financial Statements.

 

(a)  As soon as reasonably practicable, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror the audited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, retained earnings unitholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Financial Statements”), which comply with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant; provided that, upon delivery of such 2020 Financial Statements, the representations and warranties with respect to the Audited Financial Statements set forth in Section 4.8 shall be deemed to apply to the 2020 Financial Statements, mutatis mutandis, with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

 

(b)  If the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement has not been mailed to Acquiror Shareholders on or prior to May 10, 2021 (the “Q1 Staleness Deadline”), the Company shall deliver to Acquiror the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and retained earnings, comprehensive loss, unitholders’ deficit, and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021 (the “Q1 Financial Statements”), which comply with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant; provided that, upon delivery of such Q1 Financial Statements, the representations and warranties with respect to the Financial Statements set forth in ‎Section 4.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q1 Financial Statements, mutatis mutandis, with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 6.4.  Affiliate Agreements. All Affiliate Agreements set forth on ‎Section 6.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be terminated or settled at or prior to the Closing without further liability to Acquiror, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, in each case, except as otherwise set forth on ‎Section 6.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 6.5.  Consents. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts during the Interim Period to obtain consents of all Persons who are party to the agreements set forth on ‎Section 4.4, and ‎Section 6.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter and obtain all Governmental Authorizations set forth on ‎Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter. All costs incurred in connection with obtaining such consents shall constitute a Company Transaction Expense. Subject to Laws relating to the exchange of information, Acquiror shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable will consult with the Company on the information provided in connection with obtaining such consents and as to the form and substance of such consents. Acquiror and its Subsidiaries shall cooperate with and assist the Company in giving such notices and obtaining such consents and estoppel certificates; provided, however, that neither Acquiror nor its Subsidiaries shall have any obligation to give any guarantee or other consideration of any nature in connection with any such notice, consent or estoppel certificate or consent to any change in the terms of any agreement or arrangement.

 

Section 6.6.  Company Stockholder Approval. After the execution of this Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit the agreement and written consent of the Company Stockholder in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto (the “Written Consent”) for purposes of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval. The Company through its board of directors shall recommend the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby by the Company Stockholder and shall not withdraw, amend or modify, or propose to resolve to withdraw, amend or modify such recommendation. The Company shall comply with the DGCL and all other applicable Law with respect to the submission to the Company Stockholder of this Agreement, the Mergers and the transactions contemplated hereby, the distribution to the Company Stockholder of any solicitation materials (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and the solicitation of the Written Consent.

 

Section 6.7.  No Trading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that the Company’s Representatives are aware, or upon receipt of any material nonpublic information will be advised, of the restrictions imposed by Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company hereby agrees that, while it is in possession of such material nonpublic information, it shall not purchase or sell any securities of Acquiror (other than engaging in the transactions described herein), communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to Acquiror in violation of such Laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.

 

 

Section 6.8.  280G Approval. To the extent that any “disqualified individual” (within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code and the regulations thereunder) has the right to receive any payments or benefits that could be deemed to constitute “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2)(A) of the Code and the regulations thereunder), the Company will: (a) no later than ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date, use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit and obtain from each such “disqualified individual” a waiver of such disqualified individual’s rights to some or all of such payments or benefits (the “Waived 280G Benefits”) so that any remaining payments and/or benefits shall not be deemed to be “excess parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder); and (b) no later than three (3) days prior to the Closing Date, with respect to each individual who agrees to the waiver described in clause (a) above, submit to a vote of holders of the equity interests of the Company entitled to vote on such matters, in the manner required under Section 280G(b)(5) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, along with adequate disclosure intended to satisfy such requirements (including Q&A 7 of Section 1.280G-1 of such regulations), the right of any such “disqualified individual” to receive the Waived 280G Benefits. Prior to, and in no event later than four (4) days prior to soliciting such waivers and approval, the Company shall provide drafts of such waivers and approval materials to Acquiror for its reasonable review and comment, and the Company shall consider in good faith any changes reasonably requested by Acquiror. No later than seven (7) days prior to soliciting the waivers, the Company shall provide Acquiror with the calculations and related documentation to determine whether and to what extent the vote described in this ‎Section 6.8 is necessary in order to avoid the imposition of Taxes under Section 4999 of the Code. In connection with the foregoing, Acquiror shall provide the Company with all information reasonably necessary to allow the Company to determine whether any payments made or to be made or benefits granted or to be granted pursuant to any employment agreement or other agreement, arrangement or contract entered into or negotiated by Acquiror or its Affiliates (“Purchaser Payments”), together with all Section 280G Payments, could reasonably be considered to be “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code at least twenty (20) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (and shall further provide any such updated information as is reasonably necessary prior to the Closing Date). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this ‎Section 6.8 or otherwise in this Agreement, to the extent Acquiror has provided inaccurate information, or the Acquiror’s omission of information has resulted in inaccurate information, with respect to any Purchaser Payments, there shall be no breach of the covenant contained herein or the representation set forth in ‎Section 4.13(f) above to the extent caused by such inaccurate or omitted information. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror evidence that a vote of the equityholder of the Company was solicited in accordance with the foregoing and whether the requisite number of votes of the stockholders of the Company was obtained with respect to the Waived 280G Benefits or that the vote did not pass and the Waived 280G Benefits will not be paid or retained.

 

Article VII
COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR

 

Section 7.1.  Stockholder Litigation. In the event that any litigation related to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby is brought, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened in writing, against Acquiror or the Board of Directors of Acquiror by any of Acquiror’s shareholders prior to the Closing, Acquiror shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any such litigation and keep the Company reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Acquiror shall provide the Company the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any such litigation, shall give due consideration to the Company’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle any such litigation without prior written consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

Section 7.2.  Trust Account. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in ‎Article IX (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice Acquiror shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, Acquiror shall: (a) cause the documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered, including providing the Trustee with that trust termination letter sending a termination substantially in the applicable form attached to the Trust Agreement (the “Trust Termination Letter”), (b) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, (i) pay as and when due all amounts payable to Acquiror Shareholders pursuant to the Acquiror Share Redemptions, (ii) pay all amounts due in respect of the Payoff Amount, Company Transaction Expenses and Acquiror Transaction Expenses pursuant to ‎Section 2.4(c), (iii) pay the Cash Merger Consideration and (iv) immediately following the payments described in clauses (i) and (iii) above, pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to the account(s) designated in writing by Acquiror, and (c) thereafter, cause the Trust Account to terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.

 

 

Section 7.3.  Listing. From the date hereof through the Domestication, Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) remain listed as a public company on the NYSE, (b) prepare and submit to the NYSE a listing application, if required under NYSE rules, covering the shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants, including those Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock issuable in connection with Company Merger I, and (c) obtain approval for the listing of such shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Acquiror with respect to such listing.

 

Section 7.4.  Conduct of Business.

 

(a)  During the Interim Period, Acquiror shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, as required by applicable Law, or as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), operate its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), Acquiror shall not, and Acquiror shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or as required by applicable Law:

 

(i)   change, modify or amend or seek any approval from the Acquiror Shareholders to change, modify or amend, the Trust Agreement or any other agreement related to the Trust Account or the Governing Documents of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, except as contemplated by the Transaction Proposals;

 

(ii)  (x) make or declare any dividend or distribution to the shareholders of Acquiror or make any other distributions in respect of any of Acquiror’s or its Subsidiaries’ share capital or equity interests, (y) split, combine, reclassify or otherwise amend any terms of any shares or series of Acquiror’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ equity interests or (z) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, share capital or membership interests, warrants or other equity interests of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, other than a redemption of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock made as part of the Acquiror Share Redemptions;

 

(iii)  (A) make or change any material election in respect of material Taxes, (B) amend, modify or otherwise change any filed material Tax Return, (C) adopt or request permission of any taxing authority to change any accounting method in respect of material Taxes, (D) enter into any closing agreement in respect of material Taxes or enter into any Tax indemnification, Tax sharing or similar agreement, (E) settle any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (F) surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, or (G) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes or in respect to any Tax attribute that would give rise to any claim or assessment of material Taxes;

 

(iv)  take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act could reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations;

 

(v)  create, incur or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or guaranty any debt securities of another Person, other than any Working Capital Loan;

 

(vi)  (A) issue any Acquiror Securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into Acquiror Securities, other than the issuance of the Securities Merger Consideration, Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to the PIPE Investment, any Alternative PIPE Investment or the A&R FPA, or conversion of any Working Capital Loan, (B) grant any options, warrants or other equity-based awards with respect to Acquiror Securities not outstanding on the date hereof, or (C) amend, modify or waive any of the material terms or rights set forth in any Acquiror Warrant or the Warrant Agreement, including any amendment, modification or reduction of the warrant price set forth therein;

 

(vii)  merge or consolidate itself with any Person, restructure, reorganize or completely or partially liquidate or dissolve, or adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of Acquiror (other than the Mergers);

 

 

(viii)  except the Sponsor Agreement, enter into, review or amend any Contract with an Affiliate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the Sponsor and (y) any Person in which the Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership interest of five percent (5%) or greater);

 

(ix)  discharge, settle, compromise, satisfy or consent to any entry of any judgment with respect to any pending Legal Proceeding or Legal Proceeding threatened in writing;

 

(x)  other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, or enter into any “keep well” or similar agreement to maintain the financial condition of any other Person;

 

(xi)  make any change in financial accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP or applicable Law; or

 

(xii)  enter into any agreement to do any action prohibited under this ‎Section 7.4.

 

(b)  During the Interim Period, Acquiror shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to comply with, and continue performing under, as applicable, Acquiror’s Governing Documents, the Trust Agreement and all other agreements or Contracts to which Acquiror or its Subsidiaries may be a party, other than such agreements or Contracts in violation of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.5.  PIPE Subscriptions.

 

(a)  Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and except for any of the following actions that would not increase conditionality or impose any new obligation on the Company or Acquiror, reduce the Minimum PIPE Investment Amount or the subscription amount under any Subscription Agreement or reduce or impair the rights of Acquiror under any Subscription Agreement, Acquiror shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, any waiver (in whole or in part) of, or provide consent to modify (including consent to terminate), any provision or remedy under, or any replacements of, any of the Subscription Agreements, in each case, other than any assignment or transfer contemplated therein or expressly permitted thereby (without any further amendment, modification or waiver to such assignment or transfer provision); provided that, in the case of any such assignment or transfer, the initial party to such Subscription Agreement remains bound by its obligations with respect thereto in the event that the transferee or assignee, as applicable, does not comply with its obligations to consummate the purchase of shares of Acquiror Common Stock contemplated thereby. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements have been satisfied, Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions required, or that it otherwise deems to be proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements on the terms described therein, including using its reasonable best efforts to (i) comply with respective obligations under the Subscription Agreements, (ii) maintain in effect the Subscription Agreements in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, (iii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions and covenants applicable to Acquiror set forth in the applicable Subscription Agreements within its control, (iv) consummate the PIPE Investment when required pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) enforce its rights under the Subscription Agreements, in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements (other than conditions that Acquiror or any of its Affiliates control the satisfaction of and other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) have been satisfied, to cause the applicable PIPE Investors to pay to (or as directed by) Acquiror the applicable portion of the PIPE Investment Amount, as applicable, set forth in the Subscription Agreements in accordance with their terms.

 

(b)  Without limiting the generality of ‎Section 7.5(a), Acquiror shall give the Company prompt written notice: (i) of any amendment to any Subscription Agreement (other than as a result of any assignments or transfers contemplated therein or otherwise permitted thereby), (ii) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would give rise to any breach or default) by any party to any Subscription Agreement known to Acquiror and (iii) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any party to any Subscription Agreement with respect to any actual, potential, threatened, or claimed expiration, lapse, withdrawal, breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to any Subscription Agreement or any provisions of any Subscription Agreement.

 

 

(c)  If all or any portion of the PIPE Investment becomes unavailable, (i) Acquiror shall promptly use its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain the PIPE Investment or such portion of the PIPE Investment from alternative sources in an amount, when added to any portion of the PIPE Investment that is available, equal to the PIPE Investment Amount (any alternative source(s) of financing, “Alternative PIPE Investment”) and (ii) in the event that Acquiror is able to obtain any Alternative PIPE Investment, Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to enter into a new subscription agreement (each, an “Alternative Subscription Agreement”) that provides for the subscription and purchase of Acquiror Common Stock containing terms and conditions not less favorable from the standpoint of Acquiror and the Company than those in the Subscription Agreements entered into as of the date hereof (as determined in the reasonable good-faith judgment of Acquiror and the Company). In such event, the term “PIPE Investment” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any Alternative PIPE Investment, the term “Subscription Agreements” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any Alternative Subscription Agreement and the term “PIPE Investor” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any Person that is subscribing for Acquiror Common Stock under any Alternative Subscription Agreement.

 

Section 7.6.  Domestication(a). Subject to receipt of the Acquiror Shareholder Approval, prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror shall cause the Domestication to become effective, including by (a) filing with the DE SOS a Certificate of Domestication with respect to the Domestication, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Acquiror and the Company, together with the certificate of incorporation of Acquiror in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, in each case, in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable Law, (b) adopting the bylaws in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B hereto, (c) causing the directors and officers set forth on ‎Section 7.6(a) of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter to be the directors and officers of Acquiror immediately following the Domestication until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with applicable Law and the Governing Documents of Acquiror or their earlier death, resignation or removal, (d) completing and making and procuring all those filings required to be made with the Cayman Registrar in connection with the Domestication, and (e) obtaining a certificate of de-registration from the Cayman Registrar. In accordance with applicable Law, the Domestication shall provide that at the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any shareholder of Acquiror, (i) each then issued and outstanding share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock; (ii) each then issued and outstanding share of Acquiror Class B Common Stock shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock; (iii) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Public Warrant shall convert automatically into one (1) Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrant, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; (iv) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Private Placement Warrant shall convert automatically into one (1) Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrant, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; and (v) each then issued and outstanding Acquiror Unit shall, to the extent not already split into underlying Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants by the holder thereof, convert automatically, into one (1) share of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and one-third of one Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrant.

 

Section 7.7.  Post-Closing Directors and Officers of Acquiror. Acquiror shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Effective Time:

 

(a)  the Board of Directors of Acquiror shall consist of seven (7) directors, which shall initially include:

 

(i) Tom Tomlinson;

 

(ii)  one (1) director nominee, who shall qualify as an “independent” director for the purposes of NYSE, to be mutually agreed by the Company and Acquiror;

 

(iii) up to two (2) director nominees (the “Sponsor Representatives”), one (1) of whom shall be Matthew Rubel (who shall serve as the initial Chairman of the Board of Directors of Acquiror and who shall be designated as a Class III Director), and one of whom shall be designated by Sponsor pursuant to written notice to be delivered to Acquiror as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement (and in any event within thirty days after the date hereof) and who shall be designated as a Class I Director; and

 

 

(iv) up to three (3) director nominees to be designated by Sentinel Capital Partners (the “Sentinel Designees”), one (1) of whom shall be Owen M. Basham, one (1) of whom shall be James D. Coady and one (1) of whom shall qualify as an “independent” director for the purposes of NYSE, pursuant to written notice to Acquiror as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement (and in any event with thirty days after the date hereof). Of the three (3) Sentinel Designees, one (1) shall be designated as a Class I Director, one (1) shall be designated as a Class II Director and one (1) shall be designated as a Class III Director.

 

(b)  the initial officers of Acquiror shall be as set forth on Section 2.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter, who shall serve in such capacity in accordance with the terms of the governing documents of Acquiror following the Effective Time.

 

(c)  If any Person nominated pursuant to ‎Section 7.7(a) is not duly elected at the Acquiror’s Shareholder Meeting, the Parties shall take all necessary action to fill any such vacancy on the board of directors of Acquiror with an alternative Person designated by the Company or Acquiror pursuant to ‎Section 7.7(a).

  

Article VIII
JOINT COVENANTS

 

Section 8.1.  HSR Act; Other Filings.

 

(a)  In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its Affiliates to) comply promptly but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof with the notification and reporting requirements of the HSR Act. Each of the Company and Acquiror shall substantially comply with any Antitrust Information or Document Requests.

 

(b)  Each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its Affiliates to) request early termination of any waiting period under the HSR Act and exercise its reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain termination or expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act and (ii) prevent the entry, in any Legal Proceeding brought by an Antitrust Authority or any other Person, of any Governmental Order which would prohibit, make unlawful or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(c)  Acquiror, the Company and their respective affiliates shall cooperate in good faith with Governmental Authorities and undertake promptly any and all action required to complete lawfully the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable (but in any event prior to the Agreement End Date) and any and all action necessary or advisable to avoid, prevent, eliminate or remove the actual or threatened commencement of any proceeding in any forum by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or the issuance of any Governmental Order that would delay, enjoin, prevent, restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Merger; provided, however, that none of Acquiror, Sponsor, the Company, nor any of their respective Affiliates shall be required to (i) divest or hold separate, or enter into any licensing or similar arrangement with respect to, any assets or any portion of their respective businesses or to otherwise propose, proffer or agree to any other requirement, obligation, condition or restriction on the conduct of any such business or (ii) terminate, amend or assign existing relationships and contractual rights and obligations thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the foregoing shall not restrict Acquiror, the Company, nor any of their respective Affiliates in any way with respect to the pursuit of any transaction for such Affiliates’ investment vehicles other than Acquiror and the Company and their respective Subsidiaries.

 

 

(d)  With respect to each of the above filings, and any other requests, inquiries, Legal Proceedings or other proceedings by or from Governmental Authorities, each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its controlled Affiliates to) (i) diligently and expeditiously defend and use reasonable best efforts to obtain any necessary clearance, approval, consent, or Governmental Authorization under Laws prescribed or enforceable by any Governmental Authority for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to resolve any objections as may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (ii) cooperate fully with each other in the defense of such matters. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company shall promptly furnish to Acquiror, and Acquiror shall promptly furnish to the Company, copies of any notices or written communications received by such party or any of its Affiliates from any third party or any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and each party shall permit counsel to the other parties an opportunity to review in advance, and each party shall consider in good faith the views of such counsel in connection with, any proposed written communications by such party and/or its Affiliates to any Governmental Authority concerning the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that none of the parties shall extend any waiting period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority without the written consent of the other parties. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company agrees to provide Acquiror and its counsel, and Acquiror agrees to provide the Company and its counsel, the opportunity, on reasonable advance notice, to participate in any substantive meetings or discussions, either in person or by telephone, between such party and/or any of its Affiliates, agents or advisors, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, concerning or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)  Each of the Company, on the one hand, and Acquiror, on the other, shall be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to the Antitrust Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 8.2.  Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals.

 

(a)  Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

(i)  As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, (x) Acquiror and the Company shall jointly prepare and Acquiror shall file with the SEC, mutually acceptable materials which shall include the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC as part of the Registration Statement and sent to the Acquiror Shareholders relating to the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (such proxy statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”), and (y) Acquiror shall prepare (with the Company’s reasonable and prompt cooperation (including causing its Subsidiaries and representatives to cooperate)) and file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of (A) the shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants to be issued in exchange for the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock, Acquiror Public Warrants and Acquiror Units comprising such, respectively, in the Domestication, (B) the Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrants to be issued in exchange for the issued and outstanding Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, in the Domestication (C) the shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock underlying the Domesticated Acquiror Public Warrants and Domesticated Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, and (D) the shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock that constitute the Securities Merger Consideration (collectively, the “Registration Statement Securities”). Each of Acquiror and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Acquiror also agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and any of their respective members or stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Each of Acquiror and the Company agrees to promptly furnish to the other party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Acquiror, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to any regulatory authority (including the NYSE) in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Offer Documents”). Acquiror will cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to be mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders in each case promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

 

(ii)  To the extent not prohibited by Law, Acquiror shall advise the Company, reasonably promptly after Acquiror receives notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Acquiror Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or for additional information. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company and their counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any Offer Document each time before any such document is filed with the SEC, and Acquiror shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made by the Company and its counsel. To the extent not prohibited by Law, Acquiror shall provide the Company and their counsel with (A) any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that Acquiror or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or Offer Documents promptly after receipt of those comments or other communications and (B) a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of Acquiror to those comments and to provide comments on that response (to which reasonable and good faith consideration shall be given), including by participating with the Company or its counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC.

 

(iii)  Each of Acquiror and the Company shall ensure that none of the information supplied by or on its behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading or (B) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders and at the time of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

(iv)  If at any time prior to the Domestication any information relating to the Company, Acquiror or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates, directors or officers is discovered by the Company or Acquiror, which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement, so that neither of such documents would include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, with respect to the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the Acquiror Shareholders.

 

 

(b)  Acquiror Shareholder Approvals. Acquiror shall (a) as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, (i) cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to Acquiror Shareholders in compliance with applicable Law, (ii) solely with respect to the following clause (1), duly (1) give notice of and (2) convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders (the “Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents and Section 710 of the NYSE Listing Rules, for a date no later than thirty (30) Business Days following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective, and (iii) solicit proxies from the holders of Acquiror Common Stock to vote in favor of each of the Transaction Proposals, and (b) provide its shareholders with the opportunity to elect to effect an Acquiror Share Redemption. Acquiror shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its shareholders the (A) adoption and approval of this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations, including approval of Mergers, (B) adoption and approval of the Domestication in accordance with applicable Law and regulations, (C) amendment and restatement of Acquiror’s memorandum and articles of association to be replaced by the certificate of incorporation, in the form attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company) (as may be subsequently amended by mutual written agreement of the Company and Acquiror at any time before the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), including any separate or unbundled proposals as are required to implement the foregoing, (D) approval of the issuance of shares of Domesticated Acquiror Common Stock and Acquiror Units in connection with the Mergers, PIPE Investment and A&R FPA, (E) approval of the adoption of the incentive equity plan (the “Incentive Plan”) in the form reasonably agreed to by the Parties and approved by the board of directors of the Acquiror prior to filing the Registration Statement (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company), (F) election of directors effective as of the Closing as contemplated by ‎Section 7.7(a), (G) adoption and approval of any other proposals as the SEC (or staff member thereof) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement or correspondence related thereto, (H) adoption and approval of any other proposals as reasonably agreed by Acquiror and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and (I) adjournment of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing (such proposals in (A) through (J), together, the “Transaction Proposals”), and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors of Acquiror shall not withdraw, amend, qualify or modify its recommendation to the shareholders of Acquiror that they vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals (together with any withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification of its recommendation to the shareholders of Acquiror described in the Recitals hereto, a “Modification in Recommendation”), except as required by applicable Law. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) Acquiror’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, (y) Acquiror agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting and submit for approval the Transaction Proposals and (z) Acquiror agrees that if the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals shall not have been obtained at any such Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, then Acquiror shall promptly continue to use its reasonable best efforts to take actions, including the actions required by this ‎Section 8.2(b), and hold additional Acquiror Shareholders’ Meetings in order to obtain the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals. Acquiror may only adjourn the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals, (ii) for the absence of a quorum and (iii) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that Acquiror has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel is required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by Acquiror Shareholders prior to the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting; provided that the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (x) may not be adjourned to a date that is more than fifteen (15) Business Days after the date for which the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law) and (y) shall not be held later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Agreement End Date. Acquiror agrees that it shall provide the holders of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock the opportunity to elect redemption of such shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock in connection with the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, as required by Acquiror’s Governing Documents.

 

Section 8.3.  Support of Transaction. Without limiting any covenant contained in ‎Article VI or ‎Article VII, Acquiror and the Company shall each, and each shall cause its Subsidiaries to (a) use reasonable best efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that any of Acquiror, or the Company or their respective Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Merger, and (b) take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or as another party hereto may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of ‎Article IX or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable.

 

Section 8.4.  Tax Matters. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, real property, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes, fees and costs (including any associated penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be borne by Acquiror.

 

 

Section 8.5.  Cooperation; Consultation.

 

(a)  Prior to Closing, each of the Company and Acquiror shall, and each of them shall cause its respective Subsidiaries (as applicable) and its and their officers, directors, managers, employees, consultants, counsel, accounts, agents and other representatives to, reasonably cooperate in a timely manner in connection with the PIPE Investment, any Alternative PIPE Investment and any other financing arrangement the parties mutually agree to seek in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (it being understood and agreed that the consummation of any such financing by the Company or Acquiror shall be subject to the parties’ mutual agreement), including (if mutually agreed by the parties) (i) by providing such information and assistance as the other party may reasonably request, (ii) granting such access to the other party and its representatives as may be reasonably necessary for their due diligence, and (iii) participating in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road shows, drafting sessions, due diligence sessions with respect to such financing efforts (including direct contact between senior management and other representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries at reasonable times and locations). All such cooperation, assistance and access shall be granted during normal business hours and shall be granted under conditions that shall not unreasonably interfere with the business and operations of the Company, Acquiror, or their respective auditors.

 

(b)  From the date of the announcement of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (pursuant to any applicable public communication made in compliance with ‎Section 12.12), until the Closing Date, Acquiror and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to, and shall instruct its financial advisors to, keep the other and each other’s financial advisors reasonably informed with respect to the transactions contemplated herein, including by (i) providing regular updates and (ii) consulting and cooperating with, and considering in good faith any feedback from, the Company or Acquiror or their respective financial advisors with respect to such matters.

 

Section 8.6.  No Solicitation.

 

(a)  During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Closing, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and shall direct its respective employees, agents, officers, directors, representatives and advisors (collectively, “Representatives”) not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, participate in, enter into or continue discussions, negotiations or transactions with, or knowingly encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by, or provide any information to or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Person (other than Acquiror and its agents, representatives, advisors) concerning any merger, acquisition, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the ownership interests and/or assets of the Company, recapitalization or similar transaction (each, a “Company Business Combination”); (ii) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Business Combination; or (iii) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding a Company Business Combination. In addition, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Company Business Combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the foregoing shall not restrict the Company’s Affiliates in any way with respect to the pursuit of any transaction for such Affiliates’ investment vehicles other than the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)  During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Closing, Acquiror and its Subsidiaries shall not, and shall direct their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, enter into or continue discussions or transactions with, or knowingly encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by, or provide any information to, any Person (other than the Company and their respective Representatives) concerning any merger, purchase of all or substantially all of the ownership interests or assets of Acquiror, recapitalization or similar business combination transaction (each, a “Acquiror Business Combination”); (ii) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquiror Business Combination; or (iii) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding an Acquiror Business Combination. Acquiror and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquiror Business Combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the foregoing shall not restrict Acquiror’s Affiliates (including Affiliates of Sponsor) in any way with respect to the pursuit of any transaction for such Affiliates’ investment vehicles other than Acquiror and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(c)  The Company shall promptly (and in no event later than 24 hours after becoming aware of such inquiry, proposal, offer or submission) notify Acquiror if it or, to its knowledge, any of its or its Representatives receives any inquiry, proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Company Business Combination (including the identity of the Person making such inquiry or submitting such proposal, offer or submission), after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. If the Company or its Representatives receives an inquiry, proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Company Business Combination, such Person shall provide the other with a copy of such inquiry, proposal, offer or submission.

 

(d)  Acquiror shall promptly notify the Company if it or, to its knowledge, any of its or its Representatives receives any inquiry, proposal, offer or submission with respect to an Acquiror Business Combination (including the identity of the Person making such inquiry or submitting such proposal, offer or submission), after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. If Acquiror or its Representatives receives an inquiry, proposal, offer or submission with respect to an Acquiror Business Combination such Person shall provide the other with a copy of such inquiry, proposal, offer or submission.

 

Section 8.7.  Notification. From the date hereof until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Closing Date, if after the date hereof the Company or Acquiror becomes aware of any fact or condition arising after the date hereof that (a) for the Company constitutes a material breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in ‎Article IV or of any covenant that would cause the conditions set forth in ‎Section 9.2(a) or ‎Section 9.2(b), as applicable, or not to be satisfied as of the Closing Date, or (b) for Acquiror constitutes a material breach of any representation or warranty made by Acquiror in ‎Article V or of any covenant that would cause the conditions set forth in ‎Section 9.3(a) or ‎Section 9.3(b), as applicable, or not to be satisfied as of the Closing Date, the Company or Acquiror, as applicable, will disclose in writing to the other such breach.

 

Section 8.8.  Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

 

(a)  Acquiror agrees that (i) all rights to indemnification or exculpation now existing in favor of the directors and officers of the Company, as provided in a Company’s Governing Documents or otherwise in effect as of the date of this Agreement and set forth on ‎Section 8.8 of the Company Disclosure Letter, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Closing, shall survive the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Closing for a period of six (6) years, and (ii) the Company will perform and discharge all obligations to provide such indemnity and exculpation during such six (6) year period. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, during such six (6) year period, the Company shall advance expenses in connection with such indemnification as provided in the Company’s Governing Documents or other applicable agreements. The indemnification and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of the Company’s Governing Documents shall not, during such six (6) year period, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Closing in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of the Closing or at any time prior to the Closing, were directors or officers of the Company (the “D&O Persons”) to be so indemnified, have their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring prior to Closing and relating to the fact that such D&O Person was a director or officer of the Company prior to the Closing, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable Law.

 

(b)  None of Acquiror or the Company shall have any obligation under this ‎Section 8.8 to any D&O Person when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine (and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable) that the indemnification of such D&O Person in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.

 

(c)  The Company shall purchase, at or prior to the Closing, and Acquiror shall cause the Company to maintain in effect for a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date, without lapses in coverage, a “tail” policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are currently covered by any comparable insurance policies of the Company as of the date hereof (the “Company D&O Tail Policy”). Such Company D&O Tail Policy shall provide coverage on terms (with respect to coverage and amount) that are substantially the same as (and no less favorable in the aggregate to the insured than) the coverage provided under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as of the date hereof.

 

(d)  Prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror shall purchase a prepaid “tail” policy (an “Acquiror D&O Tail Policy”) with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are currently covered by any comparable insurance policies of Acquiror as of the date hereof, which Acquiror D&O Tail Policy shall be on the same or substantially similar terms agreed to for such tail policy by Acquiror in connection with its initial public offering. If Acquiror elects to purchase such an Acquiror D&O Tail Policy prior to the Effective Time, Acquiror will maintain such Acquiror D&O Tail Policy in full force and effect for a period of no less than six (6) years after the Closing Date and continue to honor its obligations thereunder.

 

 

(e)  If Acquiror, the Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) shall merge or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets as an entity in one or a series of related transactions to any Person, then in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors or assigns of Acquiror or the Company shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this ‎Section 8.8 unless otherwise assumed by operation of Law.

 

(f) The D&O Persons entitled to the indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance set forth in this ‎Section 8.8 are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this ‎Section 8.8. This ‎Section 8.8 shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Acquiror and the Company. The rights of each D&O Person hereunder shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights such Person may have under the Governing Documents of the Company, any other indemnification arrangement, any applicable Law or otherwise.

 

Section 8.9.  Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Acquiror shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of Company Shares or acquisitions of Acquiror Common Stock (including, in each case, securities deliverable upon exercise, vesting or settlement of any derivative securities) resulting from the transactions contemplated hereby by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to be exempt under Rule B-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 8.10.  Employment Agreements. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Acquiror shall work in good faith to execute employment agreements (the “Employment Agreements”) with the persons set forth on Section 8.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter and Acquiror.

 

Article IX
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

 

Section 9.1.  Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, and the Company. The obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II, and the Company to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by all of such parties:

 

(a)  The Acquiror Shareholder Approvals shall have been obtained;

 

(b)  Acquiror shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act);

 

(c)  The waiting period or periods under the HSR Act applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall have expired or been terminated;

 

(d)  There shall not be in force any Governmental Order, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Mergers; provided that the Governmental Authority issuing such Governmental Order has jurisdiction over the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; and

 

(e)  The shares of Acquiror Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants to be issued in connection with the Mergers and Closing shall have been approved for listing on NYSE pursuant to ‎Section 7.3.

 

 

Section 9.2.  Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II. The obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub I, and Merger Sub II to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Mergers and the transactions contemplated herein are subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Acquiror:

 

(a)  (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in ‎Section 4.1 (Company Organization), ‎Section 4.2 (Subsidiaries) other than the last sentence thereof, ‎Section 4.3 (Due Authorization), ‎Section 4.6(a) (Capitalization of the Company), and ‎Section 4.16 (Brokers’ Fees) shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies with respect to the representations and warranties set forth in ‎Section 4.6 (Capitalization of the Company)) as of the Closing Date (other than such representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies) at and as of such date); and (ii) each of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in ‎Article IV other than those set forth above shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifier) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than any representation or warranty that expressly relates to a specific date, which representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on the date so specified), except in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)  The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects their obligations under this Agreement required to be performed by them at or prior to the Closing pursuant to the terms hereof;

 

(c)  No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement;

 

(d)  The Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, duly executed copies of those agreements and documents set forth in ‎Section 2.4(a) and ‎Section 2.4(d)(ii); and

 

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

 

Section 9.3.  Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Mergers and the transactions contemplated herein is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Company:

 

(a)  (i) The representations and warranties of the Acquiror set forth in ‎Section 5.1 (Acquiror Organization), ‎Section 5.2 (Due Authorization), ‎Section 5.11 (Capitalization of Acquiror), and ‎Section 5.12 (Brokers’ Fees) shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies with respect to the representations and warranties set forth in ‎Section 5.11 (Capitalization of Acquiror)) as of the Closing Date (other than such representations and warranties that expressly relates to a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies) at and as of such date); and (ii) each of the representations and warranties of the Acquiror set forth in ‎Article V other than those set forth above shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifier) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than any representation or warranty that expressly relates to a specific date, which representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on the date so specified), except in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Acquiror Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)  The Acquiror and its Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects their obligations under this Agreement required to be performed by them at or prior to the Closing pursuant to the terms hereof;

 

(c)  No Acquiror Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement;

 

(d)  Acquiror shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, duly executed copies of those agreements and documents set forth in ‎Section 2.4(b) and ‎Section 2.4(d)(i); and

 

(e)  The Available Cash Amount shall equal or exceed $350,000,000.

 

 

Article X

 

TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

 

Section 10.1.  Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned:

 

(a)  by written consent of the Company and Acquiror;

 

(b)  by written notice of the Company or Acquiror if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated herein illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated herein; provided that neither Acquiror nor the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this ‎Section 10.1(b) if any action of such party or its Subsidiaries or failure of such party or its Subsidiaries to perform or comply with its obligations under this Agreement shall have caused such Law or injunction and such action or failure to perform constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

 

(c)  by written notice of the Company or Acquiror if the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;

 

(d)  by written notice of Acquiror if the Company shall not have obtained, and delivered to Acquiror, within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, evidence that the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained;

 

(e)  by written notice of the Company or Acquiror if the Closing has not occurred on or before the date that is six (6) months after the date of this Agreement (the “Agreement End Date”) (other than as a result of the terminating party’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement which has resulted in the failure to satisfy a condition set forth in ‎Article IX); provided, however, that if the Acquiror Shareholder Approval is obtained prior to the Agreement End Date, the Agreement End Date shall be extended by thirty (30) days.

 

(f)   by written notice to the Company from Acquiror if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in ‎Section 9.2(a) or ‎Section 9.2(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Company Breach”), provided, however, that Acquiror has not waived such Terminating Company Breach and any of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II are not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement, except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to thirty (30) days (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date Acquiror provides written notice of such violation or breach and the Agreement End Date) after receipt by the Company of notice from Acquiror of such breach, but only as long as the Company continues to use its respective reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Company Breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period;

 

(g)  by written notice to Acquiror from the Company if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in ‎Section 9.3(a) and ‎Section 9.3(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Acquiror Breach”), provided, however, that the Company has not waived such Terminating Acquiror Breach and the Company is not then in material breach of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement, except that, if any such Terminating Acquiror Breach is curable by Acquiror through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to thirty (30) days (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date the Company provides written notice of such violation or breach and the Agreement End Date) after receipt by Acquiror of notice from the Company of such breach, but only as long as Acquiror continues to exercise such reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Acquiror Breach (the “Acquiror Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Acquiror Breach is not cured within the Acquiror Cure Period; or

 

 

(h)  by written notice of Acquiror if the Company shall have failed to deliver the 2020 Financial Statements to Acquiror within sixty (60) days after the execution of this Agreement; provided that Acquiror shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this ‎Section 10.1(h) after the filing of the preliminary Proxy Statement/Registration Statement with the SEC.

 

Section 10.2.  Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to ‎Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or stockholders, other than liability of the Company, Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, as the case may be, for any willful and material breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination, except that the provisions of this ‎Section 10.2 and ‎Article XII and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

Article XI
[reserved]

 

Article XII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.1.  Trust Account Waiver. The Company acknowledges that Acquiror is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a Business Combination. The Company further acknowledges that, as described in its final prospectus filed with the SEC (File No. 333-248899) (the “Prospectus”), substantially all of Acquiror assets consist of the cash proceeds of Acquiror’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account for the benefit of Acquiror, certain of its public shareholders and the underwriters of Acquiror’s initial public offering (the “Trust Account”). The Company acknowledges that it has been advised by Acquiror that, except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to Acquiror to pay its income Tax, the Trust Agreement provides that cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only (i) if Acquiror completes the transactions which constitute a Business Combination, then to those Persons and in such amounts as described in the Prospectus; (ii) if Acquiror fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period and liquidates, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, to Acquiror in limited amounts to permit Acquiror to pay the costs and expenses of its liquidation and dissolution, and then to Acquiror’s public shareholders; and (iii) if Acquiror holds a shareholder vote to amend Acquiror’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of the obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock if Acquiror fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period, then for the redemption of any shares of Acquiror Common Stock properly tendered in connection with such vote. For and in consideration of Acquiror entering into this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby irrevocably waives any right, title, interest or claim of any kind it has or may have in the future in or to any monies in the Trust Account and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement and any negotiations, Contracts or agreements with Acquiror; provided that (x) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit the Company’s right to pursue a claim against Acquiror for legal relief against monies or other assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the consummation of the transactions (including a claim for Acquiror to specifically perform its obligations under this Agreement and cause the disbursement of the balance of the cash remaining in the Trust Account (after giving effect to the Acquiror Share Redemptions) to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement) so long as such claim would not affect Acquiror’s ability to fulfill its obligation to effectuate the Acquiror Share Redemptions and (y) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Company may have in the future against Acquiror’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds).

 

Section 12.2.  Waiver. Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its board of directors, board of managers, managing member or other officers or Persons thereunto duly authorized, (a) extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties (of another party hereto) that are contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver.

 

 

Section 12.3.  Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:

 

(a)  If to Acquiror, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II prior to the Closing, to:

 

	Empower Ltd.
	245 Park Avenue, 38th Floor
	New York, NY 10167
	Attention:	Matthew Rubel
		Graham Clempson
		Andrew Spring
	Email:	***@***
		***@***
		***@***

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

	Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
	200 Park Ave, New York, NY 10166
	New York, New York 10166
	Attention:	George Stamas
		Andrew Herman
		Evan D’Amico
	Email:	***@***
		***@***
		***@***

 

(b)  If to the Company prior to the Closing, or to Acquiror after the Effective Time, to:

 

	Holley Parent Holdings, LLC
	c/o Sentinel Capital Partners, L.L.C.
	330 Madison Ave, 27th Floor
	New York, NY 10017
	Attention:	James Coady
		Owen Basham
		Vincent Taurassi
	Email:	***@***
		***@***
		***@***

  

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

	Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
	787 Seventh Avenue
	New York, NY 10019-6099
	Attention:	William Gump
		Claire James
	Email:	***@***
		***@***

 

 

or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.

 

Section 12.4.  Assignment. No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this ‎Section 12.4 shall be null and void, ab initio.

 

Section 12.5.  Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and its successors and permitted assigns and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except for (a) the provisions of ‎Section 8.8 (which shall be for the benefit of the D&O Persons), (b) the provisions of ‎Section 12.18 (which shall be for the benefit of GDC and Willkie), and (c) the provisions of ‎Section 12.16 (which shall be for the benefit of the Persons described therein).

 

Section 12.6.  Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, each party hereto shall be responsible for and pay its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided that, if the Closing shall occur, Acquiror shall make, or cause to make, such payments contemplated in accordance with ‎Section 2.4(c).

 

Section 12.7.  Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 12.8.  Headings; Counterparts. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 12.9.  Company and Acquiror Disclosure Letters. The Company Disclosure Letter and the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to the Company Disclosure Letter and/or the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a party in the applicable Disclosure Letter, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of the applicable Disclosure Letter if it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter. Certain information set forth in the Disclosure Letters is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.

 

Section 12.10.  Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement (together with the Company Disclosure Letter and the Acquiror Disclosure Letter), (b) the Sponsor Agreement, (c) the A&R FPA, (d) the Subscription Agreements, and (e) the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2020, between Acquiror and the Company Stockholder (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), (f) the Seller Lock-Up Agreement, (g) the Employment Agreements, (h) the Registration Rights Agreement, (i) the Stockholders’ Agreement, (j) the Acquiror Charter, (k) the Acquiror Bylaws and (l) the Incentive Plan (clauses (b) through (l), collectively, the “Ancillary Agreements”) constitute the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby exist between such parties except as expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

 

Section 12.11.  Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed in the same manner as this Agreement and which makes reference to this Agreement.

 

Section 12.12.  Publicity.

 

(a)  All press releases or other public communications relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall prior to the Closing be subject to the prior mutual approval of Acquiror and the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed by any party; provided that no party shall be required to obtain consent pursuant to this ‎Section 12.12(a) to the extent any proposed release or statement is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this ‎Section 12.12(a).

 

(b)  The restriction in ‎Section 12.12(a) shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities Law, any Governmental Authority or stock exchange rule; provided, however, that in such an event, the party making the announcement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing. Disclosures resulting from the parties’ efforts to obtain approval or early termination under the HSR Act and to make any related filing shall be deemed not to violate this ‎Section 12.12. Nothing contained herein shall prevent Acquiror and the Company and their respective Affiliates (including the Company Stockholder and its equityholders) from disclosing customary or any other reasonable information concerning the transactions contemplated hereby to their investors and prospective investors in connection with their and their Affiliates’ fund raising, marketing, informational or reporting activities.

 

Section 12.13.  Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.

 

Section 12.14.  Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)  Any proceeding or Legal Proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and each of the parties irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Legal Proceeding, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Legal Proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any proceeding or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Legal Proceeding, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this ‎Section 12.14.

 

(b)  EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 

Section 12.15.  Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Legal Proceeding shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.

 

Section 12.16.  Non-Recourse. Except in the case of claims against a Person in respect of such Person’s actual fraud:

 

(a)  Solely with respect to the Company, Acquiror and its Subsidiaries, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought against, the Company, Acquiror and its Subsidiaries as named parties hereto; and

 

(b)  Except to the extent a party hereto (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such party hereto), (i) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of the Company, Acquiror or its Subsidiaries and (ii) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in Contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the Company, Acquiror or its Subsidiaries under this Agreement for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 12.17.  Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Except (x) as otherwise contemplated by ‎Section 10.2, or (y) in the case of claims against a Person in respect of such Person’s actual fraud, none of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing and shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Effective Time (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (b) this ‎Article XII.

 

Section 12.18.  Conflicts and Privilege.

 

(a)  Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, Acquiror), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (x) the Sponsor, the shareholders or holders of other equity interests of Acquiror or the Sponsor and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than Acquiror) (collectively, the “Empower Group”), on the one hand, and (y) Acquiror and/or any member of the Company Group (as defined below), on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP (“GDC”), that represented Acquiror and/or the Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent the Sponsor and/or any other member of the Empower Group, in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to Acquiror, and even though such counsel may have represented Acquiror in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for Acquiror and/or the Sponsor. Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns, further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among Acquiror, the Sponsor and/or any other member of the Empower Group, on the one hand, and GDC, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Mergers and belong to the Empower Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by Acquiror. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Company prior to the Closing with Acquiror or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of Acquiror.

  

(b)  Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, Acquiror), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (x) the stockholders or holders of other equity interests of the Company and any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than Acquiror) (collectively, the “Company Group”), on the one hand, and (y) Acquiror and/or any member of the Empower Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (“Willkie”) that represented the Company prior to the Closing may represent any member of the Company Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to Acquiror, and even though such counsel may have represented Acquiror and/or the Company in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for Acquiror. Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among the Company and/or any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and Willkie, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Mergers and belong to the Company Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by Acquiror. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by Acquiror prior to the Closing with the Company under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of Acquiror.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	Empower Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Matthew Rubel
	Name:	Matthew Rubel
	Title:	CEO
	Empower Merger Sub I Inc.
	By:	/s/ Andrew Spring
	Name:	Andrew Spring
	Title:	CFO
	Empower Merger Sub II LLC
	By:	/s/ Andrew Spring
	Name:	Andrew Spring
	Title:	CFO
	Holley Intermediate Holdings, Inc.
	By:	/s/ James D. Coady
	Name:	James D. Coady
	Title:	President

 

 

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