Non Redemption Agreement and Termination of Backstop Agreement dated September 26, 2024 made as of December 13, 2024 by and among Oak Woods Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company and Fortune Woods Investment Holding Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company (the “Backstop Investor”)
Exhibit 10.2
NON-REDEMPTION AGREEMENT
This NON-REDEMPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 13, 2024, is made by and among Oak Woods Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman exempted company (the “Company”), and the Backstop Investor (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Company is a special purpose acquisition company whose Class A Ordinary Shares (“Class A Ordinary Shares”) are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OAKU”, and whose warrants (“Warrants”) are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OAKUW”, and whose rights (“Rights”) are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OAKUR,” among other securities of the Company;
WHEREAS, board of directors of the Company has unanimously approved the transactions contemplated by that certain Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of August 11, 2023 by and among OAKU, Huajin (China) Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted holding company (“Huajin”), Xuehong Li (as the “Shareholders’ Representative”) and Oak Woods Merger Sub Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of OAKU (the “Merger Sub”), as amended (the “Merger Agreement”). The parties subsequently entered into an amendment to that certain Merger Agreement dated March 23, 2024, reflecting their agreement to extend the date by which the Purchaser was required to complete a business combination for purposes of Section 12 under the Merger Agreement from March 28, 2024 to June 28, 2024 for the purpose of allowing the Parties to consummate the Merger (the “Extension Agreement”). The Parties subsequently entered into the First Amended and Restated Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated June, 26 2024 (the “First Amended Merger Agreement”), reflecting their agreement to extend the date by which the Purchaser was required to complete a business combination for purposes of Section 12 under the Merger Agreement from June 28, 2024 to September 28, 2024 and remove the condition that the Company complete a PIPE prior to entering into agreements with one or more backstop investors. The parties subsequently entered into an amendment to the First Amended Merger Agreement dated September 28, 2024, reflecting their agreement to extend the date by which the Purchaser was required to complete a business combination for purposes of Section 12 under the First Amended Merger Agreement from September 28, 2024 to March 28, 2025 (the “Second Extension Agreement”).
WHEREAS, in conjunction with this Agreement, the parties to the First Amended Merger Agreement have entered into the Second Amended and Restated Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Second Amended Merger Agreement”): (i) reflecting and restating the terms of the Second Extension Agreement to extend the date by which the Purchaser was required to complete a business combination for purposes of Section 12 under the Merger Agreement from September 28, 2024 to March 28, 2025, and; (ii) updating the terms relating to the Backstop Investor to reflect the terms of this Non Redemption Agreement. The Merger Agreement, all amendments thereto, and the other related proposals, pursuant to which the Merger Sub will merge with and into Huajin, with Huajin surviving the merger, are also hereinafter referred to as (the “Business Combination” or “Merger”).
WHEREAS, Section 9.1(f) of the Second Amended and Restated Merger Agreement includes the condition that the Company shall have at least USD $5,000,000 prior to or at the Closing (as defined below), net of any amounts required to be paid to satisfy the redemption of any Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination (the “Minimum Cash Condition”) at the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing”);
WHEREAS, the Company and Fortune Woods Investment Holding Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company (hereinafter “Backstop Investor”) is entering into this Agreement in anticipation of the closing of the Business Combination in order to ensure the Company’s ability to meet the Minimum Cash Condition.
WHEREAS, prior to or concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, the Company may enter into other non-redemption agreements with substantially similar terms with other shareholders of the Company (such non-redemption agreements, and such other shareholders of the Company, “Other Backstop Investors”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “COI”), in its capacity as a holder of Class A ordinary Shares, the Backstop Investor has the right to require that the Company redeem the Backstop Investor Shares held by the Backstop Investor in connection with the Business Combination, for the Redemption Price (as defined in the COI), representing the right to receive the Backstop Investor’s portion of the funds currently in the Company’s trust account, to the extent the Backstop Investor exercises such redemption right;
WHEREAS, Backstop Investor has expressed an intent to purchase a minimum of 500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company in the open market, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Backstop Investor desires to agree to refrain from exercising its redemption rights with respect to such shares; and
WHEREAS, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Merger Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. Non-Redemption Agreement. Commencing on the date that is 5 business days from the public disclosure of this Agreement through that certain Current Report defined pursuant to Section 8 hereof, provided the Company has cleared SEC Comments with regard to the proxy statement and prospectus underlying the Merger (“Merger Proxy”), and through 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the last date on which it may purchase the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares such that the settlement of such purchase shall occur on or before the Record Date in connection with the Company’s Merger Proxy (the “Market Deadline”), Backstop Investor shall (provided it is lawful to do so) use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase 500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares in the open market or in other privately negotiated transactions with third parties. On the date immediately following the Market Deadline and promptly at other times requested by the Company from time to time, Backstop Investor shall notify the Company in writing of the number of Class A Ordinary Shares so purchased (hereinafter the “Open Market Shares”) the aggregate purchase price paid therefor by the Backstop Investor. For the avoidance of doubt, the Backstop Investor may have voting and investment power over additional shares in excesss of the contemplated 500,000 Open market Shares of Class A Ordinary Shares (such shares, “Non-Backstop Investor Shares”) which will not be subject to this Agreement;
Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Backstop Investor irrevocably and unconditionally hereby agrees that it will not elect to redeem or otherwise tender or submit for redemption any of the Open Market Shares in connection with the Business Combination; provided also that in the event the Backstop Investor has previously elected to redeem, tendered or submitted the Open Market Shares for redemption, the Backstop Investor shall rescind or reverse such redemption within 2 business days following the execution of this Agreement and no later than 2 Business Days prior to the closing of the Business Combination. So long as at least 500,000 Open market Shares are owned by the Backstop Investor upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Company shall pay to the Backstop Investor a payment in respect of its Open Market Shares (the “Non-Redemption Cash”) in cash released from the Trust Account (as defined below) equal to $100,000 immediately following the close of the Business Combination.
2. Restrictions. From the date of this Agreement until such time as the Backstop Investor has irrevocably rescinded or reversed the redemption right with respect to the Open Market Shares, the Backstop Investor hereby agrees that neither it, nor any person or entity acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, will offer for sale, sell or otherwise dispose of (including by gift, merger, tendering into any tender offer or exchange offer or otherwise) any Open Market Shares (collectively, a “Transfer”).
3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other party that: (a) it is a validly existing company, partnership or corporation, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or incorporation; (b) this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation on it in accordance with its terms, subject to laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and relief of debtors, and laws governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies; (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a violation of its Certificate of Formation, Certificate of Incorporation, or Memorandum of Association as applicable, or conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound. The Backstop Investor represents and warrants to the Company, that, as of the date hereof, (i) the Backstop Investor beneficially owns the number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares set forth opposite the Backstop Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto and (ii) all such shares of Class A Ordinary Shares are otherwise currently entitled to be redeemed.
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4. Additional Covenants. The Backstop Investor hereby covenants and agrees that, except for this Agreement, the Backstop Investor shall not, at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, (i) enter into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to the Open Market Shares (or any securities received in exchange therefore) inconsistent with Backstop Investor’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) grant a proxy, a consent or power of attorney with respect to the Open Market Shares (or any securities received in exchange therefore), (iii) enter into any agreement or take any action that would make any representation or warranty of Backstop Investor contained herein untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or have the effect of preventing or disabling Backstop Investor from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement, (iv) purchase the Open Market Shares at a price higher than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process, or (v) vote the Open Market Shares in favor of the Business Combination.
5. Expenses. Each party shall be responsible for its own fees and expenses related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
6. Termination. This Agreement and all of its provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest to occur of (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (b) the mutual written consent of the parties hereto, (c) March 28, 2025, if the Business Combination has not been consummated by such date. Upon such termination of this Agreement, all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will terminate, without any liability or other obligation on the part of any party hereto to any person in respect hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to clauses (a) and (d) above shall not affect any liability on the part of any party for an intentional breach of this Agreement. Section 5 through and including Section 26 of this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement.
7. Trust Account Waiver. The Backstop Investor acknowledges that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of its initial public offering (“IPO”), as well as potentially containing proceeds of a private placement (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of its public shareholders and certain other parties (including the underwriters of the IPO). For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Backstop Investor hereby agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any assets held in the Trust Account, and it shall not make any claim against the Trust Account, regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Agreement or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to hereafter as the “Released Claims”); provided, that the Released Claims shall not include any rights or claims of the Backstop Investor or any of its related parties as a shareholder of the Company to the extent related to or arising from any Open Market Shares. The Backstop Investor hereby irrevocably waives (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) any Released Claims that it may have against the Trust Account now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the Released Claims. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall not restrict the Backstop Investor’s Redemption Rights (as defined in the COI) with respect to the Non-Backstop Investor Shares.
8. Public Disclosure. The Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC (the “Current Report”) reporting the material terms of this Agreement but not including the names of the Backstop Investor and its affiliates and/or advised funds, unless required by law, as well as: (i) the purpose of the purchases by the Backstop Investor; (ii) the the impact, if any, of the purchases by the SPAC sponsor or its affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; (iii) re-publish the number of Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed pursuant to the most recent historical redemption activity, within four (4) Business Days following the execution of this Agreement. The Company shall not, and shall cause its representatives to not, disclose any material non-public information to the Backstop Investor concerning the Company, the Class A Ordinary Shares or the Business Combination, other than the existence of this Agreement, such that the Backstop Investor shall not be in possession of any such material non-public information from and after the filing of the Current Report. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Backstop Investor agrees that the Company shall have the right to publicly disclose the nature of the Backstop Investor’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement in any filing by the Company with the SEC.
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9. Governing Law. This Agreement, the rights and duties of the parties hereto, and any disputes (whether in contract, tort or statute) arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if such court does not have jurisdiction, the New York state courts located in New York, New York, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The parties irrevocably agree that all such claims shall be heard and determined in such a New York federal or state court, and that such jurisdiction of such courts with respect thereto will be exclusive. Each party hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement that it is not subject to such jurisdiction, or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in such courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement may not be enforced in or by such courts. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such parties and over the subject matter of any such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 22 hereof or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, will be valid and sufficient service thereof.
10. Waiver of Jury Trial. To the extent not prohibited by applicable law that cannot be waived, each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any right it may have to trial by jury in respect of any litigation based on, arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or any course of conduct, course of dealing, verbal or written statement or action of any party hereto or thereto, in each case, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, statute, equity or otherwise. Each party hereby further agrees and consents that any such litigation shall be decided by court trial without a jury and that the parties to this Agreement may file a copy of this Agreement with any court as written evidence of the consent of the parties to the waiver of their right to trial by jury.
11. Freely Tradable. The Company confirms that (i) the Open Market Shares will be freely tradeable without restrictive legends following the Business Combination; the Open Market Shares will not require re-registration pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC on Form S-1 or Form S-3 or equivalent following the Business Combination; and that the Backstop Investor shall not be identified as a statutory underwriter in any registration statement filed with the SEC on Form S-1 or Form S-3 or equivalent.
12. Form W-9 or W-8. The Backstop Investor shall, upon or prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, execute and deliver to the Company a completed IRS Form W-9 or Form W-8, as applicable.
13. Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company and any of its agents and representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount payable hereunder any such taxes as may be required to be deducted and withheld from such amounts (and any other amounts treated as paid for applicable tax law) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any other applicable tax law (as determined in good faith by the party so deducting or withholding in its sole discretion). To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
14. Non-Reliance. The Backstop Investor has had the opportunity to consult its own advisors, including financial and tax advisors, regarding this Agreement or the arrangements contemplated hereunder, and the Backstop Investor hereby acknowledges that neither the Company nor any representative or affiliate of the Company has provided or will provide the Backstop Investor with any financial, tax or other advice relating to this Agreement, or the arrangements contemplated hereunder.
15. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the parties, Huajin and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly named in this Section 15, this Agreement is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the parties, Huajin and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever by reason this Agreement.
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16. Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder will be assigned (including by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the non-assigning party hereto (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Backstop Investor may transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to one or more investment funds or accounts managed or advised by the Backstop Investor (or a related party or affiliate) and to the extent such transferee is not a party to this Agreement, such transferee shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof prior to any such transfer being effectuated.
17. Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and the non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the state or federal courts within the State of New York.
18. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
19. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
20. No Partnership, Agency or Joint Venture. This Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship between the Backstop Investor, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, and is not intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship between the parties.
21. Blocker Provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares that may be acquired by the Backstop Investor upon any exercise of Warrants in the Company and its successor(s) shall be limited to the extent necessary to ensure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares then beneficially owned by such Backstop Investor and its affiliates and any other persons whose beneficial ownership of Class A Ordinary Shares would be aggregated with the Backstop Investor’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 9.99% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A Ordinary Shares (including for such purpose the shares of Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon such exercise). For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each warrant exercise hereunder will constitute a representation by the Backstop Investor that it has evaluated the limitation set forth in this paragraph and determined that issuance of the full number of Warrant Shares requested in such warrant exercise is permitted under this paragraph. This provision shall not restrict the number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares which a Backstop Investor may receive or beneficially own in order to determine the amount of securities or other consideration that such Backstop Investor may receive in the event of a merger or other business combination or reclassification involving the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this restriction shall not be conferred upon any third party to whom the Backstop Investor transfers such Warrants. This restriction may not be waived.
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22. Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) if personally delivered, on the date of delivery; (b) if delivered by express courier service of national standing for next day delivery (with charges prepaid), on the Business Day following the date of delivery to such courier service; (c) if delivered by electronic mail, on the date of transmission if on a Business Day before 5:00 p.m. local time of the business address of the recipient party (otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day), provided the sender receives no bounce-back or similar message indicating non-delivery; in each case to the appropriate addresses set forth below (or to such other addresses as a party may designate by notice to the other parties in accordance with this Section 22):
If to the Company prior to consummation of the Business Combination: | ||
Oak Woods Acquisition Corporation | ||
101 Roswell Drive, Nepean, Ontario, | ||
K2J 0H5, Canada | ||
Attn: Lixin Zheng | ||
Telephone: (+1) 403 ###-###-#### | ||
Email: ***@*** | ||
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: | ||
RAITI, PLLC | ||
1345 Avenue of the Americas | ||
New York, New York 10105 | ||
Attn: Warren A. Raiti, Esq. | ||
Tel: (+1) 212 ###-###-#### | ||
Email: ***@*** | ||
If to the Company after consummation of the Business Combination: | ||
Huajin (China) Holdings Limited | ||
c/o Shaanxi Qianxiang Health Technology Co., Ltd. | ||
2nd Fl, Century Yard, Cricket Square | ||
P.O.Box 902, Grand Cayman, KY1-1103, Cayman Islands | ||
Attn: Xuehong Li, Chair of the Board of Directors | ||
Email: 1937152666@qq.com | ||
with a copy to: | ||
Ortoli Rosenstadt, LLP | ||
366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor | ||
New York, NY 10017 | ||
Attn.: Yarona Yieh, Esq. | ||
e-mail: yly@orllp.legal | ||
If to the Backstop Investor: | ||
Fortune Woods Investment Holding Limited | ||
Attn; Li, Lin | ||
JinYuSanJiang Community, Suite 1-1805 | ||
Yiqiao Town, Xiaoshan District | ||
Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China | ||
Email: 1730083841@qq.com |
23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (any of which may be delivered by electronic transmission), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
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24. Amendment and Termination of June 26, 2024 Backstop Agreement. That certain Backstop Agreement by and among the parties hereto and entered on June 26, 2024 is hereby amended, pursuant to Section 5 thereof to permit termination of that agreement upon mutual written agreement of the parties thereto, and is together with that amendment hereby terminated.
25. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior written or oral understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto relating in any way to the Company.
26. Most Favored Nation. In the event the Company or the Sponsor enters one or more other similar non-redemption agreements with any Other Backstop Investors before or after the execution of this Agreement in connection with the Business Combination, the Company represents that the terms of such other similar non-redemption agreements are not materially more favorable to such Other Backstop Investors thereunder than the terms of this Agreement are in respect of the Backstop Investor. In the event that any Other Backstop Investor is afforded any such more favorable terms pursuant to such similar non-redemption agreement than the Backstop Investor, the Company shall promptly inform the Backstop Investor of such more favorable terms in writing, and the Backstop Investor shall have the right to elect to have such more favorable terms included herein, in which case the parties hereto shall promptly amend this Agreement to effect the same.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the date first above written.
Oak Woods Acquisition Corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Lixin Zheng | |
Name: | Lixin Zheng | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Backstop Investor | ||
Fortune Woods Investment Holding Limited | ||
By: | /s/ Li Lin | |
Name: | Li, Lin | |
Title: | Manager |
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