8-K
YHN Acquisition I Ltd (YHNA)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGECOMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section13 or 15(d) of the
Securities ExchangeAct of 1934
April 3, 2025
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
YHN Acquisition I Limited
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| British Virgin Islands | 001-42251 | n/a |
|---|---|---|
| (State or other jurisdiction<br><br>of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer<br><br>Identification No.) |
| 2/F, Hang Seng Building 200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai<br><br> <br>Hong Kong | n/a | |
| --- | --- | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
+852 5499 8101
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☒ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Units, each consisting of one Ordinary Share, no par value, and one Right entitling the holder to receive one-tenth of an Ordinary Share | YHNAU | The<br> Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Ordinary Share | YHNA | The<br> Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| Rights | YHNAR | The<br> Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material DefinitiveAgreement.
This sectiondescribes the material provisions of the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below) and certain related documents but does notpurport to describe all of the terms thereof. Shareholders, rights holders and other interested parties of YHN Acquisition I Limited,a British Virgin Islands company and Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands company are urged to read such agreement in its entirety.The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the following agreements, copies of which (orforms of which) are attached as exhibits hereto. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used below are defined in theBusiness Combination Agreement.
TheBusiness Combination Agreement
GeneralDescription of the Business Combination Agreement
On April 3, 2025, YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“YHN” or “Parent”) entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement with Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands company (“Mingde” or the “Company”), pursuant to which, (a) immediately prior to the Closing, Parent will merge with and into Purchaser, with Purchaser continuing as the surviving entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”), (b) at the Closing, the parties will effect a merger of Merger Sub, a Cayman Islands company and wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “MergerSub”), to be formed for the sole purpose of merging with and into the Company (the “Acquisition Merger”) in which the Company will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the Acquisition Merger, together with the Reincorporation Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the “Transactions”); and (c) following the Closing, Purchaser will be a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq.
Consideration
The Merger Consideration is $396,000,000. The 39,600,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be delivered by Purchaser to the Company Shareholders (the “Merger Consideration Shares”) is based on an aggregate pre-money equity value for 100% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares, with each Purchaser Ordinary Share valued at $10.00.
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Business Combination Agreement and the Acquisition Merger and without any action on the part of the Merger Sub, the Company or the Company Shareholders, the Purchaser shall issue the full amount of the Merger Consideration Shares, on the basis that each Company Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Excluded Shares and Appraisal Shares, if any) shall be canceled and automatically converted into the right to receive, without interest, its pro rata portion of the Merger Consideration Shares, which are comprised of (i) 37,620,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares as the Closing Payment Shares and (ii) 1,980,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Company Shareholders at the Closing and held back as security for the Company’s representations and warranties as further set forth in Article XI of the Business Combination Agreement (the “Holdback Shares”) as the Holdback Shares.
1
Representationsand Warranties
In the Business Combination Agreement, the Company makes certain representations and warranties (with certain exceptions set forth in the disclosure schedules to the Business Combination Agreement) relating to, among other things: (1) corporate existence and power of the Company and its subsidiaries (together, the “Company Group”) and similar corporate matters; (2) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Business Combination Agreement and other transaction documents; (3) no need for governmental authorization for the execution, delivery or performance of the Business Combination Agreement and additional agreements thereto (the “Additional Agreements”); (4) absence of conflicts; (5) capital structure of the Company; (6) accuracy of charter documents of the Company Group; (7) accuracy of corporate records; (8) accuracy of the list of all assumed or “doing business as” names used by the Company Group; (9) accuracy of the list of each subsidiary of the Company; (10) required consents and approvals; (11) financial information; (12) books and records; (13) absence of certain changes or events; (14) title to assets and properties; (15) litigation threatened against or affecting the Company and its subsidiaries; (16) material contracts; (17) material licenses and permits; (18) compliance with laws; (19) ownership of intellectual property; (20) customers and suppliers; (21) accounts receivable and payable and loans; (22) pre-payments; (23) employees; (24) employment matters; (25) withholding of obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries applicable to its employees; (26) real property; (27) tax matters; (28) regulatory matters; (29) environmental laws; (30) finders’ fees; (31) powers of attorney and suretyships; (32) directors and officers; (33) certain business practices; (34) money laundering laws; (35) international trade matters and anti-bribery compliance; (36) that the Company is not an investment company; and (37) exclusivity of representations and warranties.
In the Business Combination Agreement, YHN, on its behalf and also on behalf of Purchaser and Merger Sub (together, the “PurchaserParties”), makes certain representations and warranties relating to, among other things: (1) proper corporate existence and power; (2) authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Business Combination Agreement and Additional Agreements; (3) no need for governmental authorization for the execution, delivery or performance of the Business Combination Agreement and Additional Agreements; (4) absence of conflicts; (5) finders’ fees; (6) issuance of the Merger Consideration Shares; (7) capital structure; (8) trust fund; (9) validity of Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) listing; (10) board approval; (11) YHN’s filing documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and financial statements; (12) absence of litigation; (13) business activities; (14) compliance with laws; (15) anti-money laundering laws; (16) OFAC compliance; (17) that YHN is not an investment company; (18) tax matters; (19) transactions with affiliates; (20) independent investigation; and (21) exclusivity of representations and warranties.
NoSurvival
The representations and warranties of the parties contained in the Business Combination Agreement terminate as of, and do not survive, the Closing. The covenants and agreements of the parties contained in the Business Combination Agreement do not survive the Closing, except those covenants and agreements to be performed after the Closing, which covenants and agreements will survive until fully performed.
ConductPrior to Closing; Covenants Pending Closing
The Company and the Purchaser Parties have agreed to operate their respective business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practices, prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (with certain exceptions) and not to take certain specified actions without the prior written consent of the other party.
The Business Combination Agreement also contains customary pre-closing covenants. ****
2
Conditionsto Closing
GeneralConditions to Closing
The Closing is conditioned on, among other things, (1) no law or order that has the effect of preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Business Combination; (2) the SEC shall have declared effective the Registration Statement with respect to the Business Combination Agreement and no stop order shall have been issued in respect thereof; (3) the Business Combination being approved by the requisite vote of the YHN shareholders; (4) the Business Combination being approved by the requisite vote of the Company shareholders; (5) each of Purchaser and Merger Sub shall have been formed and shall have executed a joinder agreement to the Business Combination Agreement; and (6) all required filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other applicable anti-trust laws shall have been made and any applicable waiting period shall have expired or otherwise been terminated.
PurchaserParties’ Conditions to Closing
The obligations of the Purchaser Parties to consummate the Business Combination, in addition to the conditions described above in the paragraph above entitled “General Conditions to Closing”, are conditioned upon, among others, each of the following, in addition to customary certificates, instruments and documents, the Additional Agreements referenced below and other customary closing deliveries: (1) the Company Group shall have duly performed all of its obligations under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing Date in all material respects; (2) the representations and warranties of the Company Group being true on and as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the date of the Closing except as would not be expected to have a material adverse effect; (3) there having been no material adverse effect to the Company Group which is continuing and uncured; (4) the Purchaser Parties shall have received a certificate from the Company’s CEO and CFO confirming items (1) through (3); (5) the Purchaser Parties shall have received the Company’s governing documents, authorizing resolutions, and a recent good standing certificate; (6) the Purchaser Parties shall have received all necessary governmental approvals, including the CSRC filing, in acceptable form; (7) the Purchaser Parties shall have received executed Additional Agreements from the Company; and (8) the Purchaser Parties shall have received executed Additional Agreements from all other required parties (excluding Parent or the Company).
TheCompany Conditions to Closing
The obligations of the Company to consummate the Business Combination, in addition to the conditions described above in the paragraph above entitled “General Conditions to Closing”, are conditioned upon, among others, each of the following, in addition to customary certificates, instruments and documents, the Additional Agreements referenced below and other customary closing deliveries: (1) the Purchaser Parties shall have performed all obligations under the Business Combination Agreement due by the Closing Date in all material respects; (2) the Article VI representations and warranties (excluding Sections 6.5 and 6.7) shall be true as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the Closing Date, except as would not cause a Material Adverse Effect, and Sections 6.5 and 6.7 warranties shall be true as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the Closing Date, with only de minimis inaccuracies; (3) no uncured event shall exist that could cause a Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect; (4) the Company shall have a certificate from an officer of Purchaser Parties confirming items (1) to (3); (5) the Purchaser Parties shall have complied with Securities Act and Exchange Act reporting until Closing; and (6) the Purchaser shall stay Nasdaq-listed with Merger Consideration Shares approved, and no unresolved Nasdaq notice of listing failure shall exist by Closing.
3
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by either the Company or any Purchaser Party if the Acquisition Merger has not occurred on or prior to December 18, 2025 (the “Outside Date”).
The Business Combination Agreement also may be terminated under certain other customary and limited circumstances prior to the Effective Time, including, among other reasons: (1) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent, as authorized by their respective boards; (2) by either the Company or any Purchaser Party if a final, non-appealable order is issued permanently prohibiting the Business Combination; (3) by the Company if a Purchaser Party’s uncured material breach of representations, warranties, or covenants prevents satisfaction of Closing conditions in Section 10.3, provided the Company is not in material breach; (4) by any Purchaser Party if the Company’s uncured material breach of representations, warranties, or covenants prevents satisfaction of Closing conditions in Section 10.2, provided no Purchaser Party is in material breach; (5) by either the Company or any Purchaser Party if the Parent Special Meeting fails to secure Required Parent Shareholder Approval; or (6) by any Purchaser Party if the Audited or Unaudited Financial Statements are not delivered by April 30, 2025.
If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated, all obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement (except for certain obligations related to public announcements, confidentiality, fees and expenses, trust account waiver, termination and general provisions) will terminate, and no party to the Business Combination Agreement will have any further liability to any other party thereto except for liability for fraud claims or for willful breach of the Business Combination Agreement prior to the termination. The Business Combination Agreement does not provide for any termination fees.
GoverningLaw
The Business Combination Agreement is governed by Delaware law. Any dispute pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or the Business Combination are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom), or, if no federal court in the State of Delaware accepts jurisdiction, any state court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom).
The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto.
TheBusiness Combination Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants that the respective parties made to each other as ofthe date of such agreement or other specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations, warranties, covenants and agreementswere made for purposes of the contract among the respective parties and are subject to important qualifications and limitations agreedto by the parties in connection with negotiating such agreement. The Business Combination Agreement has been filed to provide investorswith information regarding its terms, but it is not intended to provide any other factual information about YHN, the Company or any otherparty to the Business Combination Agreement. In particular, the representations and warranties, covenants and agreements contained inthe Business Combination Agreement, which were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for thebenefit of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties (includingbeing qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the BusinessCombination Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts) and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to thecontracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors and reports and documents filed with the SEC. Investors should notrely on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements, or any descriptions thereof, as characterizations of the actual stateof facts or condition of any party to the Business Combination Agreement. In addition, the representations, warranties, covenants andagreements and other terms of the Business Combination Agreement may be subject to subsequent waiver or modification. Moreover, informationconcerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties and other terms may change after the date of the Business CombinationAgreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in YHN’s or Purchaser’s public disclosures.
4
AdditionalAgreements Executed at the Signing of the Business Combination Agreement
CompanyShareholders Support Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company have entered into a support agreement (the “Company Shareholders Support Agreement”), pursuant to which such shareholders agreed to, among other things, approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination.
The foregoing description of the Company Shareholders Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto.
SponsorSupport Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, certain shareholders of YHN have entered into a support agreement (the “SponsorSupport Agreement”), pursuant to which such shareholders agreed to, among other things, approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination.
The foregoing description of the Sponsor Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto.
AdditionalAgreements to be Executed at Closing
Lock-UpAgreements
Upon the Closing, shareholders who will own at least 3% of Purchaser’s outstanding shares immediately after the Closing (the “SignificantShareholders”) will execute lock-up agreements (the “Lock-Up Agreements”) with regard to the Purchaser ordinary shares to be issued by Purchaser to such Significant Shareholders under the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreements, Significant Shareholders will, subject to certain customary exceptions, agree not to (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Purchaser Ordinary Shares held by them (the “Lock-UpShares”), (ii) enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Shares or otherwise or engage in any short sales or other arrangement with respect to the Lock-Up Shares or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii) until the date that is 365 days after the date of the Closing.
The foregoing description of the Lock-Up Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreements, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto.
EmploymentAgreements
At the Closing of the Business Combination, Purchaser will enter into employment agreements with certain key executives of the Company on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Company and YHN. The foregoing description of the Employment Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the actual agreements, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto.
5
IMPORTANT
NOTICES
AdditionalInformation and Where to Find It
In connection with the Business Combination described herein, YHN and/or its subsidiary will file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement. The proxy statement and a proxy card will be mailed to shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting at the meeting of YHN shareholders relating to the proposed Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the Registration Statement and proxy statement without charge from YHN. The Registration Statement and proxy statement, once available, may also be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by writing to YHN at 2/F, Hang Seng Building, 200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF YHN ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS THAT YHN WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YHN, MINGDE AND THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN.
ImportantNotice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the proposed Business Combination. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Business Combination, including the anticipated initial enterprise value, the benefits of the proposed Business Combination, integration plans, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, and the expected timing of the Business Combination. The words “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, assumptions (including assumptions about general economic, market, industry and operational factors), known or unknown, which could cause the actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. Consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.
Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Current Report, including but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of YHN’s securities; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Business Combination, including the approval of the Business Combination Agreement by the shareholders of YHN; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (iv) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against any of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement following the announcement of the entry into the Business Combination Agreement and proposed Business Combination; (v) the ability of the parties to recognize the benefits of the Business Combination Agreement and the proposed Business Combination; (vi) the lack of useful financial information for an accurate estimate of future capital expenditures and future revenue; (vii) statements regarding Mingde’s industry and market size; (viii) financial condition and performance of Mingde, including the anticipated benefits, the implied enterprise value, the expected financial impacts of the Business Combination, potential level of redemptions of YHN’s public shareholders, the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, the products, the expected future performance and market opportunities of Mingde; (ix) the impact from future regulatory, judicial, and legislative changes in Mingde’s industry; (x) competition from larger companies that have greater resources, technology, relationships and/or expertise; and (xi) those factors discussed in YHN’s filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the “Risk Factors” section of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents to be filed by YHN from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Mingde and YHN may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to applicable law. Neither Mingde nor YHN gives any assurance that Mingde, or YHN, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations.
6
Participantsin Solicitation
YHN, Mingde and certain shareholders of YHN, and their respective directors, executive officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of YHN shares in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about YHN’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of YHN securities is set forth in YHN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 20, 2025. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the proxy statement pertaining to the proposed transaction when it becomes available. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
NoOffer or Solicitation
This Current Report on Form 8-K is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Business Combination described above and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of YHN or Mingde, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.
Item9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated:<br> April 4, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| YHN<br> ACQUISITION I LIMITED | |
| By: | /s/ Satoshi Tominaga |
| Name: | Satoshi<br> Tominaga |
| Title: | Chief<br> Executive Officer |
8
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
dated
April 3, 2025
by and among
YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Parent”)
and
Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| ARTICLE II | REINCORPORATION MERGER | 13 |
| 2.1 | Reincorporation Merger | 13 |
| 2.2 | Reincorporation Effective Time | 13 |
| 2.3 | Effect of the Reincorporation Merger | 13 |
| 2.4 | Memorandum and Articles of Association | 13 |
| 2.5 | Directors and Officers of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation | 13 |
| 2.6 | Effect on Issued Securities of Parent | 14 |
| 2.7 | Cancellation of Purchaser Securities | 14 |
| 2.8 | Surrender of Parent Securities | 14 |
| 2.9 | [Reserved] | 15 |
| 2.10 | Section 368 Reorganization | 15 |
| 2.11 | Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action | 15 |
| 2.12 | Dissenter’s Rights | 15 |
| 2.13 | Agreement of Fair Value | 16 |
| ARTICLE III | ACQUISITION MERGER | 16 |
| 3.1 | Acquisition Merger | 16 |
| 3.2 | Closing; Effective Time | 16 |
| 3.3 | Effect of the Acquisition Merger | 16 |
| 3.4 | Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Surviving Corporation | 16 |
| 3.5 | Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation | 16 |
| 3.6 | Register of Members | 17 |
| 3.7 | Rights Not Transferable | 17 |
| 3.8 | Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action | 17 |
| 3.9 | Transfers of Ownership | 17 |
| ARTICLE IV | CONSIDERATION | 17 |
| 4.1 | Conversion of | 17 |
| 4.2 | Payment of Merger Consideration and Exchange of Certificates | 19 |
| 4.3 | Withholding | 20 |
| ARTICLE V | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS | 20 |
| 5.1 | Corporate Existence and Power | 21 |
| 5.2 | Authorization | 21 |
| 5.3 | Governmental Authorization | 21 |
| 5.4 | Non-Contravention | 22 |
| 5.5 | Capital Structure | 22 |
| 5.6 | Charter Documents | 22 |
| 5.7 | Corporate Records | 22 |
| 5.8 | Assumed Names | 23 |
| 5.9 | Subsidiaries | 23 |
| 5.10 | Consents | 24 |
| 5.11 | Financial Statements | 24 |
| 5.12 | Books and Records | 25 |
| 5.13 | Absence of Certain Changes | 25 |
| 5.14 | Properties; Title to the Company Group’s Assets | 26 |
| 5.15 | Litigation | 26 |
i
Table of Contents continued
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5.16 | Contracts | 27 |
| 5.17 | Licenses and Permits | 29 |
| 5.18 | Compliance with Laws | 29 |
| 5.19 | Intellectual Property | 29 |
| 5.20 | Customers and Suppliers | 33 |
| 5.21 | Accounts Receivable and Payable; Loans | 33 |
| 5.22 | Pre-payments | 34 |
| 5.23 | Employees | 34 |
| 5.24 | Employment Matters | 34 |
| 5.25 | Withholding | 35 |
| 5.26 | Real Property | 35 |
| 5.27 | Tax Matters | 35 |
| 5.28 | Regulatory Matters | 37 |
| 5.29 | Environmental Laws | 38 |
| 5.30 | Finders’ Fees | 39 |
| 5.31 | Powers of Attorney and Suretyships | 39 |
| 5.32 | Directors and Officers | 39 |
| 5.33 | Certain Business Practices | 39 |
| 5.34 | Money Laundering Laws | 39 |
| 5.35 | International Trade Matters; Anti-Bribery Compliance | 40 |
| 5.36 | Not an Investment Company | 40 |
| 5.37 | EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 40 |
| ARTICLE VI | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER PARTIES | 41 |
| 6.1 | Corporate Existence and Power | 41 |
| 6.2 | Corporate Authorization | 41 |
| 6.3 | Governmental Authorization | 42 |
| 6.4 | Non-Contravention | 42 |
| 6.5 | Finders’ Fees | 42 |
| 6.6 | Issuance of Shares | 42 |
| 6.7 | Capitalization | 42 |
| 6.8 | Trust Fund | 43 |
| 6.9 | Listing | 44 |
| 6.10 | Board Approval | 44 |
| 6.11 | Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements; Internal Controls | 44 |
| 6.12 | Litigation | 46 |
| 6.13 | Business Activities | 46 |
| 6.14 | Compliance with Laws | 46 |
| 6.15 | Money Laundering Laws | 46 |
| 6.16 | OFAC | 46 |
| 6.17 | Not an Investment Company | 47 |
| 6.18 | Tax Matters | 47 |
| 6.19 | Transactions with Affiliates | 48 |
| 6.20 | Independent Investigation | 49 |
| 6.21 | Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties | 49 |
| ARTICLE VII | COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY GROUP AND THE PURCHASER PARTIES PENDING CLOSING | 50 |
| 7.1 | Conduct of the Business of the Company | 50 |
| 7.2 | Conduct of the Business of the Purchaser Parties | 51 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7.3 | No Solicitation | 53 |
| 7.4 | Access to Information | 53 |
| 7.5 | Notices of Certain Events | 53 |
| 7.6 | SEC Filings | 54 |
| 7.7 | Trust Account | 55 |
| 7.8 | PIPE Investment | 55 |
| 7.9 | Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance | 55 |
| 7.10 | Formation of Purchaser and Merger Sub | 56 |
| ARTICLE VIII | COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY GROUP | 56 |
| 8.1 | Reporting and Compliance with Laws | 56 |
| 8.2 | Commercially Reasonable Efforts to Obtain Consents | 56 |
| 8.3 | Annual and Interim Financial Statements | 56 |
| 8.4 | Employees of the Company | 56 |
| 8.5 | Additional Agreements | 56 |
| ARTICLE IX | COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES HERETO | 57 |
| 9.1 | Efforts; Further Assurances | 57 |
| 9.2 | Tax Matters | 57 |
| 9.3 | Settlement of the Purchaser Parties’ Liabilities | 58 |
| 9.4 | Compliance with SPAC Agreements | 58 |
| 9.5 | Registration Statement | 58 |
| 9.6 | Confidentiality | 60 |
| ARTICLE X | CONDITIONS TO CLOSING | 60 |
| 10.1 | Condition to the Obligations of the Parties | 60 |
| 10.2 | Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser Parties | 61 |
| 10.3 | Conditions to Obligations of the Company | 62 |
| ARTICLE XI | SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION | 63 |
| 11.1 | Survival | 63 |
| 11.2 | Indemnification of the Purchaser Parties | 63 |
| 11.3 | Limitations on Indemnification | 63 |
| 11.4 | Indemnification Procedures | 64 |
| 11.5 | Indemnification Payments | 66 |
| 11.6 | Exclusive Remedy | 66 |
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TABLEOF CONTENTS CONTINUED
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE XII | DISPUTE RESOLUTION | 66 |
| 12.1 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 66 |
| 12.2 | Waiver of Jury Trial; Exemplary Damages | 67 |
| ARTICLE XIII | TERMINATION | 67 |
| 13.1 | Termination | 67 |
| 13.2 | Effect of Termination | 69 |
| ARTICLE XIV | MISCELLANEOUS | 69 |
| 14.1 | Notices | 69 |
| 14.2 | Amendments; No Waivers; Remedies | 70 |
| 14.3 | Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter | 70 |
| 14.4 | Publicity | 71 |
| 14.5 | Expenses | 71 |
| 14.6 | No Assignment or Delegation | 71 |
| 14.7 | Governing Law | 71 |
| 14.8 | Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures | 71 |
| 14.9 | Entire Agreement | 71 |
| 14.10 | Severability | 71 |
| 14.11 | In this Agreement: | 72 |
| 14.12 | Further Assurances | 73 |
| 14.13 | Third Party Beneficiaries | 73 |
| 14.14 | Waiver | 73 |
| 14.15 | No Recourse | 73 |
iv
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 3, 2025, is entered into by and between YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Parent”) and Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) .
W I T N E S E T H:
A. The Company directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries is in the business of operating online sports platforms and providing technological solutions for health product stores (the “Business”);
B. The Parent is a blank check company formed for the sole purpose of entering into a share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities;
C. Parent will form a Cayman Islands company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Purchaser”), to be formed for the sole purpose of, immediately prior to the other transactions contemplated hereunder, the merger of Parent with and into Purchaser (the “Reincorporation Merger”), in which Purchaser will be the surviving entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”);
D. Purchaser will form a Cayman Islands company and wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Merger Sub”), to be formed for the sole purpose of, immediately following the Reincorporation Merger, merging with and into the Company (the “Acquisition Merger”) in which the Company will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser(the “Acquisition Merger”), and that upon the Acquisition Merger becoming effective, each Company Ordinary Share (other than Excluded Shares and Appraisal Shares, if any) be converted into the right to receive the allocable portion of the Merger Consideration;
E. For United States federal and applicable state or local income Tax purposes, the parties intend that the Reincorporation Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment”), and that this Agreement be, and hereby is, adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a); and
F. All capitalized terms not defined in this Preamble shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties accordingly agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:
“Action” means any legal action, suit, claim, investigation, hearing, arbitration or proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), including any audit, claim or assessment for Taxes or otherwise, in each case by or before an Authority.
1
“Additional Agreements” means the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Shareholder Support Agreement, the Lock-up Agreements and the Employment Agreements, as well as any PIPE Investment subscription agreement and/or forward agreement as may be agreed by the parties before Closing.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person. For avoidance of any doubt, with respect to all periods prior to the Closing, neither the Parent, the Purchaser nor the Merger Sub shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company.
“Applicable Laws” shall mean all U.S. and applicable foreign laws and regulations applicable to the Business.
“Dissenting Shares” means shares for which the holder has effectively exercised, and not withdrawn or lost, its rights of dissenter under section 179 of the BVI Companies Act in relation to either the Reincorporation Merger.
“Applicable Taxes” mean such Taxes as defined in IRS Notice 2020-65 (and any corresponding Taxes under state or local Applicable Law).
“Applicable Wages” mean such wages as defined in IRS Notice 2020-65 (and any corresponding wages under state or local Applicable Law).
“Authority” means any governmental, regulatory or administrative body, agency or authority, any court or judicial authority, any arbitrator, any relevant stock exchange, or any public or industry regulatory authority, whether international, national, Federal, state, or local.
“Books and Records” means all books and records, ledgers, employee records, customer lists, files, correspondence, and other records of every kind (whether written, electronic, or otherwise embodied) owned or used by a Person or in which a Person’s assets, the business or its transactions are otherwise reflected, other than stock books and minute books.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, New York or Hong Kong are authorized to close for business.
“BVI” means the British Virgin Islands.
“BVI Companies Act” means the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended).
“BVI Law” means the laws of the British Virgin Islands.
“BVI Registrar” means the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands responsible for the administration of the BVI Companies Act.
“Cayman Companies Act” means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
“Cayman Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.
“Closing Payment Shares” means thirty seven million six hundred twenty thousand (37,620,000) Purchaser Ordinary Shares, which is equal to the Merger Consideration Shares minus the Holdback Shares.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change or a material adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or operations of the Company (and its Subsidiaries) and the Business, taken as a whole, provided, however, that “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not include or take into account any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly or indirectly, arising out of or attributable to: (i) general economic or political conditions; (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company operates; (iii) any changes in financial, banking or securities markets in general, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index or any change in prevailing interest rates, or currency exchange rates, monetary policy or fiscal policy; (iv) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, and any pandemic, epidemics or human health crises, including COVID-19; (v) any action contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken (or omitted to be taken) with the written consent of or at the written request of the Purchaser Parties; (vi) any matter of which Parent is aware on the date hereof; (vi) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules (including U.S. GAAP) or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation thereof; (vii) the announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including losses or threatened losses of employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or others having relationships with the Company; (viii) any natural or man-made disaster or acts of God; or (ix) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (provided that the underlying causes of such failures (subject to the other provisions of this definition) shall not be excluded if not otherwise falling within any of clauses (i) though (ix) above); provided, however, it being understood and agreed that in the case of clauses (i) through (iv), (vi) or (viii) above, to the extent that any such event, fact, change, condition, circumstance, occurrence or effect has a materially disproportionate and adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other businesses of similar size operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, such disproportionate extent of, such event, fact, change, condition, circumstance, occurrence or effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or reasonably be expected to occur.
“Company Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Company Shareholders” means the shareholders of the Company; and “Company Shareholder” refers to any one of them.
“Company Stock Rights” means all options, warrants, rights, or other securities (including debt instruments) to purchase, convert or exchange into Company Ordinary Shares.
“Contracts” means the Leases and all contracts, agreements, leases (including equipment leases, car leases and capital leases), licenses, sublicenses, commitments, client contracts, statements of work (SOWs), sales and purchase orders and similar instruments, oral or written, to which the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its respective assets are bound or under which the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries has any express right or obligation.
“Control” 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; and the terms “Controlled” and “Controlling” shall have the meaning correlative to the foregoing.
“Creditors’ Rights” means bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
“CSRC” means the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
3
“Deferred Underwriting Amount” means up to $1,500,000 of the remaining gross proceeds of the initial public offering in the Trust Account after redemption by the shareholders, representing the portion of the underwriting discounts and commissions held in the Trust Account, which the underwriters of the IPO are entitled to receive upon the Closing in accordance with the Investment Management Trust Agreement.
“Environmental Laws” shall mean all applicable Laws that prohibit, regulate or control any Hazardous Material or any Hazardous Material Activity, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act of 1976, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Clean Water Act.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Excluded Share” means each Company Ordinary Share held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“Fraud” means intentional fraud of any Person with respect to the making by such Person of an express representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, in each case, with the actual knowledge of such Person that such representation or warranty was false when made and which was made with the specific intent of deceiving, misleading and inducing the Person to whom such representation and warranty was made to enter into or consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and upon which such Person has reasonably relied to such Person’s detriment. For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in any determination of whether a Person has committed Fraud, all materiality qualifications in an express representation or warranty contained in this Agreement shall be taken into account.
“Hazardous Material” shall mean any material, emission, chemical, substance or waste that has been designated by any governmental Authority to be radioactive, toxic, hazardous, a pollutant or a contaminant.
“Hazardous Material Activity” shall mean the transportation, transfer, recycling, storage, use, treatment, manufacture, removal, remediation, release, exposure of others to, sale, labeling, or distribution of any Hazardous Material or any product or waste containing a Hazardous Material, or product manufactured with ozone depleting substances, including, any required labeling, payment of waste fees or charges (including so-called e-waste fees) and compliance with any recycling, product take-back or product content requirements.
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.
“HSR Act” means The Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind (including amounts by reason of overdrafts and amounts owed by reason of letter of credit reimbursement agreements) including with respect thereto, all interests, fees and costs and prepayment and other penalties, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable to creditors for goods and services incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien or security interest on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) all obligations of such Person under leases required to be accounted for as capital leases under U.S. GAAP (as defined below), other than any lease obligations which would not have been capitalized under U.S. GAAP before the implementation of ASC 842, and (g) all guarantees or letters of credit by such Person to the extent drawn.
4
“Intellectual Property” means any trademark, service mark, trade name, domain names, trade dress, URLs, logos and other source identifiers, including registration thereof or application for registration therefor, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, invention, patent, patent application (including provisional applications), statutory invention registrations, invention disclosures, trade, secret, know-how, formulae, methods, processes, protocols, specifications, techniques, and other forms of technology (whether or not embodied in any tangible form and including all tangible embodiments of the foregoing, such as laboratory notebooks, samples, studies and summaries), copyright, copyright registration, application for copyright registration, software programs, data bases, and any other type of proprietary intellectual property right and all embodiments and fixations thereof and related documentation and registrations and all additions, improvements and accessions thereto, and with respect to each of the forgoing items in this definition, which is owned or licensed or filed by the Company, or used or held for use by the Company in the Business, whether registered or unregistered, or domestic, foreign or international.
“Intellectual Property Rights” means all rights of the following types, which may exist or be created under the laws of any jurisdiction in the world: (a) rights associated with works of authorship, including exclusive exploitation rights, copyrights, moral rights and mask works; (b) trademark, trade name and domain name rights and similar rights associated with source identifiers; (c) trade secret rights; (d) patent and industrial property rights; (e) other proprietary rights in Intellectual Property; and (f) rights in or relating to registrations, renewals, extensions, combinations, divisions and reissues of, and applications for, any of the rights referred to in clauses “(a)” through “(e)” above.
“Internal Reorganization” means the corporate structure reorganization of the Company, which has been completed prior to the date hereof, pursuant to which, among other things, (a) the Company has established Mingde Technology Hong Kong International Limited (明德科技香港國際有限公司), an intermediate holding company in Hong Kong (the “Hong Kong Company”) and Jiujiang Rongganghui Technology Company Limited (九江荣刚慧科技有限公司), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”) in China; (b) the Company owns 100% of the share capital of the Hong Kong Company, which in turn holds 100% of the equity interests in the WFOE; and (c) the WFOE has entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Zhejiang Xiaojianren Internet Technology Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“Zhejiang Xiaojianren”), which are customary to a VIE Structure (as defined below), which arrangements ensure that the Company controls and receives 100% of the economic benefits of Zhejiang Xiaojianren.
“Inventory” is defined in the UCC.
“Investment Management Trust Agreement” means the investment management trust agreement, as amended, by and between the Parent and the Trustee.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of Parent pursuant to a prospectus dated September 17, 2024 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on September 18, 2024.
“Law(s)” mean(s) any domestic or foreign, federal, state, municipality or local law, statute, ordinance, code, common law, act, treaty or order of general applicability of any applicable Authority, including rule or regulation promulgated thereunder.
5
“Leases” means the leases set forth on Schedule 1.1 attached hereto, together with all fixtures and improvements erected on the premises leased thereby.
“Legal Restraint” means any Law that has been adopted or promulgated, or which is in effect, or any temporary, preliminary or permanent Order issued by a court or other Authority of competent jurisdiction.
“Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured and whether due or to become due), including Tax Liabilities due or to become due.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, and any conditional sale or voting agreement or proxy, including any agreement to give any of the foregoing.
“Lock-up Agreement” means the agreements in the forms attached as Exhibit A or agreement(s) substantially equivalent thereto mutually agreed by the Purchaser Parties and the Company, dated as of the Closing Date hereof and entered into by and between the Specified Shareholders and the Parent.
“Merger Consideration” means Three Hundred Ninety Six Million Dollars ($396,000,000).
“Merger Consideration Shares” means thirty nine million and six hundred thousand (39,600,000) Purchaser Ordinary Shares, which is equal to the Merger Consideration divided by $10.00, and to be allocated among the Company Shareholders as provided on Schedule A hereto.
“Order” means any decree, order, judgment, writ, judicial or arbitral award, injunction, verdict, determination, binding decision, rule or consent of or by an Authority.
“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, memorandum and articles of association or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended.
“Parent Excluded Share” means each Parent Ordinary Share held by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time.
“Parent Ordinary Share” means an ordinary share, no par value, of Parent.
“Parent Securities” means the Parent Ordinary Shares, Parent Units and Parent Rights, collectively.
“Parent Right” means a right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Parent Ordinary Share upon the consummation of an initial business combination of Parent.
“Parent Unit” means each outstanding unit consisting of one Parent Ordinary Share and one Parent Right.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) all defects, exceptions, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, rights of way encumbrances and other similar matters affecting title to any Real Property and other title defects which do not materially impair the use or occupancy of such Real Property or the operation of the Business; (ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts (A) that are not delinquent, (B) that are not material to the business, operations and financial condition of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries so encumbered, either individually or in the aggregate, and (C) that not resulting from a breach, default or violation by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries of any Contract or Law; (iii) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (iv) zoning, building codes and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of the Real Property or the activities conducted thereon which are imposed by any governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any Real Property which are not violated by the current use or occupancy of such Real Property except for any violations which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (v) non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business; and (vi) other Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts less than $25,000.
6
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“PRC” or “China” means the People’s Republic of China.
“Privacy Laws” means HIPAA, the HITECH Act, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”), the California Consumer Privacy Protection Act (“CCPA”), the BVI Data Protection Act, 2021, the Data Protection Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice, or orders promulgated pursuant thereto, and any similar or analogous federal, state or foreign privacy laws, in each case, to the extent applicable to the Business.
“Purchaser Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, of Purchaser, including the ordinary shares paid as dividends or distributions after the Closing with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted after the Closing.
“Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change or a material adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or operations of the Purchaser Parties (and their respective Subsidiaries), taken as a whole, provided, however, that “Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect” shall not include or take into account any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly or indirectly, arising out of or attributable to: (i) general economic or political conditions; (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Purchaser Parties operate; (iii) any changes in financial, banking or securities markets in general, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index or any change in prevailing interest rates, or currency exchange rates, monetary policy or fiscal policy; (iv) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, and any pandemic, epidemics or human health crises, including COVID-19; (v) any action contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken (or omitted to be taken) with the written consent of or at the written request of the Company; (vi) any matter of which the Company is aware on the date hereof; (vii) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules (including U.S. GAAP) or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation thereof; (viii) the announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including losses or threatened losses of employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or others having relationships with the Purchaser Party; (ix) any natural or man-made disaster or acts of God; or (x) any failure by the Purchaser Parties to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (provided that the underlying causes of such failures (subject to the other provisions of this definition) shall not be excluded if not otherwise falling within any of clauses (i) through (ix) above).
“Purchaser Securities” means the Purchaser Ordinary Shares, Purchaser Units and Purchaser Rights, collectively.
7
“Real Property” means, collectively, all real properties and interests therein (including the right to use), together with all buildings, fixtures, trade fixtures, plant and other improvements located thereon or attached thereto.
“Regulatory Authority” means any U.S., PRC, Hong Kong or other governmental authority, agency or body that has regulatory jurisdiction over the business of the Company.
“Regulatory Permit” means any approved application, exemption, license, permit, or similar authorization issued by a Regulatory Authority necessary to conduct clinical trials, or the development, manufacturing, importation, sale, marketing or distribution of drug products.
“Sanctioned Jurisdiction” means any country or territory subject to comprehensive Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region).
“Sanctions Laws” or “Sanctions” means any trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws, embargoes, and restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or the Department of State, (b) the European Union or any European Union member state, (c) the United Nations Security Council, (d) His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or (e) any other applicable Governmental Authority.
“Sanctioned Person” means any Person that is (a) organized under the Laws of, or resident or located in, any Sanctioned Jurisdiction, (b) included on any list of Persons subject to Sanctions (including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List; or any similar list maintained or administered by the United Nations Security Council, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, the European Union, any European Union member state, or any other Governmental Authority where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates), or (c) owned fifty percent (50%) or more, directly or indirectly, controlled by, or acting on behalf or at the direction of any Person or Persons described in clauses (a) or (b).
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means any (i) shares of capital stock or other equity or voting securities issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding, (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests, (iii) outstanding options, warrants, rights or other commitments or agreements to acquire, or that obligate a Person to issue, any capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests, (iv) obligations to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to any capital stock or other equity or voting interests, and (v) other obligations to make any payments based on the price or value of any capital stock or other equity or voting interests.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Shareholders Support Agreement” means the agreement entered into by certain Company Shareholders, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
“Specified Shareholder” means each Company Shareholder set forth on Schedule B.
“Sponsor” means YHN Partners I Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and the Parent’s IPO sponsor.
8
“Sponsor Support Agreement” means the agreement entered into by the Sponsor, certain of Sponsor’s Affiliates, Parent, Purchaser and the Company as of the date hereof, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, providing that, among other things, the Sponsor and such Sponsor Affiliates shareholders will vote their Parent Ordinary Shares in favor of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in such agreement.
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means one or more entities of which at least fifty percent (50%) of the capital stock or share capital or other equity or voting securities are Controlled or owned, directly or indirectly, by the respective Person. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Hong Kong Company and the WFOE is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
“Tangible Personal Property” means all tangible personal property and interests therein, including manufacturing production devices, machinery, computers and accessories, furniture, office equipment, communications equipment, automobiles, trucks, forklifts and other vehicles owned or leased by the Company and other tangible property.
“Tax(es)” means any federal, state, local or foreign tax, charge, fee, levy, custom, duty, deficiency, or other assessment of any kind or nature imposed by any Taxing Authority (including any income (net or gross), gross receipts, profits, windfall profit, sales, use, goods and services, ad valorem, franchise, license, withholding, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, employment, payroll, transfer, excise, import, real property, personal property, intangible property, occupancy, recording, minimum, alternative minimum, environmental or estimated tax), including any liability therefor as a transferee or successor, as a result of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or similar provision of applicable Law or as a result of any Tax sharing, indemnification or similar agreement, together with any interest, penalty, additions to tax or additional amount imposed with respect thereto.
“Tax Return” means any return, information return, declaration, claim for refund or credit, report or any similar statement, and any amendment thereto, including any attached Schedule and supporting information, whether on a separate, consolidated, combined, unitary or other basis, that is filed or required to be filed with any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of a Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.
“Taxing Authority” means the Internal Revenue Service and any other Authority responsible for the collection, assessment or imposition of any Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.
“Transfer Tax” means any transfer, documentary, sales, use, real property, stamp, registration, excise, recording, registration, value added and other similar Taxes, fees and costs (including any associated penalties and interest) payable in connection with or by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, or any corresponding or succeeding provisions of Laws of the State of New York, or any corresponding or succeeding provisions of Laws, in each case as the same may have been and hereafter may be adopted, supplemented, modified, amended, restated or replaced from time to time.
“U.S. GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
“VIE Structure” means the variable interest entity structure under which the Company and/or the WFOE entered into various contractual arrangements with Zhejiang Xiaojianren pursuant to which the Company and/or the WFOE shall control and receive 100% of the economic benefits of Zhejiang Xiaojianren.
“Zhejiang Xiaojianren” means Zhejiang Xiaojianren Internet Technology Co., Ltd, a limited liability company established in the PRC on December 31, 2019.
“$” means U.S. Dollar.
9
GLOSSARY
| “Additional Parent SEC Documents” | Section 6.11(a) |
|---|---|
| “Advisory Group” | Section 14.15(b) |
| “Alternative Proposal” | Section 7.3 |
| “Alternative Transactions” | Section 7.3 |
| “Articles of Reincorporation Merger” | Section 2.2 |
| “Audited Financial Statements” | Section 5.11(b) |
| “Balance Sheet Date” | Section 5.11(a) |
| “BRPM” | Section 2.2 |
| “Closing” | Section 3.2 |
| “Closing Date” | Section 3.2 |
| “CRPM” | Section 2.2 |
| “Company Balance Sheet” | Section 5.11(a) |
| “Company Disclosure Schedule” | Article V |
| “Company Governmental Approval” | Section 5.3 |
| “Company Group” | Section 5.1 |
| “Company Group Consent” | Section 5.10 |
| “Company Impairment Effect” | Section 5.3 |
| “Company Key Personnel” | Section 5.23(a) |
| “D&O Indemnified Persons” | Section 7.9(a) |
| “D&O Tail Insurance” | Section 7.9(a) |
| “Disclosure Schedules” | Article VI |
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| “Dissenting Shareholder” | Section 3.9 |
|---|---|
| “Dissenting Shares” | Section 3.9 |
| “Effective Time” | Section 3.2 |
| “Employment Agreements” | Section 8.4 |
| “Exchange Agent” | Section 4.2(a) |
| “Financial Statements” | Section 5.11(b) |
| “Governmental Approvals” | Section 6.3 |
| “Holdback Shares” | Section 4.1 |
| “Indemnification Notice” | Section 11.2(a) |
| “Indemnified Parties” | Section 11.2 |
| “Indemnifying Parties” | Section 11.1 |
| “Intended Tax Treatment” | Section 3.9 |
| “Labor Agreements” | Section 5.24(a) |
| “Loss” | Section 11.1 |
| “Material Contracts” | Section 5.16(a) |
| “Merger Sub Ordinary Shares” | Section 6.7(c) |
| “Money Laundering Laws” | Section 5.34 |
| “Outside Date” | Section 13.1(c) |
| “Parent Dissenting Shareholder” | Section 2.11 |
| “Parent Dissenting Shares” | Section 2.11 |
| “Parent Financial Statements” | Section 6.11(b) |
| “Parent Related Party” | Section 6.20 |
| “Parent SEC Documents” | Section 6.11(a) |
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| “Parent Shareholder Approval Matters” | Section 9.5(a) |
|---|---|
| “Parent Special Meeting” | Section 9.5(a) |
| “Permits” | Section 5.17 |
| “PFIC” | Section 9.2(d) |
| “PIPE Investment” | Section 7.8 |
| “Plan of Acquisition Merger” | Section 3.2 |
| “Plan of Reincorporation Merger” | Section 3.2 |
| “Prospectus” | Section 14.14 |
| “Proxy Statement” | Section 9.5(a) |
| “Purchaser Governmental Approval” | Section 6.3 |
| “Purchaser Parties” | Article V |
| “Purchaser Parties Disclosure Schedule” | Article VI |
| “Reincorporation Effective Time” | Section 2.2 |
| “Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment” | Section 2.9 |
| “Reincorporation Surviving Corporation” | Section 2.1 |
| “Registration Statement” | Section 9.5(a) |
| “Related Claim” | Section 12.1(a) |
| “Release Date” | Section 11.3(d) |
| “Required Parent Shareholder Approval” | Section 10.1(d) |
| “Requisite Company Vote” | Section 5.2 |
| “Specified Courts” | Section 12.1(a) |
| “Survival Period” | Section 11.6 |
| “Surviving Corporation” | Section 3.1 |
| “Third Party Claim” | Section 11.2(a) |
| “Threshold” | Section 11.1 |
| “Trust Account” | Section 6.8 |
| “Trustee” | Section 6.8 |
| “Trust Fund” | Section 6.8 |
| “Unaudited Financial Statements” | Section 5.11(a) |
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ARTICLE IIREINCORPORATION MERGER
2.1 Reincorporation Merger. At the Reincorporation Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.2), and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and the BVI Companies Act, the Parent shall be merged with and into the Purchaser, the separate corporate existence of the Parent shall cease and the Purchaser shall continue as the surviving corporation. The Purchaser as the surviving corporation after the Reincorporation Merger is hereinafter referred to, after the Reincorporation Effective Time, as the “Purchaser” or “Reincorporation Surviving Corporation.”
2.2 Reincorporation Effective Time. Following the satisfaction or waiver (by the applicable party) of the closing conditions set forth in Article X, Parent shall cause the Reincorporation Merger to be consummated by filing the plan and articles of merger (and any other documents required by the BVI Companies Act) (the “BRPM”) with the BVI Registrar in accordance with the relevant provisions of the BVI Companies Act and the plan of merger (and any other documents required by the Cayman Companies Act) (the “CRPM”) with the Cayman Registrar in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. The effective time of Reincorporation Merger shall be the date when the BRPM has been accepted by the BVI Registrar and the CRPM has been accepted by the Cayman Registrar, or such later time as specified in the BRPM and the CRPM being the “Reincorporation Effective Time.”
2.3 Effect of the Reincorporation Merger. At the Reincorporation Effective Time, the effect of the Reincorporation Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the BRPM, the CRPM and the applicable provisions of the BVI Companies Act and the Cayman Companies Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Reincorporation Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Parent and the Purchaser shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation, which shall include the assumption by the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of the Parent set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Reincorporation Effective Time, and all securities of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation issued and outstanding as a result of the conversion under Sections 2.6(a) through (e) hereof shall be listed on the public trading market on which the Parent Ordinary Shares were trading immediately prior to such time.
2.4 Memorandum and Articles of Association. Upon the Reincorporation Effective Time, the memorandum and articles of association of the Purchaser as in effect immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time shall be amended and restated in its entirety substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto and shall be thereafter amended in accordance with their terms, the Organizational Documents of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation and as provided by Law.
2.5 Directors and Officers of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation. Except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and Parent prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time, the Parties shall take all necessary action so that immediately after the Reincorporation Effective Time, the board of directors of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation shall consist of five (5) directors, all of whom will be designated prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time by the Company, which at least three (3) of whom will be designated by the Company to serve as independent directors satisfying the independence requirements of the Securities Act and the Nasdaq rules.
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2.6 Effect on Issued Securities of Parent.
(a) Parent Units. At the Reincorporation Effective Time, (i) every issued and outstanding Parent Unit immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time shall separate into each’s individual components of one Parent Ordinary Share and one Parent Right, and all Parent Units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and (ii) each individually separated component shall, be converted into Purchaser Ordinary Shares in accordance with Section 2.6(a) and Section 2.6(c), respectively. The holders of certificates previously evidencing Parent Units outstanding immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Parent Units, except as provided herein or by Law.
(b) Parent Ordinary Shares. At the Reincorporation Effective Time and immediately following the unit separation provided in Section 2.6(a), every one Parent Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time, including those as separated from the Parent Units in accordance with Section 2.6(a) (other than the Parent Excluded Shares (as defined below) and Parent Dissenting Shares (as defined below)) shall be converted automatically into one Purchaser Ordinary Share, and all Parent Ordinary Shares shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist. The holders of Parent Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time as evidenced by the register of members of Parent shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Parent Ordinary Shares, except as provided herein or by Law. Each certificate (if any) previously evidencing Parent Ordinary Shares (other than the Parent Excluded Shares and Parent Dissenting Shares) shall thereafter be exchanged for a certificate representing the same number of Purchaser Ordinary Shares upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.7.
(c) Parent Rights. At the Reincorporation Effective Time and immediately following the unit separation provided in Section 2.6(a), every ten (10) Parent Rights that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time (i) shall automatically be converted to, and the holder of such Parent Rights shall be entitled to receive, one Purchaser Ordinary Share; and (ii) shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each former holder of Parent Right shall cease thereafter to have any other rights in and to such Parent Right, except as provided herein or by Law.
(d) Cancellation of Parent Ordinary Shares Owned by Parent. At the Reincorporation Effective Time, if there are any Parent Ordinary Shares that are owned by Parent as treasury shares or any Parent Ordinary Shares owned by any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Reincorporation Merger Effective Time (collectively, the “Parent Excluded Shares”), such shares shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
(e) Transfers of Ownership. If any securities of Purchaser are to be issued in a name other than that in which the certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be a condition of the issuance thereof that the certificate so surrendered will be properly endorsed (or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer) and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange will have paid to Purchaser or any agent designated by it any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the issuance of securities of Purchaser in any name other than that of the registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Purchaser or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(f) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.6, none of the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation, Parent or any party hereto shall be liable to any person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
2.7 Cancellation of Purchaser Securities. At the Reincorporation Effective Time, every issued and outstanding share(s) of Purchaser owned by Parent as set forth in Section 6.7(b) shall be canceled without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
2.8 Surrender of Parent Securities. All Purchaser Securities issued upon the surrender of Parent Securities in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Parent Securities, provided that any restrictions on the sale and transfer of Parent Securities shall also apply to the Purchaser Securities so issued in exchange.
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2.9 [Reserved]
2.10 Section 368 Reorganization. Parent and Purchaser intend that the Reincorporation Merger qualifies for the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment. Parent and Purchaser hereby (i) adopt, and the Company acknowledges, this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” with respect to the Reincorporation Merger within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g), (ii) agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3, and (iii) agree to file all Tax and other informational returns on a basis consistent with the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required by a Taxing Authority in connection with an audit. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that no party is making any representation or warranty as to the qualification of Reincorporation Merger for the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment or as to the effect, if any, that any transaction consummated on, after or prior to the Reincorporation Merger Effective Time has or may have on any such reorganization status. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that each (i) has had the opportunity to obtain independent legal and tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if the Reincorporation Merger is determined not to qualify for the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment.
2.11 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Reincorporation Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Reincorporation Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Parent and Purchaser, the officers and directors of Parent and Purchaser are fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
2.12 Dissenter’s Rights.
(a) No Person who has validly exercised their dissenters’ rights pursuant to Section 179 of the BVI Companies Act (each a “Parent Dissenting Shareholder”) shall be entitled to receive the securities of Purchaser in accordance with Section 2.6, as applicable with respect to the shares of Parent owned by such Person (“Parent Dissenting Shares”) unless and until such Person shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such Person’s dissenters’ rights under the BVI Companies Act. Each Parent Dissenting Shareholder shall be entitled to receive only the payment resulting from the procedure in Section 179 of the BVI Companies Act with respect to the Parent Dissenting Shares owned by such Parent Dissenting Shareholder. The Purchaser shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any written demands for appraisal, attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable Law that are received by the Purchaser relating to any Parent Dissenting Shareholder’s rights of dissent and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demand for appraisal under the BVI Companies Act.
(b) If any Parent shareholder gives to Parent, before the required shareholders’ approval is obtained at the Parent Special Meeting, written objection to the Reincorporation Merger in accordance with section 179 of the BVI Companies Act, (i) the Parent shall serve written notice of the authorization and approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Acquisition Merger on such shareholder within twenty (20) days of obtaining the approval of the shareholders of the Parent at the Parent Special Meeting (the “Authorization Notice”); and (ii) Parent and the Company may agree to delay the commencement of the Reincorporation Merger, and thereby delaying filing of the BRPM with the BVI Registrar and the CRPM with the Cayman Registrar, until at least twenty (20) days shall have elapsed since the date on which the Authorization Notice is given (being the period allowed for written notice of an election to dissent under section 179(5) of the BVI Companies Act), but in any event subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article X of this Agreement
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2.13 Agreement of Fair Value. Parent and the Company respectively agree that the consideration payable for the Parent Ordinary Shares represents the fair value of such Parent Ordinary Shares for the purposes of BVI Law.
ARTICLE IIIACQUISITION MERGER
3.1 Acquisition Merger. Upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, and as soon as practicable promptly after the Reincorporation Effective Time, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. Immediately upon the effectiveness of the Acquisition Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving company in the Acquisition Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”) under Laws of the Cayman Islands and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser.
3.2 Closing; Effective Time. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated in accordance with Article XII, the closing of the Acquisition Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York on a date no later than three (3) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Article X that are required to be satisfied prior to the Closing Date, or at such other place and time as the Company and the Parent may mutually agree upon. The parties may participate in the Closing via electronic means. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”. At the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute a plan of merger (and any other documents required by the Cayman Companies Act) (the “Plan of Acquisition Merger”) in form and substance acceptable to Merger Sub and the Company, and the parties hereto shall cause the Acquisition Merger to be consummated by filing the Plan of Acquisition Merger with the Cayman Registrar in accordance with the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. The Acquisition Merger shall become effective at the date and time when the Plan of Acquisition Merger is accepted by the Cayman Registrar in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act or such later time as specified in the Plan of Acquisition Merger (the “Effective Time”).
3.3 Effect of the Acquisition Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Acquisition Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Plan of Acquisition Merger and the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of the Surviving Corporation, which shall include the assumption by the Surviving Corporation of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of the Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Effective Time.
3.4 Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time, and without any further action on the part of the Company or Merger Sub, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company shall become the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with its terms and as provided by law.
3.5 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. Immediately after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation’s board of directors and officers shall consist of the current board of directors and officers of the Company.
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3.6 Register of Members. At the Effective Time, the register of members of the Company shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Ordinary Shares on the records of the Company.
3.7 Rights Not Transferable.The rights of the Company Shareholders immediately prior to the Effective Time are nontransferable. Such rights shall not be assignable or otherwise transferable for any reason (except (i) by operation of Law or (ii) in the case of a natural Person, by will or the Laws of descent and distribution). For the avoidance of doubt, any attempted transfer of such right by any Company Shareholder (otherwise than as permitted by the immediately preceding sentence) shall be null and void.
3.8 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out or further the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and interest in, to and under, and/or possession of, all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Merger Sub and the Company, the officers and directors of Merger Sub and the Company are fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action furthers the objectives of and is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
3.9 Transfers of Ownership. If any certificate for Purchaser Ordinary Shares is to be issued in a name other than that in which the Company Ordinary Share certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be a condition of the issuance thereof that the certificate so surrendered will be properly endorsed (or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer) and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange will have paid to Purchaser or any agent designated by it any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate for securities of Purchaser in any name other than that of the registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Purchaser or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
ARTICLE IVCONSIDERATION
4.1 Conversion of Shares.
(a) Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of this Agreement and the Acquisition Merger and without any action on the part of the Merger Sub, the Company or the Company Shareholders, the Purchaser shall issue the full amount of the Merger Consideration Shares, on the basis that each Company Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Excluded Shares and Appraisal Shares, if any) shall be canceled and automatically converted into the right to receive, without interest, its pro rata portion of the Merger Consideration Shares, which are comprised of (i) 37,620,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares as the Closing Payment Shares and (ii) 1,980,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Company Shareholders at the Closing and held back as security for the Company’s representations and warranties as further set forth in Article XI (the “Holdback Shares”) as the Holdback Shares. For avoidance of any doubt, after the Effective Time, each Company Shareholder will cease to have any rights with respect to the Company Ordinary Shares, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
(b) Shares of Merger Sub. Each Merger Sub Ordinary Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, by virtue of the Acquisition Merger and without further action on the part of the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, be converted into and become one share of the Surviving Corporation (and such share of the Surviving Corporation into which the share of the Merger Sub is so converted shall be the only share of the Surviving Corporation that is issued and outstanding immediately after the Effective Time).
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(c) Treatment of Certain Company Ordinary Shares. At the Effective Time, all Company Ordinary Shares that are owned by the Company (as treasury shares or otherwise) or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically canceled and extinguished without any conversion or consideration delivered in exchange thereof.
(d) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, none of Surviving Corporation or any party hereto shall be liable to any person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(e) Surrender of Shares. All securities issued upon the surrender of Company Ordinary Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such securities, provided that any restrictions on the sale and transfer of such Company Ordinary Shares shall also apply to the Merger Consideration Shares so issued in exchange.
(f) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any certificates for any Company Ordinary Shares shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Purchaser shall cause to be issued in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates and for each such share, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof; provided, however, that Purchaser may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Purchaser with respect to the certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(g) Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall occur (other than the issuance of additional shares of the Purchaser as permitted by this Agreement), including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or combination, exchange, readjustment of shares, or similar transaction, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration Shares, Exchange Ratio and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change; provided, however, that this sentence shall not be construed to permit Purchaser to take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) Indemnification. An aggregate of One Million Nine Hundred Eighty Thousand (1,980,000) Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall be held back as Holdback Shares for a period of eighteen (18) months from the Closing Date, as security for the warranties and representations made by the Company to the Purchaser Parties in this Agreement and for the related indemnification obligations of the Company Shareholders, as further provided in Article XI.
(i) Dissenting Shares. Each Company Ordinary Share (the “Dissenting Shares”) owned by holders of Company Ordinary Shares who have validly exercised and not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the Acquisition Merger pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act (the “Dissenting Shareholders”) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive only the payment resulting from the procedure set forth in the Cayman Companies Act with respect to the Dissenting Shares owned by such Dissenting Shareholder, unless and until such Dissenting Shareholder effectively withdraws its demand for, or loses its rights to, dissent from the Acquisition Merger pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act with respect to any Dissenting Shares. The Company shall give Purchaser (i) prompt notice of any notices of objection, notices of dissent, written demands for appraisal, demands for fair value, attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable laws that are received by the Company relating to any Dissenting Shareholder’s rights of dissent under Cayman Companies Act and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demand for appraisal under the Cayman Companies Act. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Purchaser, voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal, offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands.
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4.2 Payment of Merger Consideration and Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall appoint a bank, trust company or nationally recognized stockholder services provider or such other Person reasonably acceptable to the Company as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the purpose of exchanging certificates representing Company Ordinary Shares and book-entry securities representing the Parent Securities. Purchaser will make available to the Exchange Agent, as needed, (i) the Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the Company Ordinary Shares and (ii) the Purchaser Securities to be delivered in respect of the Parent Securities in accordance with Article II. Promptly after the Effective Time, Purchaser will send, or will cause the Exchange Agent to (A) send to each holder of record of Company Ordinary Shares as of the Effective Time, a letter of transmittal for use in such exchange (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the certificates to the Exchange Agent) in such form as the Company and Purchaser may reasonably agree, for use in effecting delivery of Company Ordinary Shares to the Exchange Agent; and (B) follow such Exchange Agent’s customary procedures with respect to securities represented by book entry to effect the exchange of Parent Securities.
(b) Each holder of Company Ordinary Shares that have been converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal, will be entitled to receive (i) one or more Purchaser Ordinary Shares (which shall be in non-certificated book-entry form unless a physical certificate is required by applicable Law) representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of Purchaser Ordinary Shares, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 4.1. No interest shall be paid or accrued on any Merger Consideration. Until so surrendered, each such certificate shall, after the Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right to receive such Merger Consideration.
(c) Each holder of Parent Securities that have been converted into a right to receive Purchaser Securities, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a book-entry security following the Exchange Agent’s customary procedures, will be entitled to receive the whole number of Purchaser Securities that such holder has the right to receive in accordance with Section 2.6 (which shall be in non-certificated book-entry form unless a physical certificate required by applicable Law). Until so surrendered, each such Parent Security shall, after the Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right to receive the applicable Purchaser Security.
(d) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be registered in the name of a Person other than the Person in whose name the applicable surrendered certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to the registration thereof that the surrendered certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such delivery of the Merger Consideration shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other similar Taxes required as a result of such registration in the name of a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish, to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent, that such Tax has been paid or is not payable. Delivery of the Purchaser Securities with respect to book-entry or non-certificated securities shall only be made to the Person in whose name such book-entry or non-certificated securities are registered.
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(e) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Ordinary Shares or Parent Securities. If, after the Effective Time, certificates or book-entry securities are presented to the Exchange Agent, the Company or the Purchaser, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article IV.
(f) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 4.2(a) that remains unclaimed by the holders of Company Ordinary Shares one year after the Effective Time shall be returned to Purchaser, or transferred as otherwise directed by Purchaser, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged his, her or its Company Ordinary Shares for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 4.2 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Purchaser for delivery of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser shall not be liable to any holder of shares for any Merger Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property Laws. Any Merger Consideration remaining unclaimed by holders of Company Ordinary Shares three years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any governmental body, agency, Authority or entity) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Purchaser free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
(g) Fractional Shares. No certificates, scrip or other evidence representing fractional Purchaser Ordinary Shares will be issued pursuant to the Acquisition Merger, and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a shareholder of the Purchaser.
4.3 Withholding. Purchaser and any other applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to the Company Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or under any provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted, withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority in accordance with applicable Law, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
ARTICLE VREPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANYSHAREHOLDERS
The Company and the Company Shareholders, hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Parent, the Purchaser and the Merger Sub (collectively, the “Purchaser Parties”) that each of the following representations and warranties is true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (or, if such representations and warranties are made with respect to a certain date, as of such date). The parties hereto agree that any reference in a particular Section in the disclosure Schedules delivered by the Company to the Purchaser Parties (the “Company Disclosure Schedules”) shall be deemed to be an exception to the representations and warranties of the Company that are contained in the corresponding Section of this Article V; provided that where it is apparent on the face of a disclosure under a particular Section of any Schedule that such disclosure is, or may be reasonably determined to be, relevant to the matters described under any other Sections of this Agreement, such disclosure shall also be deemed to be relevant to such other Sections. For the avoidance of doubt, unless the context otherwise required, the below representations and warranties relate to the Company on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries.
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5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and its Subsidiaries are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent that such concept applies) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they were formed (the Company and its Subsidiaries, both prior to and after the Internal Reorganization collectively, the “Company Group”). Each member of the Company Group has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, and all governmental licenses, franchises, Permits, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary and required to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on the Business as presently conducted, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each member of the Company Group is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its Business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.1 lists all jurisdiction in which any member of the Company Group is qualified to conduct the business.
5.2 Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within the corporate powers of the Company and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, subject to the authorization and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby including the Plan of Acquisition Merger by the affirmative vote or consent of holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding Company Ordinary Shares (the “Requisite Company Vote”). This Agreement constitutes, and, upon their execution and delivery, each of the Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party will constitute, a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms subject to Creditors’ Rights.
5.3 Governmental Authorization. Neither the execution, delivery nor performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Additional Agreements to which it is a party requires any consent, approval, license or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Authority other than (a) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, (b) the appropriate filings and approvals under the rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq, (c) the filing of the BRPM and other related documents required by the BVI Companies Act with the BVI Registrar, (d) the filing of the CRPM and other related documents required by the Cayman Companies Act with the Cayman Registrar and the publication of notification of the Reincorporation Merger in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Companies Act, ((e) the filing of the Acquisition Plan of Merger and other related documents required by the Cayman Companies Act with the Cayman Registrar and the publication of notification of the Acquisition Merger in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Companies Act, (f) any filings as may be required by the CSRC or other PRC authorities in relation to the overseas listing of securities offered by PRC enterprises and (g) other actions or filings the absence or omission of which would not, individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder (a “Company Impairment Effect”) (each of the foregoing clauses (a) through (g), a “Company Governmental Approval”).
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5.4 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.4, none of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Additional Agreements to which it is a party does or will (a) assuming the Requisite Company Vote is obtained, contravene or conflict with the Organizational Documents of the Company, (b) assuming all of the Company Governmental Approvals are obtained and any applicable waiting periods referred to herein have expired, violate any provision of any Law or Order binding upon or applicable to the Company Group, (c) except for the Contracts listed on Schedule 5.10 requiring Company Group Consents (but only as to the need to obtain such Company Group Consents), constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both) or violate or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company Group or require any payment or reimbursement or to a loss of any material benefit relating to the Business to which the Company Group are entitled under any provision of any Permit, Contract or other instrument or obligations binding upon the Company Group or by which any of the Company Ordinary Shares, or any of the Company Group’s assets is or may be bound or any Permit, (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any of the Company Ordinary Shares, (e) cause a loss of any material benefit relating to the Business to which the Company Group are entitled under any provision of any Permit or Contract binding upon the Company Group, or (f) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any of the Company Group’s material assets, in the cases of (a) to (d), other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Company Impairment Effect.
5.5 Capital Structure.
(a) Capital. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has authorized shares consisting of 100,000,000 Company Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 50,000,000Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, (i) no Company Ordinary Shares are held in its treasury, (ii) all of the issued and outstanding Company Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and, except as set forth in the Company’s Organizational Documents, are not subject to any preemptive rights or have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any Person, and (iii) all of the issued and outstanding Company Ordinary Shares are owned legally and of record by the Persons set forth on Schedule 5.5(a). The only Company Ordinary Shares that will be issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing will be the Company Ordinary Shares owned by the Purchaser. As of the date of this Agreement, no other class in the share capital of the Company is authorized or issued or outstanding.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.5(b), there are no: (a) outstanding Company Stock Rights; (b) outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights (including phantom stock rights), calls, commitments, understandings, conversion rights, rights of exchange, plans or other agreements of any kind providing for the purchase, issuance or sale of any share of the Company, or (c) to the knowledge of the Company, agreements with respect to any of the Company Ordinary Shares, including any voting trust, other voting agreement or proxy with respect thereto.
5.6 Charter Documents. Copies of Organizational Documents of each member of the Company Group have heretofore been made available to the Purchaser Parties, and such copies are each true and complete copies of such instruments as amended and in effect on the date hereof. Each member of the Company Group has not taken any action in violation of its Organizational Documents, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
5.7 Corporate Records. All proceedings of the board of directors occurring since January 1, 2022, including committees thereof, and all consents to actions taken thereby, are maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice. The register of members or the equivalent documents of the Company Group are complete and accurate. The (a) current register of members or the equivalent documents and (b) minute book records of the Company Group relating to all issuances and transfers of stock or share by the Company Group have been made available to the Purchaser Parties, and are true, correct and complete in all material respects.
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5.8 Assumed Names. Since January 1, 2022, none of the Company Group has used any other name to conduct the Business. The Company Group has filed appropriate “doing business as” certificates in all applicable jurisdictions with respect to itself.
5.9 Subsidiaries.
(a) The Internal Reorganization was completed as of the date hereof. The ownership and corporate structure of the Company upon completion of the Internal Reorganization and upon Closing is set forth in Schedule 5.9(a).
(b) Schedule 5.9(b) sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company upon completion of the Internal Reorganization, and with respect to each Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of organization, its authorized shares or other equity interests (if applicable), and the number of issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests and the record holders thereof. Other than as set forth on Schedule 5.9(b), as the case may be, (i) all of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, duly registered and non-assessable (if applicable), were offered, sold and delivered in material compliance with all applicable securities Laws, and are owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than those, if any, imposed by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents or applicable securities Laws); (ii) there are no Contracts to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party or bound with respect to the voting (including voting trusts or proxies) of the shares or other equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company other than the Organizational Documents of any such Subsidiary; (iii) there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements, subscriptions, convertible securities or commitments to which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or which are binding upon any Subsidiary of the Company providing for the issuance or redemption of any shares or other equity interests in or of any Subsidiary of the Company; (iv) there are no outstanding equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation or similar rights granted by any Subsidiary of the Company; (v) except as set forth on Schedule 5.9(b), no Subsidiary of the Company has any limitation on its ability to make any distributions or dividends to its equity holders by Contract; (vi) except for the equity interests of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.9(b), the Company does not own or have any rights to acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares or other equity interests of, or otherwise Control, any Person; (vii) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement, and (viii) except as set forth on Schedule 5.9(b), there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries to provide funds to, or make any loan or capital contribution to, any other Person.
(c) The Company and/or its wholly-owned subsidiary exercise control over and receive 100% of the economic benefits of Zhejiang Xiaojianren under the VIE Structure. The VIE Structure and all related contractual arrangements and agreements entered into by the Company, its subsidiaries and/or Zhejiang Xiaojianren, (i) are properly in place, in full force and effect and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions; (ii) are valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and (iii) do not violate any applicable laws, regulations, or governmental orders, including but not limited to those of the jurisdictions in which Zhejiang Xiaojianren operates. There are no existing or threatened legal proceedings, claims, or investigations that could adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the VIE Structure. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in any breach or default of any of the agreements related to the VIE Structure, nor will it result in any violation of applicable laws and regulations.
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5.10 Consents. The Contracts listed on Schedule 5.10 are the only Contracts binding upon the Company Group or by which any of the Company Ordinary Shares, or any of the Company Group’s assets are bound, requiring a consent, approval, authorization, order or other action of or filing with any Person as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (each of the foregoing, a “Company Group Consent”), in each case, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
5.11 Financial Statements.
(a) The Company’s fiscal year ends on March 31. Schedule 5.11 includes (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, consisting of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of such date, the unaudited consolidated income statements for the fiscal year ended on such date, and the unaudited consolidated cash flow statements for the fiscal year ended on such date, (ii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 (the “Balance Sheet Date”), consisting of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of such date (the “Company Balance Sheet”), the unaudited consolidated income statement for the fiscal year ended on such date, and the unaudited consolidated cash flow statements for the fiscal year ended on such date and (iii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the six months ended September 30, 2024, consisting of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of such date, the unaudited consolidated income statement for the six months ended on such date, and the unaudited consolidated cash flow statements for the six months ended on such date (collectively, the “Unaudited Financial Statements”).
(b) The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Purchaser, as soon as practicable, (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheets as of such dates, the audited consolidated income statements for the fiscal year ended on such dates, and the audited consolidated cash flow statements for the fiscal year ended on such dates (collectively, the “Audited Financial Statements” and together with the Unaudited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”).
(c) The Audited Financial Statements, when delivered to the Parent, shall give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations of the Company for the financial years then ended in accordance with its applicable accounting standards applied on a consistent basis in all material respects. The Audited Financial Statements (i) shall be prepared from the Books and Records of the Company; (ii) shall be prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with its applicable accounting standards consistently applied; (iii) shall contain and reflect all necessary adjustments and accruals for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of their dates including for all warranty, maintenance, service and indemnification obligations; and (iv) shall contain and reflect adequate provisions for all Liabilities for all material Taxes applicable to the Company with respect to the periods then ended. The Audited Financial Statements shall be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, consistently applied. The Audited Financial Statements shall be in accordance with all applicable requirements of the PCAOB.
(d) The Financial Statements are fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with its applicable accounting standards applied on a consistent basis in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations of the Company for the periods reflected therein. The Financial Statements (i) were prepared from the Books and Records of the Company; (ii) were prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with its applicable accounting standards consistently applied in all material respects; (iii) contain and reflect substantially all necessary adjustments and accruals for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial condition as of their dates including for all warranty, maintenance, service and indemnification obligations; and (iv) contain and reflect adequate provisions for all material Liabilities and for all material Taxes applicable to the Company with respect to the periods then ended.
(e) Except as specifically disclosed, reflected or fully reserved against on the Company Balance Sheet, and for liabilities and obligations of a similar nature and in similar amounts incurred in the ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet Date, as of the date of this Agreement there are no material liabilities or debts of any nature (whether accrued, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, asserted or unassisted or otherwise) relating to the Company. All material debts and liabilities, fixed or contingent, which should be included under U.S. GAAP on the Company Balance Sheet, are included therein or in the notes thereof.
(f) The Company Balance Sheet included in the Financial Statements reflects in all material respects the outstanding Indebtedness of the Company as of the respective dates thereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 of the Company Balance Sheet, the Company does not have any material Indebtedness.
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5.12 Books and Records. All Contracts, documents, and other papers or copies thereof delivered to the Purchaser Parties by or on behalf of the Company Group are accurate, complete, and authentic in all material respects.
(a) The Books and Records accurately and fairly, in all material respects, reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of and the providing of services by each member of the Company Group. The Company Group maintains a system of internal accounting controls that are designed to provide, in all material respects, reasonable assurance that:
(i) transactions are executed only in accordance with the respective management’s authorization; and
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Financial Statements and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets.
(b) All accounts, books and ledgers of the Company Group that form the basis of the Financial Statements have been properly and accurately kept and completed in all material respects.
5.13 Absence of Certain Changes. Since the Balance Sheet Date to the date of this Agreement, the Company Group has conducted the Business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices in all material respects. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on Schedule 5.13, since the Balance Sheet Date to the date of this Agreement, there has not been:
(a) any Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any transaction, Contract or commitment made by the Company Group relating to the Business, or any of the Company Group’s assets (including the acquisition or disposition of any assets) or any relinquishment by the Company Group of any Contract or other right, in either case other than transactions and commitments in the ordinary course of business consistent in all material respects, including kind and amount, with past practices and those contemplated by this Agreement;
(c)
(i) any redemption of, declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any capital stock
or share capital or other equity interests in the Company Group; (ii) any issuance by the Company Group of shares or of shares of
capital stock or other equity interests in the Company Group, or (iii) any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition, or any
amendment of any term, by the Company Group of any outstanding shares or shares of capital stock or other equity interests;
(d) (i) any creation or other incurrence of any Lien other than Permitted Liens on the Company Ordinary Shares or any of the Company Group’s material assets, and (ii) any making of any loan, advance or capital contributions to or investment in any Person by the Company Group, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice of the Company Group;
(e) any material Tangible Personal Property damage, destruction or casualty loss not covered by insurance affecting the business or assets of the Company Group;
(f) any material labor dispute, other than routine individual grievances, or any material activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to organize any employees of the Company Group, which employees were not subject to a collective bargaining agreement at the Balance Sheet Date, or any lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or threats thereof by or with respect to any employees of the Company Group;
(g) any sale, transfer, lease to others or other disposition of any of its material assets by the Company Group except for inventory, licenses or services sold in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or immaterial amounts of other Tangible Personal Property not required by its business;
(h) (i) any material amendment to or termination of any Material Contract, (ii) any amendment to any material license or material permit from any Authority held by the Company Group, (iii) any receipt of any notice of termination of any of the items referenced in (i) and (ii); and (iv) a material default by the Company Group under any Material Contract, or any material license or material permit from any Authority held by the Company Group, other than in the cases of each of clauses (i) through (iv), as provided for in this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder or as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(i) other than in the ordinary course of business, any capital expenditure by the Company Group in excess in any fiscal month of $1,500,000 per one transaction or entering into any lease of capital equipment or property under which the annual lease charges exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate by the Company Group;
(j) any institution of litigation, settlement or agreement to settle any litigation, action, proceeding or investigation before any court or governmental body relating to the Company Group or its property or suffering of any actual litigation, action, proceeding or investigation before any court or governmental body relating to the Company Group or its property, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(k) any loan of any monies to any Person or guarantee of any obligations of any Person by the Company Group, in excess of $1,500,000, other than accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past business;
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(l) except as required by U.S. GAAP, any change in the accounting methods or practices (including, any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates) of the Company Group or any revaluation of any of the assets of the Company Group;
(m) any material amendment to the Company Group’s Organizational Documents, or any engagement by the Company Group in any merger, consolidation, reorganization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction, other than as provided for in this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder;
(n) any acquisition of assets (other than acquisitions of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or business of any Person in excess of $1,500,000, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(o) any material Tax election made or changed by the Company Group; any material claim, notice, audit report or assessment in respect of Taxes settled or compromised by the Company Group; any right to claim a material Tax refund surrendered by the Company Group; any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of material Taxes; any change in method of Tax accounting or Tax accounting period; or any initiation of a voluntary Tax disclosure to any Authority; or
(p) any undertaking of any legally binding obligation to do any of the foregoing.
5.14 Properties; Title to the Company Group’s Assets.
(a) The material items of Tangible Personal Property have no defects, are in good operating condition and repair and function in accordance with their intended uses (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and have been properly maintained, and are suitable for their present uses and meet all specifications and warranty requirements with respect thereto, in each case, other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All of the Tangible Personal Property is in the control of the Company or its employees.
(b) Except with respect to Intellectual Property Rights (which shall be addressed exclusively by Section 5.19), (i) the Company Group has good, valid and marketable title in and to, or in the case of the Leases and the assets which are leased or licensed pursuant to Contracts, a valid leasehold interest or license in or a right to use, all of their assets reflected on the Company Balance Sheet or acquired after Balance Sheet Date, other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, no such asset is subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens, and (iii) other than as would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company Group’s assets constitute all of the assets of any kind or description whatsoever, including goodwill, for the Company Group to operate the Business immediately after the Closing in the same manner as the Business is currently being conducted.
5.15 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action (or any basis therefore) pending against, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against, the Company Group or any of its officers or directors, the Business, or Company Ordinary Shares, or any of the Company Group’s assets before any Authority or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Additional Agreements, in each case, other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding judgments against the Company Group that would reasonably to be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Impairment Effect. Each member of the Company Group is not, and has not been in the past two (2) years, subject to any proceeding with any Authority, other than as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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5.16 Contracts.
(a) Schedule 5.16(a) lists all material Contracts (collectively, the “Material Contracts”) to which the Company Group is a party and which are currently in effect and constitute the following:
(i) each Contract that requires annual payments or expenses by, or annual payments or income to, the Company Group of $250,000 or more (other than standard purchase and sale orders entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice);
(ii) each sales, advertising, agency, lobbying, broker, sales promotion, market research, marketing or similar contract and agreement requiring the payment of any commissions by the Company Group in excess of $250,000 annually;
(iii) each Contract between the Company Group and Zhejiang Xiaojianren;
(iv) each employment Contract, employee leasing Contract, and consultant and sales representative Contract with any current or former officer, director, employee or individual consultant of the Company Group or other Person, under which the Company Group (A) has continuing obligations for payment of annual compensation of at least $200,000 (other than oral arrangements for at-will employment), (B) has material severance or post termination obligations to such Person (other than COBRA obligations), or (C) has an obligation to make a payment upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or as a result of a change of control of the Company Group;
(v) each Contract creating a material joint venture, strategic alliance, limited liability company and partnership agreement to which the Company Group is a party;
(vi) each Contract relating to any material acquisitions or dispositions of assets by the Company Group in excess of $500,000;
(vii) each Contract for a material licensing agreement for Intellectual Property Rights (including the nature of the use of said Intellectual Property Right), other than (i) “shrink wrap,” off-the-shelf, or other publicly or commercially available licenses, and (ii) non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) each Contract relating to material secrecy, confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations that restrict the conduct of the Company Group (except for such Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) or substantially limit the freedom of the Company Group to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area;
(ix) each Contract providing for material guarantees, indemnification arrangements and other hold harmless arrangements made or provided by the Company Group to a third party other than any indemnity or similar provisions incidental to any Contract entered into by the Company Group in the ordinary course of business;
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(x) each Contract to which any Specified Shareholder is a party;
(xi) each Contract relating to tangible property or tangible assets (whether real or personal) in which the Company Group holds a leasehold interest (including the Leases) and which involves payments to the lessor thereunder in excess of $25,000 per month;
(xii) each Contract relating to outstanding Indebtedness, including financial instruments of indenture or security instruments (typically interest-bearing) such as notes, mortgages, loans and lines of credit, except any such Contract with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $250,000;
(xiii) each Contract relating to the voting or control of the equity interests of the Company Group or the election of directors of the Company (other than the Organizational Documents of the Company Group);
(xiv) each Contract that can be terminated, or the provisions of which are altered, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements to which the Company Group is a party;
(xv) each Contract for which any of the benefits, compensation or payments (or the vesting thereof) with respect to a director, officer, employee or individual consultant of a member of Company Group will be materially increased or accelerated by the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the amount or value thereof will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(xvi) each Contract relating in any way to the Internal Reorganization; and
(xvii) any other Contract that can be reasonably deemed as material to the Company, its operations and/or its financial condition.
(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 5.16(b), as of the date of this Agreement, (i) each Material Contract is a valid and binding agreement, and is in full force and effect, and neither the Company Group nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in breach or default (whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both) under the terms of any such Material Contract, subject to Creditors’ Rights, (ii) the Company Group has not assigned, delegated, or otherwise transferred any of its rights or obligations with respect to any Material Contracts, or granted any power of attorney with respect thereto or to any of the Company Group’s assets, (iii) no Contract (A) requires the Company Group to post a bond or deliver any other form of security or payment to secure its obligations thereunder or (B) imposes any non-competition covenants that may be binding on, or restrict the Business or require any payments by or with respect to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates. The Company Group previously provided to the Purchaser Parties true and correct copies of each written Material Contract as of the date of this Agreement.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or set forth on Schedule 5.16(c), none of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company Group of this Agreement or Additional Agreements to which the Company Group is a party or the consummation by the Company Group of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby constitutes a default under or gives rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation of the Company or to a loss of any material benefit to which the Company Group is entitled under any provision of any Material Contract.
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(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 5.16(d), the Company Group is in compliance with all covenants, including all financial covenants, in all notes, indentures, bonds and other instruments or agreements evidencing any Indebtedness.
5.17 Licenses and Permits. Schedule 5.17 correctly lists each material license, franchise, permit, order or approval or other similar authorization affecting, or relating in any way to, the Business, together with the name of the Authority issuing the same (the “Permits”). Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 5.17, the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, and none of the Permits will, assuming the related third party consent has been obtained or waived prior to the Closing Date, if applicable, be terminated or become terminable as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby. Other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company Group has all Permits necessary to operate the Business.
5.18 Compliance with Laws. Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company Group is not in violation of, has within the last twenty-four (24) months from the date of this Agreement not violated, and to the knowledge of the Company, is neither under investigation with respect to nor has been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation or alleged violation of, any Law, or judgment, order or decree entered by any court, arbitrator or Authority, domestic or foreign, and within the last twenty-four (24) months from the date of this Agreement the Company Group has not received any subpoenas by any Authority.
5.19 Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule 5.19(a) contains a true, correct and complete list of all of the following: (i) registered Patents, Trademarks, domain names and Copyrights and applications for any of the foregoing that have been filed with the applicable Governmental Authority that are owned (in whole or in part), used or held for use by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (“Registered IP”) (specifying as to each, as applicable, the nature of the Intellectual Property, title, owner, the filing date, date of issuance, expiration date, registration number, application number, registrar and status), (ii) all contracts or agreements to use any Company Licensed IP, including for the Software or Business Systems of any other persons that are material to the Business as currently conducted (other than contracts or agreements (A) for unmodified, commercially available, “off-the-shelf” Software; (B) for Software or Business Systems with a replacement cost and/or aggregate annual license and maintenance fees of less than $1,000,000; (C) that include a license in of any commercially available Intellectual Property pursuant to stock, boilerplate, or other generally non-negotiable terms, such as, for example, website and mobile application terms and conditions or terms of use, stock photography licenses, click-wrap, and similar contracts; (D) whereby Intellectual Property is implicitly licensed; (E) pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary grants non-exclusive licenses that are immaterial to its business; or (F) whereby Intellectual Property is non-exclusively implicitly licensed or non-exclusively licensed to service providers, subcontractors, or suppliers of the Company or any Company Subsidiary solely to the extent necessary for such Person to provide services thereto); and (iii) any material unregistered Trademarks or Copyrights owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company Owned IP and the Company Licensed IP constitutes all material Intellectual Property rights used in the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and is sufficient for the conduct of the business as currently conducted in all material respects.
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(b) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and/or any Company Subsidiary owns and possesses, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), all right, title and interest in and to the Company Owned IP and has the right to use pursuant to a valid and enforceable written license, all Company Licensed IP. All Company Owned IP that is material to the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary as currently conducted is subsisting and, to the knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, no issuance or registration obtained, and no application filed by the Company or any Company Subsidiary for any Intellectual Property has been cancelled, abandoned, allowed to lapse or not renewed, except where the Company or such Company Subsidiary has, in its reasonable business judgment, decided to cancel, abandon, allow to lapse or not renew such issuance, registration or application. No loss or expiration of any Company Owned IP is pending nor, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened. Each Company Product has not been created pursuant to or subject to, any collaboration or funding agreement with any Governmental Authority or any third party, and is not subject to the requirements of the Bayh-Dole Act or any similar provision of any applicable Law:
(c) The Company and each Company Subsidiary has taken and takes commercially reasonable actions to maintain, protect and enforce Intellectual Property rights in the trade secrets and other Confidential Information in its possession or control, including the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its trade secrets and other Confidential Information. To the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has disclosed any such trade secrets or Confidential Information that is material to the Business to any other Person other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement under which such other Person agrees to maintain the confidentiality and protect such Confidential Information.
(d) As of the date hereof, except as set out in Schedule 5.19(d), (i) there is not and, to the knowledge of the Company, for the past three (3) years, there have not been any claims properly filed with a Governmental Authority and served on the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or threatened in writing (including email) to be filed, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, with any Governmental Authority, by any Person (A) contesting the validity, use, ownership, enforceability, patentability or registrability of any of the Registered IP, or (B) alleging any infringement or misappropriation of, or other conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of other persons (including any material demands or offers to license any Intellectual Property rights from any other person); (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, the operation of the Business as currently conducted (including the Products) has not and does not infringe, misappropriate or violate, any Intellectual Property rights of other persons; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, no other person has infringed, misappropriated or violated any of the Company Owned IP; and (iv) none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has received any formal written opinions of counsel regarding any of the foregoing in the twelve (12) months before the date of this Agreement. To the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company Owned IP and none of the Company Licensed IP is subject to any outstanding Order that restricts in any manner the use, sale, transfer, licensing or exploitation thereof by the Company or affects the validity, use or enforceability of any such Company Owned IP or Company Licensed IP.
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(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, all current and past founders, officers, employees, agents, consultants, and contractors who have independently or jointly contributed, developed, conceived, contributed to or otherwise participated in the authorship, creation, improvement, modification or development of any Company Owned IP have (i) been operating under the work-for-hire doctrine such that all such work is automatically owned by Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary by operation of law or (ii) executed valid, written agreements with the Company or a Company Subsidiary, and pursuant to which such persons agreed to assign to the Company or such Subsidiary all of their right, title, and interest in and to any Intellectual Property created, conceived or otherwise developed by such person in the course of and related to his, her or its relationship with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, without further consideration or any restrictions or obligations whatsoever, including on the use or other disposition or ownership of such Intellectual Property. The current and past founders, officers, employees, agents, consultants, and contractor who have independently or jointly contributed, developed, conceived, contributed to or otherwise participated in the authorship, creation, improvement, modification or development of any Company Owned IP and who have executed agreements of the type described in clause (ii) the preceding sentence (and a description of each such agreement) are listed Schedule 5.19(e).
(f) To the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred, or condition or state of facts exists which would form a reasonable basis for product liability related, in whole or in part, to any of the Company’s products or services.
(g) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and/or each Company Subsidiary owns, leases, licenses, or otherwise has the legal right to use all Business Systems, and such Business Systems are sufficient for the immediate and anticipated future needs of the business of the Company as currently conducted. The Company maintains commercially reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans, procedures and facilities, and for the past three (3) years, there has not been any material failure with respect to any of the Business Systems that has not been remedied or replaced in all material respects. The Company and/or each Company Subsidiary has purchased a sufficient number of seat licenses for its Business Systems.
(h) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.19(h), the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have established and implemented, and, to the knowledge of the Company, are operating in material compliance with, policies, programs and procedures that are commercially reasonable and include administrative, technical and physical safeguards, designed to protect the confidentiality and security of Sensitive Data in their possession, custody or control against unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure or other misuse. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries maintain security controls for all material Business Systems owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that are designed to protect such Business Systems against attacks (including virus, worm and denial-of-service attacks), unauthorized activities or access of any employee, hackers or any other person, and to otherwise maintain and protect the integrity, operation and security of such Business Systems and all information (including Sensitive Data) stored thereon or transmitted thereby. For the twelve (12) months before the date of this Agreement, the Business Systems have not suffered any material failures, breakdowns, continued substandard performance, unauthorized intrusions, or other adverse events affecting any such Business Systems that, in each case, have caused any substantial disruption of or interruption in or to the use of such Business Systems, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company or a Company Subsidiary has remedied, to a material extent, any privacy or data security issues identified in any privacy or data security audits of its businesses (including third-party audits of the Business Systems). The Business Systems are sufficient for the current operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in all material respects.
(i) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have in place policies (including a privacy policy), rules, and procedures (the “Privacy Policy”) regarding the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ collection, use, processing, disclosure, disposal, dissemination, storage and protection of customers’ Personal Data/Information. To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth in Schedule 5.19(i), the Company and each Company Subsidiary has materially and substantially complied with the Privacy Policy and applicable Laws regarding the collection, use, storage and transfer of Personal Data/Information.
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(j) The Company and each Company Subsidiary has implemented and maintained, and has used commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all providers of information technology services to the Company that involve or relate to the collection, storage, processing or transmission of sensitive information, including Personal Data/Information (the “IT Providers”), have implemented and maintain in material respects: (i) commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to prevent the loss, alteration, or destruction of, or unauthorized access to or disclosure of, Personal Data/Information and (ii) a security plan that is designed to (A) identify internal and external risks to the security of the confidential information included in Personal Data/Information maintained by, or provided to, the Company; (B) implement, monitor and provide adequate and effective administrative, electronic and physical safeguards to control such risk; and (C) maintain notification procedures in material compliance with applicable Laws in the case of any breach of security with respect to sensitive information, including Personal Data/Information.
(k) As of the date hereof, no Actions are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company and/or any Company Subsidiary relating to the collection, use, dissemination, storage and protection of Personal Data/Information.
(l) To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth in Schedule 5.19(l), none of the tangible embodiments of Company Owned IP (including software) is currently or was in the last twelve (12) months prior to the Signing Date, distributed or used by the Company with any public Software in a manner that requires that any of the Company Owned IP (in whole or in part) or tangible embodiments thereof be dedicated to the public domain, disclosed, distributed in source code form, made available at no charge, or reverse engineered. Schedule 5.19(l) further identifies the material public Software with which such tangible embodiments identified pursuant to the previous sentence were distributed or used, and the manner of such distribution or use, and how such public Software was integrated or combined with or linked to any such tangible embodiments.
(m) The Company and/or its Subsidiaries is in actual possession and control of the source code of the software within the Company Owned IP and all related documentation, specifications and Know-How. To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(m), no Person other than the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and their employees and contractors (i) has a right to access or possess any source code of the software within the Company Owned IP, or (ii) will be entitled to obtain access to or possession of such source code as a result of the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(n) Schedule 5.19(n): (i) identifies each standards-setting organization (including ETSI, 3GPP, 3GPP2, TIA, IEEE, IETF, and ITU-R), university or industry body, consortium, other multi-party special interest group and any other collaborative or other group in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently participating, or has participated in the past or applied for future participation in, including any of the foregoing that may be organized, funded, sponsored, formed or operated, in whole or in part, by any Governmental Authority, in all cases, to the extent related to any Intellectual Property (each a “Standards Body”); and (ii) sets forth a listing and description of the membership agreements and other Contracts, bylaws, policies, rules and similar materials relating to such Standards Bodies, to which Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound (collectively, “Standards Agreements”). True, complete and correct copies of all Standards Agreements have been delivered to the Purchaser Parties. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is not bound by, and has not agreed in writing to be bound by, any Contract (including any written licensing commitment), bylaw, policy, or rule of any Standards Body that requires or purports to require Company to contribute, disclose or license any Intellectual Property to such Standards Body or its other members, other than the Standards Agreements. As of the Signing Date, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has not made any written Patent disclosures to any Standards Body. The Company and each Company Subsidiary, where applicable, is in compliance with all Standards Agreements that relate to Intellectual Property. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is not engaged in any dispute with any Standards Body with respect to any Intellectual Property or with any third Persons with respect to Company’s conduct with respect to any Standards Body.
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5.20 Customers and Suppliers.
(a) Schedule 5.20(a) sets forth a list of the Company Group’s ten (10) largest customer as measured by the dollar amount of purchases thereby, for the twelve (12) month period ended March 31, 2024, showing the approximate total purchases by the Company Group from each such customer, during such period.
(b) Schedule 5.20(b) sets forth a list of the Company Group’s ten (10) largest suppliers as measured by the dollar amount of purchases thereby, for the twelve (12) month period ended March 31, 2024, showing the approximate total purchases by the Company Group from each such supplier, during such period.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.20(c), to the actual knowledge of the Company, no customer listed on Schedule 5.20(a) or supplier listed on Schedule 5.20(b) has, within the last twenty-four (24) months from the date of this Agreement, (i) terminated its relationship with the Company Group, (ii) materially reduced its business with the Company Group or materially and adversely modified its relationship with the Company Group, (iii) notified the Company Group in writing of its intention to take any such action, or (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, become insolvent or subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
5.21 Accounts Receivable and Payable; Loans.
(a) To the knowledge of the Company, all accounts receivables (if any) and notes of the Company Group reflected on the Financial Statements represent valid obligations arising from services actually performed or goods actually sold by the Company Group in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. To the knowledge of the Company, the accounts payable of the Company Group reflected on the Financial Statements, and all accounts payable arising subsequent to the date thereof, arose from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course consistent with past practice or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no contest, claim, or right of setoff in any agreement with any maker of an account receivable or note relating to the amount or validity of such account, receivables or note that could reasonably result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, receivables or notes are collectible in the ordinary course of business.
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(c) The information set forth on Schedule 5.21(c) separately identifies any accounts receivable (if any) or note, in each case of value greater than $50,000, of the Company Group which are owed by any Affiliate of the Company Group as of the Balance Sheet Date. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.21(c), the Company Group is not liable to any of its Affiliates and no Affiliates are liable to the Company Group for any Indebtedness.
5.22 Pre-payments. The Company Group has not received any payments with respect to any services to be rendered or goods to be provided after the Closing except in the ordinary course of business.
5.23 Employees.
(a) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or subject to any collective bargaining agreement, non-competition agreement restricting the activities of the Company, or any similar agreement, and there has been no activity or Proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to organize any employees of the Company.
(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims or Proceedings against the Company or any Company Subsidiary under any worker’s compensation policy or long-term disability policy.
(c) Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement to which the Company is a party nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or in combination with another event) result in any severance or other payment becoming due, or increase the amount of any compensation or benefits due, to any current or former employee, officer, director, consultant or other service provider of the Company, provided that this Section 5.23(c) does not apply to the proposed incentive plan of the Purchaser to be agreed on or prior to the initial submission of the Registration Statement.
(d) Schedule 5.23(d) contains a list of all Company or Company Subsidiary executive-level (including any division director and vice president-level position) employees (the “Key Employees”) by employee name, employer, office location, year of initial employment, and 2024 base salary. No employee of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary works or resides in the United States.
5.24 Employment Matters.
(a) Schedule 5.24(a) sets forth a true and complete list, as of the Signing Date, of (i) the form of employment agreement and the form of consultant, independent contractor and/or commission agreement now in effect that have established effective employment between all consultants, independent contractors and the Company or any Company Subsidiary under applicable Law and, (ii) each employee group or executive medical, life, or disability insurance plan, and each incentive, bonus, profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, equity, phantom stock, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation right or severance plan of the Company or any Company Subsidiary now in effect or under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any obligation, or (iii) any employment agreement or understanding between the Company or any Company Subsidiary and any Key Employee concerning the terms of such Key Employee’s employment that does not apply to the Company’s employees generally (collectively, the “Labor Agreements”). The Company has previously delivered to the Purchaser Parties true and complete copies of such forms of Labor Agreements and each generally applicable employee handbook or policy statement of the Company. The Company has no employees based in the United States.
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(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Signing Date:
(i) to the knowledge of the Company, no current employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, in the ordinary course of his or her duties, has breached any obligation to a former employer in respect of any covenant against competition or soliciting clients or employees or servicing clients or confidentiality or any proprietary right of such former employer; and
(ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending representation question or union organizing activity respecting employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
5.25 Withholding. All obligations of the Company Group (other than with respect to Taxes) applicable to its employees, whether arising by operation of Law or by contract, or attributable to payments by the Company Group to trusts or other funds or to any governmental agency, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security benefits or any other benefits for its employees with respect to the employment of said employees through the date hereof have been paid or adequate accruals therefor have been made on the Financial Statements, other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, all reasonably anticipated obligations of the Company Group with respect to such employees (except for those related to wages during the pay period immediately prior to the Closing Date and arising in the ordinary course of business and other than with respect to Taxes), whether arising by operation of Law or by contract, for salaries and holiday pay, bonuses and other forms of compensation payable to such employees in respect of the services rendered by any of them prior to the date hereof have been or will be paid by the Company Group prior to the Closing Date, other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
5.26 Real Property.
(a) The Company Group does not own any Real Property which is used in the Business.
(b) With respect to each Lease: (i) each Lease is valid, binding and in full force and effect, subject to Creditors’ Rights; (ii) all rents and additional rents and other sums, expenses and charges due thereunder have been paid; (iii) the lessee is in peaceable possession thereof; (iv) no waiver, indulgence or postponement of the lessee’s obligations thereunder has been granted by the lessor thereof; (v) there exist no default or event of default thereunder by the Company; and (vi) the Company is not in breach and has not received notice of default or termination thereunder, in cases of each of clauses (i) through (vi), other than as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company Group holds the leasehold estate on each of the Leases free and clear of all Liens, except for the Permitted Liens and the Liens of mortgagees of the Real Property in which such leasehold estate is located. The Real Property leased by the Company Group is in a state of maintenance and repair in all material respects adequate and suitable for the purposes for which it is presently being used in all material respects, and there are no material repair or restoration works likely to be required in connection with any of the leased Real Properties other than as would, individually or in the aggregate, would cost the Company Group less than $50,000 to repair or otherwise remediate for any single Real Property.
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5.27 Tax Matters.
(a) The Company Group has duly and timely filed all Tax Returns required by applicable Law to be filed by the Company Group; all Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns) due and owing by the Company Group have been paid, other than Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with U.S. GAAP; and all such Tax Returns were true, complete and correct in all respects.
(b) There is no Proceeding, audit or claim now in progress against the Company Group in respect of any Tax, nor has any Proceeding for additional Tax been asserted in writing by any Taxing Authority that has not been resolved or settled in full.
(c) No written claim has been made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company Group has not filed a Tax Return that any member of the Company Group is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction, and no member of the Company Group has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or other fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized.
(d) The Company Group is not a party to any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not relating primarily to Taxes).
(e) The Company Group has withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party.
(f) The Company Group has collected and remitted to the applicable Taxing Authority all sales and other similar Taxes required to be collected by the Company.
(g) The Company Group does not have an outstanding request for any extension of time within which to pay any Taxes or file any Tax Returns (other than extensions requested in the ordinary course of business), and there has been no waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Taxes of the Company Group that will remain outstanding as of the Closing Date.
(h) No member of the Company Group has distributed the stock of another Person, or had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(i) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any assets of the Company Group other than Permitted Liens.
(j) No member of the Company Group has been a party to or bound by any closing agreement, private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda, offer in compromise or similar agreement with any Taxing Authority in respect of which the Company Group could have any Tax Liability after the Closing. No member of the Company Group has any request for a ruling in respect of Taxes pending between any member of the Company Group and any Taxing Authority.
(k) No member of the Company Group (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was the Company) or other comparable group for state, local or foreign Tax purposes or (ii) has Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company Group) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not relating primarily to Taxes), or otherwise by Law.
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(l) No member of the Company Group is a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(m) The Company Group has not participated in a “listed transaction” required to be disclosed pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).
(n) No member of the Company Group will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing as a result of (i) any use of an improper or change in method of accounting for any Tax period on or before the Closing, (ii) any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any comparable or similar provisions of applicable Law) executed on or before the Closing, (iii) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or before the Closing, (iv) any deferred intercompany gain or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any predecessor provision or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) arising on or before the Closing; (v) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue accrued on or before the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code made on or before the Closing, (vii) any member of the Company Group that is a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code) having “subpart F income” (within the meaning of Section 952(a) of the Code) accrued on or before the Closing, (viii) “global intangible low-taxed income” of the Company Group within the meaning of Section 951A of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) attributable to any taxable period (or portion thereof) on or before the Closing or (ix) election made pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.
(o) The unpaid Taxes of the Company Group for the current fiscal year (i) did not, as of the most recent fiscal month end, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (other than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Financial Statements and (ii) will not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company Group in filing its Tax Return.
(p) The Company Group has been in compliance in all respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws and legal requirements.
(q) No Member of the Company Group has deferred the withholding or remittance of any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to any Applicable Wages for any employees of the Company and shall not defer the withholding or remittance any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to Applicable Wages for any employees of the Company up to and through and including Closing Date, notwithstanding Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (or any comparable regime for state or local Tax purposes).
5.28 Regulatory Matters.
(a) Complete and accurate copies of all Regulatory Permits, and all material correspondence with the USDA or any other any applicable Regulatory Authorities with respect to the Regulatory Permits, have been made available to the Purchaser. The Company Group have never imported for sale, exported for sale, marketed for sale, sold, offered for sale, distributed for sale, processed for sale or packaged for sale any product, except for those products that are sold as a supplement and not as a drug.
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(b) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company Group are not subject to any investigation that is pending and of which the Company Group has been notified in writing or, to the Company Group’s Knowledge, which has been threatened, in each case by (i) the USDA, (ii) the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, (iii) the Department of Justice, or (iv) any other Governmental Entity pursuant to the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §3729) or other similar state or foreign law.
(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied and are in compliance in all material respects, with all Applicable Laws including Privacy Laws. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company Group, its Subsidiaries, nor any of their Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, or contractors has: (i) been debarred, excluded or received notice of action or threat of action with respect to debarment, exclusion or other action under the provisions of 21 U.S.C. §§ 335a, 335b, or 335c, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7 or any equivalent provisions in any other applicable jurisdiction; (ii) made or offered any payment, gratuity or other thing of value that is prohibited by any law to personnel of the USDA or any other Governmental Entity; (iii) made an untrue statement of a material fact or fraudulent statement to the USDA or other Governmental Authority or Regulatory Authority, failed to disclose a material fact required to be disclosed to the USDA or any other Governmental Authority or Regulatory Authority, or in any records and documentation prepared or maintained to comply with the applicable laws, or committed any act, made any statement, or failed to make any statement that, at the time such disclosure was made, could reasonably be expected to provide a basis for the USDA or any other Governmental Authority or Regulatory Authority to invoke its policy respecting “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991) or any similar policy, (iv) received written notice of or been subject to any other material enforcement action involving the USDA or any other similar Governmental Entity, including any suspension, consent decree, notice of criminal investigation, indictment, sentencing memorandum, plea agreement, court order or target or no-target letter, and none of the foregoing are pending or, to Company Group’s Knowledge, threatened in writing.
5.29 Environmental Laws.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.29(a), the Company Group has not (i) received any written notice of any alleged claim, violation of or Liability under any Environmental Law which has not heretofore been cured or for which there is any remaining liability; (ii) disposed of, emitted, discharged, handled, stored, transported, used or released any Hazardous Materials, arranged for the disposal, discharge, storage or release of any Hazardous Materials, or exposed any employee or other individual to any Hazardous Materials so as to give rise to any Liability or corrective or remedial obligation under any Environmental Laws; or (iii) entered into any agreement that requires it to guarantee, reimburse, pledge, defend, hold harmless or indemnify any other Person with respect to liabilities arising out of Environmental Laws or the Hazardous Materials Activities of the Company Group, except in each case of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company Group has delivered to the Purchaser Parties all material records in its possession concerning material Liabilities arising from the Hazardous Materials Activities of the Company Group and all environmental audits and environmental assessments in the possession or reasonable control of the Company Group of any facility currently owned, leased or used by the Company Group which identifies any material violations of Environmental Law or the presence of Hazardous Materials in quantities or concentrations that may require corrective or remedial obligation of the Company Group under any Environmental Laws on any property currently owned, leased or used by the Company Group. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.29(b) and to the knowledge of the Company, there are no Hazardous Materials in, on, or under any properties owned, leased or used at any time by the Company Group such as would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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5.30 Finders’ Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.30, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company Group or any of Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Parent, Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Company Group following the Closing) upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.31 Powers of Attorney and Suretyships. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.31, the Company Group does not have any general or special powers of attorney outstanding (whether as grantor or grantee thereof) outside the Company Group or any obligation or liability (whether actual, accrued, accruing, contingent, or otherwise) as guarantor, surety, co-signer, endorser, co-maker, indemnitor or otherwise, in each case, in respect of the obligation of any Person outside the Company Group or other than as reflected in the Financial Statements or with any service providers or clinical partners used in clinical trials.
5.32 Directors and Officers. Schedule 5.32 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all directors and officers of the Company as of the date of this Agreement.
5.33 Certain Business Practices. Neither the Company Group, nor any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company Group (in their capacities as such) has, since January 1, 2022, (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or (iii) made any other unlawful payment. Neither the Company Group, nor any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company Group (nor any Person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing, but solely in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company Group) has, since January 1, 2022, directly or, to the knowledge of the Company, indirectly, given or agreed to give any gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder the Company Group or assist the Company Group in connection with any actual or proposed transaction, in each case, which, if not given could reasonably be expected to have had a Company Material Adverse Effect on the Company Group, or which, if not continued in the future, could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the business or prospects of the Company Group that could reasonably be expected to subject the Company Group to suit or penalty in any private or governmental litigation or proceeding.
5.34 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company Group are and, since January 1, 2022, have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental Authority (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no Action involving the Company Group with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
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5.35 International Trade Matters; Anti-Bribery Compliance.
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.35(a), for the past three (3) years, the Company, any Company Subsidiary, and to the knowledge of the Company, each of its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, subcontractors and vendors and other Persons acting on behalf of the Company (i) are in compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, and International Trade 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 all activities and transactions, including for the import, export, re-export, deemed export, deemed reexport, or transfer required under the Sanctions Laws and International Trade Laws, and the provision of financial services required under Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.32(a), there are and have for the past three (3) years been no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, Actions against the Company related to any Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or International Trade Laws.
(b) For the past three (3) years, neither the Company, nor any Company Subsidiary, Company Shareholder or any officer or director of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any of its or any Company Subsidiary’s managers, employees, agents, subcontractors and vendors and other Persons acting on its or their behalf (i) is been a Sanctioned Person or a Restricted Person, or (ii) has transacted business directly or indirectly with any Sanctioned Person or Restricted Person or with or in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction, in each case in violation of applicable Sanctions Laws or International Trade Laws, or (iii) otherwise in violation of, any Sanctions Laws or International Trade Laws.
5.36 Not an Investment Company. The Company is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
5.37 EXCLUSIVITY OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO ANY PURCHASER PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION (INCLUDING ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL DATA), EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE V OR THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, NONE OF THE COMPANY, ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON MAKES, AND THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS, ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, INCLUDING AS TO ANY MATERIALS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OR HOLDINGS OF THE COMPANY GROUP THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY PURCHASER PARTY OR ANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES OR IN ANY PRESENTATION OF THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY GROUP BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY OR OTHERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR BY THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, AND NO STATEMENT CONTAINED IN ANY OF SUCH MATERIALS OR MADE IN ANY SUCH PRESENTATION SHALL BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR DEEMED TO BE RELIED UPON BY ANY PURCHASER PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF IN EXECUTING, DELIVERING AND PERFORMING THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE V OR THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY COST ESTIMATES, PROJECTIONS OR OTHER PREDICTIONS, ANY DATA, ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION OR ANY MEMORANDA OR OFFERING MATERIALS OR PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING ANY OFFERING MEMORANDUM OR SIMILAR MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE BY ANY COMPANY GROUP ARE NOT AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE OR TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY, ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON, AND ARE NOT AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE RELIED UPON BY ANY PURCHASER PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF IN EXECUTING, DELIVERING OR PERFORMING THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
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ARTICLE VIREPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER PARTIES
The Purchaser Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Company Group that, except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents (excluding any disclosures in any “risk factors” Section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimers and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature) or the Purchaser Parties Disclosure Schedules (as hereinafter defined), each of the following representations and warranties is true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true, correct and complete as of the Closing Date (or, if such representations and warranties are made with respect to a certain date, as of such date). The parties hereto agree that any reference in a particular Section in the disclosure Schedules delivered by the Purchaser Parties to the Company (the “Purchaser Parties Disclosure Schedules” and together with the Company Disclosure Schedules, the “Disclosure Schedules”) shall be deemed to be an exception to the representations and warranties of the Purchaser Parties that are contained in the corresponding Section of this Article VI; provided that where it is apparent on the face of a disclosure under a particular Section of any Schedule that such disclosure is, or may be reasonably determined to be, relevant to the matters described under any other Sections of this Agreement, such disclosure shall also be deemed to be relevant to such other Sections.
6.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Parent is a company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Each of Purchaser and Merger Sub, when formed, will be a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Each of the Purchaser Parties has, or shall have, all power and authority, corporate and otherwise, and all governmental licenses, franchises, Permits, authorizations, consents and approvals required to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each of the Purchaser Parties has made or shall make available to the Company Group accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents, each as currently in effect. Parent is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.
6.2 Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser Parties of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements (to which it is a party to) and the consummation by the Purchaser Parties of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are or will be within the corporate powers of the Purchaser Parties and have been or will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Purchaser Parties to the extent required by their respective Organizational Documents, applicable Laws or any Contract to which it is a party or by which its securities are bound other than the Required Parent Shareholder Approval (as defined in Section 10.1(d)). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Parent and it constitutes, and upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the Merger Sub, this Agreement and the Additional Agreements (to which such Purchaser Party is a party) will constitute, a valid and legally binding agreement of the Purchaser Parties, enforceable against them in accordance with their representative terms, except to the extent that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
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6.3 Governmental Authorization. Neither the execution, delivery nor performance by any Purchaser Party of this Agreement or any Additional Agreements to which it is party requires or will require any consent, approval, license or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Authority other than (a) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, (b) the appropriate filings and approvals under the rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq, (c) the filing of the BRPM and other related documents required by the BVI Companies Act with the BVI Registrar, (d) the filing of the CRPM, and other related documents required by the Cayman Companies Act with the Cayman Registrar and the publication of notification of the Reincorporation Merger in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act, (e) the filing of the Acquisition Plan of Merger and other related documents required by the Cayman Companies Act with the Cayman Registrar and the publication of notification of the Acquisition Merger in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act and (f) other actions or filings the absence or omission of which would not, individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the Purchaser Parties’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder (a “Purchaser Impairment Effect”) (each of the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), a “Purchaser Parties Governmental Approval” and together with the Company Governmental Approvals, the “Governmental Approvals”).
6.4 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser Parties of this Agreement or any Additional Agreements do not and will not (i) violate, contravene or conflict with the Organizational Documents of any Purchaser Party, (ii) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or Order binding upon the Purchaser Parties, (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which any of the Purchaser Parties is bound, or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of any Purchaser Party, except, in each case of clauses (ii) through (iv), for any contravention or conflicts that would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect or a Purchaser Impairment Effect.
6.5 Finders’ Fees. Except for the Deferred Underwriting Amount and those set forth in Purchaser Parties Disclosure Schedules, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of any Purchaser Party or their Affiliates who might be entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from any Purchaser Party, the Company Shareholders, any member of the Company Group, or any of their respective Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Additional Agreements.
6.6 Issuance of Shares. The Merger Consideration Shares, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, and will be fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
6.7 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized shares of Parent consists of 500,000,000 shares of no par value each of a single class, of which 7,750,000 Parent Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof. No other shares or other Securities of Parent are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding Parent Ordinary Share are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the BVI Law, the Parent’s Organizational Documents or any contract to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound. Except as set forth in the Parent’s Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Parent Ordinary Share or any other Securities of Parent. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
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(b) Upon formation, the authorized shares of Purchaser shall consist of 500,000,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share, of which one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share shall be issued and outstanding at such time. No other shares or other Securities of Purchaser shall be issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of Cayman Law, the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or any contract to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser is bound. Except as set forth in the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, there shall be no outstanding contractual obligations of Purchaser to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Purchaser Ordinary Shares or any other Securities of Purchaser. There shall be no outstanding contractual obligations of Purchaser to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
(c) Upon formation, the authorized shares of Merger Sub shall consist of 50,000 shares of par value $1 per share (the “Merger Sub Ordinary Shares”) of which one (1) Merger Sub Ordinary Share shall be issued and outstanding at such time. No other shares or other Securities of Merger Sub shall be issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding Merger Sub Ordinary Shares shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of Cayman Law, the Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents or any contract to which Merger Sub is a party or by which Merger Sub is bound. Except as set forth in the Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents, there shall be no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Merger Sub Ordinary Shares or any other Securities of Merger Sub. There shall be no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
6.8 Trust Fund. As of March 24, 2025, the Parent has at least $61,672,472in the trust fund established by the Parent for the benefit of its public shareholders (the “Trust Fund”) in a trust account at Morgan Stanley in the United States, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”) acting as trustee (the “Trust Account”), and substantially all of such monies are invested in “government securities” (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and held in trust by the Trustee pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Investment Management Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and the Trustee, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Except as disclosed in Parent SEC Documents, the Investment Management Trust Agreement has not been terminated, repudiated, rescinded, amended, supplemented or modified, in any respect, and no such termination, repudiation, rescission, amendment, supplement or modification is contemplated. There are no separate Contracts or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Investment Management Trust Agreement in the Parent SEC Documents to be inaccurate in any material respect or, to the knowledge of the Parent, that would entitle any Person (other than (i) in respect of the deferred underwriting commissions or Taxes set forth on Schedule 6.8, (ii) the holders of Parent Securities prior to the Effective Time who shall have elected to redeem their Parent Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Parent’s Organizational Documents or (iii) if Parent fails to complete a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in Parent’s Organizational Documents within the allotted time period and liquidates the Trust Fund, subject to the terms of the Investment Management Trust Agreement, Parent in limited amounts to permit Parent to pay the expenses of the Trust Account’s liquidation and dissolution, and then Parent’s public shareholders) to any portion of the funds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account are required to be released, except to pay Taxes from any interest income earned in the Trust Account, and to redeem Parent Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Parent’s Organizational Documents. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened, with respect to the Trust Account.
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6.9 Listing. As of the date hereof, the Parent Units, Parent Ordinary Shares and Parent Rights are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, with trading symbols “YHNAU,” “YHNA,” and “YHNAR.”
6.10 Board Approval. The board of directors of Parent (including any required committee or subgroup of such boards) has, as of the date of this Agreement, unanimously (i) declared the advisability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are fair and in the best interests of the shareholders of the Purchaser Parties, as applicable, and (iii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby constitute a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in Parent’s Organizational Documents. Upon the formation of the Purchaser and the Merger Sub, respectively, the sole director of the Purchaser and the sole director of the Merger Sub shall take the actions described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence.
6.11 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements; Internal Controls.
(a) Parent has filed on a timely basis all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any exhibits thereto, required to be filed or furnished by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, and will file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement but prior to the Closing (the “Additional Parent SEC Documents”). Parent has made available (including by posting on the EDGAR website) to the Company copies in the form filed with the SEC of all of the following, except to the extent available in full without redaction on the SEC’s website through EDGAR for at least two (2) days prior to the date of this Agreement: (i) Parent’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for each fiscal year of Parent beginning with the first year Parent was required to file such a form, (ii) Parent’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each fiscal quarter of Parent beginning with the first quarter Parent was required to file such a form, (iii) all proxy statements relating to Parent’s meetings of shareholders (whether annual or special) held, and all information statements relating to shareholder consents, since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above, (iv) all of its Form 8-Ks filed since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above, (v) Parent’s Form S-1, and (vi) all other forms, reports, registration statements and other documents (other than preliminary materials if the corresponding definitive materials have been provided to the Company pursuant to this Section 6.12) filed by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation (the forms, reports, registration statements and other documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above, whether or not available through EDGAR, are, collectively, the “Parent SEC Documents”). The Parent SEC Documents were, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will be, prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Parent SEC Documents did not, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will not, at the time they were or are filed, as the case may be, with the SEC (except to the extent that information contained in any Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document has been or is revised or superseded by a later filed Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document, then on the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As used in this Section 6.12, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.
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(b) The financial statements and notes contained or incorporated by reference in the Parent SEC Documents and the Additional Parent SEC Documents (collectively, the “Parent Financial Statements”) are complete and accurate and fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis in all material respects and Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable, the financial position of the Purchaser as of the dates thereof and the results of operations of the Purchaser for the periods reflected therein. The Parent Financial Statements (i) were prepared from the Books and Records of the Parent; (ii) were prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP consistently applied; (iii) contain and reflect all necessary adjustments and accruals for a fair presentation of the Parent’s financial condition as of their dates; (iv) were audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and (v) contain and reflect adequate provisions for all material Liabilities for all material Taxes applicable to the Parent with respect to the periods then ended.
(c) Since its IPO, (i) Parent has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of its financial reporting and the preparation of its financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (ii) Parent has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent is made known to the principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within Parent. Parent maintains and, for all periods covered by the Parent Financial Statements, has maintained Books and Records in the ordinary course of business that are accurate and complete and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of Parent in all material respects.
(d) Parent has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(e) Since the IPO, Parent has complied in all material respects with all applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq. The classes of securities representing issued and outstanding Parent Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.11, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened against Parent by Nasdaq or the SEC, respectively, with respect to any intention to deregister Parent Ordinary Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of Parent Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq. Parent has not taken any action that is designed to terminate the registration of Parent Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act.
(f) Since its incorporation and to the date of this Agreement, Parent has not received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that there is (i) a “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent, (ii) a “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of Parent who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent.
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(g) Except as specifically disclosed, reflected or fully reserved against in the Parent Financial Statements, and for liabilities and obligations of a similar nature and in similar amounts incurred in the ordinary course of business since the Parent’s formation, there are no material liabilities, debts or obligations (whether accrued, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, asserted or unassisted, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise) of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. All debts and Liabilities, fixed or contingent, which should be included under U.S. GAAP on a balance sheet are included in the Parent Financial Statements.
6.12 Litigation. There is no Action (or any basis therefore) pending against or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened against any Purchaser Party, any of its officers or directors or any of its securities or any of its assets or Contracts before any court, Authority or official or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Additional Agreements. There are no outstanding judgments against the Parent. The Parent is not, and has not previously been, subject to any legal proceeding with any Authority.
6.13 Business Activities. Since its incorporation, Parent has not conducted any business activities other than activities (i) in connection with or incident or related to its incorporation or continuing corporate (or similar) existence, (ii) directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination, including those incident or related to or incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (iii) those that are administrative, ministerial or otherwise immaterial in nature. Except as set forth in Parent’s Organizational Documents, there is no Contract binding upon the Parent or to which the Parent is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of it or its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by it or its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by it or its Subsidiaries (including, in each case, following the Closing).
6.14 Compliance with Laws. No Purchaser Party is in violation of, has violated, under investigation with respect to any violation or alleged violation of, any Law, or judgment, Order or decree entered by any court, arbitrator or Authority, domestic or foreign, nor is there any basis for any such charge and the Purchaser has not previously received any subpoenas by any Authority.
6.15 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Purchaser Parties are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the Money Laundering Laws, and no Action involving the Purchaser Parties with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser Parties, threatened.
6.16 OFAC. Neither the Purchaser Parties, nor any director or officer of the Purchaser Parties (nor, to the knowledge of the Parent, any agent, employee, Affiliate or Person acting on behalf of the Purchaser Parties) is currently identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the OFAC; and the Purchaser Parties have not, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe or any other country or territory sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC in the previous fiscal years.
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6.17 Not an Investment Company. The Parent is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
6.18 Tax Matters.
(a) Each Purchaser Party has duly and timely filed all Tax Returns required by applicable Law to be filed by the Purchaser Parties, all Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns) due and owing by the Purchaser Parties have been paid other than Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and all such Tax Returns were true, complete and correct in all respects.
(b) There is no Proceeding, audit or claim now in progress or, to the Purchaser Parties’ Knowledge, threatened against the Purchaser Parties in respect of any Tax, nor has any Proceeding for additional Tax been asserted in writing by any Taxing Authority that has not been resolved or settled in full.
(c) No written claim has been made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Purchaser Parties have not filed a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.
(d) The Purchaser Parties are not a party to any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not relating primarily to Taxes).
(e) The Purchaser Parties have withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party.
(f) There is no outstanding request for any extension of time within which to pay any Taxes or file any Tax Returns (other than extensions requested in the ordinary course of business), and there has been no waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Taxes of the Purchaser Parties that will remain outstanding as of the Closing Date.
(g) The Purchaser Parties have not distributed the stock of another Person, or had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(h) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any assets of the Purchaser Parties other than Permitted Liens.
(i) The Purchaser Parties have not been a party to or bound by any closing agreement, private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda, offer in compromise, or any similar agreement with any Taxing Authority in respect of which the Purchaser Parties could have any Tax Liability after the Closing. The Purchaser Parties do not have any request for a ruling in respect of Taxes pending between any Purchaser Party and any Taxing Authority.
(j) The Purchaser Parties (i) have not been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was the Parent) or other comparable group for state, local or foreign Tax purposes and (ii) has no Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Purchaser Parties) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not relating primarily to Taxes), or otherwise by Law.
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(k) The Purchaser Parties have not participated in a “listed transaction” required to be disclosed pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).
(l) The Purchaser Parties will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing as a result of (i) any use of an improper or change in method of accounting for any Tax period that occurred on or before Closing, (ii) any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any comparable or similar provisions of applicable Law) executed on or before Closing, (iii) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or before the Closing, (iv) any deferred intercompany gain or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any predecessor provision or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) arising on or before the Closing, (v) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue accrued on or before the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, or (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code made on or before the Closing.
(m) The unpaid Taxes of the Purchaser Parties for the current fiscal year (i) did not, as of the most recent fiscal month end, exceed the reserve for Tax liability (other than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the financial statements and (ii) will not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Purchaser Parties in filing Tax Returns.
(n) The Purchaser Parties have not deferred the withholding or remittance of any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to any Applicable Wages for any employees of the Purchaser Parties and shall not defer the withholding or remittance any Applicable Taxes related or attributable to Applicable Wages for any employees of the Purchaser Parties up to and through and including Closing Date, notwithstanding Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-65 (or any comparable regime for state or local Tax purposes).
(o) The Purchaser Parties are not aware of the existence of any fact, nor have taken or agreed to take any action, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Reincorporation Merger from qualifying for the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment.
6.19 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.19 or disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, there are no Contracts between (a) any Purchaser Party, on the one hand, and (b) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or Affiliate of any Purchaser Party, on the other hand (each Person identified in this clause (b), a “Parent Related Party”), other than (i) Contracts with respect to a Parent Related Party’s employment with, or the provision of services to, any Purchaser Party that were entered into in the ordinary course of business (including with regard to benefit plans, indemnification arrangements and other ordinary course compensation matters), (ii) Contracts with respect to a Parent Related Party’s status as a holder of Securities of any Purchaser Party and (iii) Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 7.2 or entered into in accordance with Section 7.2.
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6.20 Independent Investigation. Parent has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Company for such purpose. Each of the Purchaser Parties acknowledges and agrees (or will acknowledge and agree) that in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (subject to the related portions of the Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to the Purchaser Parties pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company for the Registration Statement.
6.21 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO ANY OF THE COMPANY GROUP OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION (INCLUDING ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL DATA), EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE VI, AS QUALIFIED BY THE PURCHASER PARTIES DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES, OR THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, NONE OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES, ANY AFFILIATE OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES OR ANY OTHER PERSON MAKES, AND THE PURCHASER PARTIES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM, ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, INCLUDING AS TO ANY MATERIALS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OR HOLDINGS OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMPANY GROUP OR ANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES OR IN ANY PRESENTATION OF THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES OR OTHERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR BY THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, AND NO STATEMENT CONTAINED IN ANY OF SUCH MATERIALS OR MADE IN ANY SUCH PRESENTATION SHALL BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR DEEMED TO BE RELIED UPON BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COMPANY GROUP OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF IN EXECUTING, DELIVERING AND PERFORMING THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE VI, AS QUALIFIED BY THE PURCHASER PARTIES DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES, OR THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT ANY COST ESTIMATES, PROJECTIONS OR OTHER PREDICTIONS, ANY DATA, ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION OR ANY MEMORANDA OR OFFERING MATERIALS OR PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING ANY OFFERING MEMORANDUM OR SIMILAR MATERIALS MADE AVAILABLE BY ANY PURCHASER PARTY ARE NOT AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE OR TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES, ANY AFFILIATE OF THE PURCHASER PARTIES OR ANY OTHER PERSON, AND ARE NOT AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE RELIED UPON BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COMPANY GROUP OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF IN EXECUTING, DELIVERING OR PERFORMING THIS AGREEMENT, THE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
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ARTICLE VIICOVENANTS OF THE COMPANY GROUP AND THE PURCHASER PARTIES PENDING CLOSING
The Company Group covenants and agrees that:
7.1 Conduct of the Business of the Company.
(a) From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, conduct their respective businesses in all material respects only in the ordinary course, consistent with past practices, and shall not enter into any material transactions without the prior written consent of the Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), and shall use their reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact their respective business relationships with key employees, key suppliers and other Persons with whom they have material business dealings (it being understood that no action or failure to act permitted by Section 7.1(b) shall constitute a breach of this sentence). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, none of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be required to carry out any action or be prohibited from carrying out any action which would be inconsistent with any Law or which are expressly contemplated in this Agreement.
(b) From the date hereof until and including the Closing Date, without the Parent’s prior consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to:
(i) materially amend, modify or supplement its Organizational Documents other than pursuant to this Agreement;
(ii) amend, waive any provision of, terminate prior to its scheduled expiration date, or otherwise compromise in any way, any Contract or any other right or asset of the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties, which involve payments in excess of $250,000;
(iii) modify, amend or enter into any contract, agreement, license or, commitment, which obligates the payment of more than $250,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(iv) make any capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(v) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Company Group’s assets or assets covered by any Contract except (i) pursuant to existing contracts or commitments disclosed herein, (ii) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, or (iii) not exceeding $250,000;
(vi) accept returns of products sold from Inventory except in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice;
(vii) pay, declare or promise to pay any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock or share capital, or pay, declare or promise to pay any other payments to any stockholder (other than, in the case of any stockholder that is an employee, payments of salary, benefits, leases, commissions and similar payments in the ordinary course of business);
(viii) authorize any salary increase of more than 15% for any employee making an annual salary equal to or greater than $200,000 in the aggregate on an annual basis or change the bonus or profit sharing policies of the Company Group other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
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(ix) obtain or incur any loan or other Indebtedness in excess of $500,000, including drawings under the Company Group’s existing lines of credit;
(x) incur any Lien on the Company Group’s assets, except for Permitted Liens or the Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xi) merge or consolidate with or acquire any other Person or be acquired by any other Person;
(xii) permit any material insurance policy protecting any of the Company Group’s assets with an aggregate coverage amount in excess of $500,000 to lapse unless a replacement policy having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the lapsed policy for substantially similar premiums or less is in full force and effect;
(xiii) make any change in its accounting principles other than in accordance with the applicable accounting policies or methods or write down the value of any Inventory or assets other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xiv) change the principal place of business or jurisdiction of organization other than pursuant to the Reincorporation Merger;
(xv) extend any loans other than travel or other expense advances to employees in the ordinary course of business or with the principal amount not exceeding $10,000;
(xvi) issue, redeem or repurchase any capital stock or share, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any share or any shares of its capital stock;
(xvii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, amend any Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement or seek any ruling from any Taxing Authority with respect to material Taxes, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, settle or finally resolve any material controversy with respect to Taxes, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of material Taxes, change any method of Tax accounting or Tax accounting period, initiate any voluntary Tax disclosure to any Taxing Authority, or incur any material amount of Taxes outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or
(xviii) undertake any legally binding obligation to do any of the foregoing.
7.2 Conduct of the Business of the Purchaser Parties.
(a) From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Parent (and the Purchaser after the Reincorporation Effective Time) shall remain a “blank check company” as defined under the Securities Act, shall keep current and timely file all of its public filings with the SEC, and shall not conduct any business operations or activities other than required in connection with this Agreement and ordinary course operations to maintain its status as a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company pending the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, none of the Purchaser Parties and their respective Subsidiaries shall be required to carry out any action or be prohibited from carrying out any action which would be inconsistent with any Law or which are expressly contemplated in this Agreement.
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(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, through the Closing Date, other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without the Company’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), each of the Purchaser Parties shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to:
(i) amend, waive or otherwise change or fail to comply with the Investment Management Trust Agreement in any manner adverse to the Purchaser Parties or the Purchaser Parties’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(ii) amend, modify or supplement its Organizational Documents other than pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) make any capital expenditures;
(iv) pay, declare or promise to pay any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock or share capital, or pay, declare or promise to pay any other payments to any stockholder or shareholder;
(v) waive, release, assign, settle or discharge any claim or Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, Parent or its Subsidiary) not in excess of $250,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(vi) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
(vii) obtain or incur any Indebtedness or Liability in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate (other than (A) Indebtedness owed pursuant to working capital loans made in accordance with the IPO Prospectus, (B) any Trust Account extension fees incurred in accordance with the Investment Management Trust Agreement (as the same may be amended) or (C) legal or accounting advisor fees incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(viii) issue or repurchase any Securities;
(ix) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, amend any Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement or seek any ruling from any Taxing Authority with respect to material Taxes, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, settle or finally resolve any material controversy with respect to Taxes, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of material Taxes, change any method of Tax accounting or Tax accounting period, initiate any voluntary Tax disclosure to any Taxing Authority, or incur any material amount of Taxes outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or
(x) undertake any legally binding obligation to do any of the foregoing.
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7.3 No Solicitation. From the date hereof through the earlier of (x) termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article XII and (y) the Closing, other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, neither the Company Group, on the one hand, nor the Purchaser Parties, on the other hand, shall, and such Persons shall cause each of their respective officers, directors, Affiliates, managers, consultants, employees, representatives (including investment bankers, attorneys and accountants) and agents not to, directly or indirectly, (i) knowingly encourage, solicit, initiate, engage or participate in negotiations with any Person concerning, or make any offers or proposals related to, any Alternative Transaction, (ii) take any other action intended or designed to facilitate the efforts of any Person relating to a possible Alternative Transaction, (iii) enter into, engage in or continue any discussions or negotiations with respect to an Alternative Transaction with, or provide any non-public information, data or access to employees to, any Person that has made, or that is considering making, a proposal with respect to an Alternative Transaction or (iv) approve, recommend or enter into any Alternative Transaction or any Contract related to any Alternative Transaction. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Alternative Transaction” shall mean any of the following transactions to which the Company Group or any Purchaser Party is a party (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement): (1) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, amalgamation, recapitalization, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution or other similar transaction, or (2) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of more than 50% of the consolidated assets of such Person (other than the sale, the lease, transfer or other disposition of assets in the ordinary course of business) or more than 50% of the share capital or capital stock of the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties in a single transaction or series of transactions, that, in each case of clauses (1) and (2), is not conditioned upon the Closing. In the event that there is an unsolicited proposal for, or an indication of a serious interest in entering into, an Alternative Transaction, communicated in writing to the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties or any of their respective representatives or agents (each, an “Alternative Proposal”), such party shall as promptly as practicable (and in any event within two (2) Business Days after receipt) advise the other parties to this Agreement in writing of such Alternative Proposal and the material terms and conditions of any such Alternative Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the person making any such Alternative Proposal. The Company Group and the Purchaser Parties shall keep the other parties informed on a reasonably current basis of material developments with respect to any such Alternative Proposal.
7.4 Access to Information. From the date hereof until and including the Closing Date, the Company Group and the Purchaser Parties shall, to the best of their abilities and to the extent permitted by Law, (a) continue to give the other party, its legal counsel and other representatives full access to its offices, properties, and Books and Records, (b) furnish to the other party, its legal counsel and other representatives such information relating to the business of the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties as such Persons may reasonably request and (c) cause its respective employees, legal counsel, accountants and representatives to cooperate with the other party in such other party’s investigation of its business; provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section (or any investigation prior to the date hereof) shall affect any representation or warranty given by the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties and, provided further, that any investigation pursuant to this Section shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Company Group or the Purchaser Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither party shall be required to provide the access described above or disclose any information if doing so is reasonably likely to (i) result in a waiver of attorney client privilege, work product doctrine or similar privilege or (ii) violate any contract to which it is a party or to which it is subject or applicable Law; provided that the non-disclosing party must advise the other party that it is withholding such access and/or information and (to the extent reasonably practicable) and the basis on which the access not granted and/or information not disclosed.
7.5 Notices of Certain Events. Each party shall promptly notify the other party of:
(a) any notice or other communication from any Person (including any Authority) alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement might give rise to any Action by or on behalf of such Person or result in the creation of any Lien on any Company Ordinary Shares or share capital or capital stock of the Purchaser Parties or any of the Company Group’s or the Purchaser Parties’ assets;
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(b) any notice containing substantive communication from any Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements;
(c) any Actions commenced or, to such party’s knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Additional Agreements;
(d) the occurrence of any fact or circumstance which constitutes or results, or might reasonably be expected to constitute or result, in a Material Adverse Change; and
(e) the occurrence of any fact or circumstance which results, or might reasonably be expected to result, in any representation made hereunder by such party to be false or misleading in any material respect or to omit or fail to state a material fact, in each case that would result in the failure to satisfy the condition to the other party’s obligation to close as set forth in Section 10.2(b) or 10.3(b), as applicable.
7.6 SEC Filings.
(a) The Company Group acknowledges that:
(i) the Parent’s shareholders must approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to the Acquisition Merger contemplated hereby being consummated and that, in connection with such approval, the Parent must call a special meeting of its shareholders requiring Purchaser to prepare and file with the SEC a Proxy Statement and Registration Statement (as defined in Section 9.5);
(ii) the Purchaser Parties will be required to file Quarterly and Annual reports that may be required to contain information about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iii) the Parent will be required to file a Form 8-K to announce the transactions contemplated hereby and other significant events that may occur in connection with such transactions.
(b) In connection with any filing the Purchaser Parties make with the SEC that requires information about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be included, the Company Group will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Affiliates, in connection with the disclosure included in any such filing or the responses provided to the SEC in connection with the SEC’s comments to a filing, to use their commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cooperate with the Purchaser Parties, (ii) respond to questions about the Company Group required in any filing or requested by the SEC, and (iii) provide any information requested by the Purchaser Parties in connection with any filing with the SEC.
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(c) Company Group Cooperation. The Company Group acknowledges that a substantial portion of the filings with the SEC and mailings to each Purchaser Party’s shareholders with respect to the Proxy Statement shall include disclosure regarding the Company Group and its management, operations and financial condition. Accordingly, the Company Group agrees to as promptly as reasonably practical provide the Purchaser Parties with such information as shall be reasonably requested by the Purchaser Parties for inclusion in or attachment to the Proxy Statement, that is accurate in all material respects and does not 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, and complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and in addition shall contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Company Group and its shareholders as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies. The Company Group understands that such information shall be included in the Proxy Statement and/or responses to comments from the SEC or its staff in connection therewith and mailings. The Company Group shall cause their managers, directors, officers and employees to be reasonably available to the Purchaser Parties and their counsel in connection with the drafting of such filings and mailings and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC.
7.7 Trust Account. The Company Group acknowledges that after the Closing, the Purchaser Parties shall make appropriate arrangements to cause the funds in the Trust Account to be disbursed in accordance with the Investment Management Trust Agreement and for the payment of (i) all amounts payable to shareholders of Parent holding Parent Units or Parent Ordinary Share who shall have validly redeemed their Parent Units or Parent Ordinary Share upon acceptance by the Parent of such Parent Units or Parent Ordinary Share, (ii) the expenses of the Purchaser Parties to the third parties to which they are owed (including with respect to any payments required pursuant to Section 7.9), (iii) the Deferred Underwriting Amount to the underwriter in the IPO and (iv) the remaining monies in the Trust Account to the Purchaser Parties.
7.8 PIPE Investment. The parties agree that from the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into and consummate subscription agreements with investors relating to the purchase of shares of Purchaser through private placement, and/or backstop or redemption waiver arrangements with potential investors, exceeding ten million dollars ($10,000,000) at a price per share not less than $9.00, in each case on terms mutually agreeable to the Company and the Purchaser Parties (the “PIPE Investment”). The Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause their respective representatives to, cooperate with the Purchaser Parties and their respective representatives in connection with such PIPE Investment.
7.9 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) The parties agree that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of the current or former directors and officers of the Purchaser Parties (the “D&O Indemnified Persons”) as provided in their respective Organizational Documents, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or under any indemnification, employment or other similar agreements between any D&O Indemnified Person and any of the Purchaser Parties in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Schedule 7.9(a), shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years after the Reincorporation Effective Time, Purchaser shall cause the Organizational Documents of Purchaser and the Company to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses to D&O Indemnified Persons than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement in the Organizational Documents of the Purchaser Parties to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The provisions of this Section 7.9 shall survive the Closing and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Persons and their respective heirs and representatives.
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(b) The Company shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy that provides coverage for up to a six-year period from the Closing Date, for the benefit of the D&O Indemnified Persons (the “D&O Tail Insurance”) that is substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than Parent’s existing policy or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage; provided that in no event shall the Company be required to expend for such policies pursuant to this Section 7.9(b) an aggregate amount in excess of 200% of the amount per annum the Parent paid in its last full fiscal year, which amount is set forth in Schedule 7.9(b). Parent shall cause such D&O Tail Insurance to be maintained in full force and effect, for its full term, and cause the other Purchaser Parties to honor all obligations thereunder.
7.10 Formation of Purchaser and Merger Sub. As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, no later than the day immediately prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall cause each of Purchaser and Merger Sub to be formed under Cayman Law. Upon formation, each of Purchaser and Merger Sub shall sign a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably agreed by the parties, agreeing to be bound by this Agreement as if parties hereto on the date hereof.
ARTICLE VIIICOVENANTS OF THE COMPANY GROUP
The Company Group agrees that:
8.1 Reporting and Compliance with Laws. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company Group shall duly and timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed with the applicable Taxing Authorities, pay any and all Taxes required by any Taxing Authority and duly observe and conform in all material respects, to all applicable Laws and Orders.
8.2 Commercially Reasonable Efforts to Obtain Consents. The Company Group shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain each third party consent that is required for the consummation of the Acquisition Merger as promptly as practicable hereafter.
8.3 Annual and Interim Financial Statements. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, within forty (40) calendar days following the end of each three-month quarterly period, the Company Group shall deliver to Purchaser Parties, for the first three quarters of the year, unaudited consolidated financial statements reviewed by the Company’s auditor. The Company Group shall also promptly deliver to the Purchaser Parties copies of any audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company that the Company’s auditor may issue.
8.4 Employees of the Company. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company Key Personnel to execute and deliver to the Purchaser Parties employment agreements substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Employment Agreements”).
8.5 Additional Agreements. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company Shareholders who will own more than 3% of the issued and outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares as of immediately after the Effective Time to enter into the Lock-Up Agreements.
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ARTICLE IXCOVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES HERETO
The parties hereto covenant and agree that:
9.1 Efforts; Further Assurances.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable under applicable Laws, and cooperate as reasonably requested by the other parties, to consummate and implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the receipt of all applicable Governmental Approvals). The parties hereto shall execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and take such other actions as may be necessary or reasonably desirable in order to consummate or implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Purchaser Parties and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions as may be requested by any such Authority to obtain all applicable Governmental Approvals.
9.2 Tax Matters.
(a) Each of Parent, Purchaser, the Company, and their respective Affiliates shall file all Tax Returns consistent with the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment (including attaching the statement described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-(a) on or with the its Tax Return for the taxable year of the Reincorporation Merger), and shall take no position inconsistent with the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise), unless otherwise required by a Taxing Authority in connection with an audit.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all Transfer Taxes shall be paid by Parent. The Party required by Law to do so shall file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Transfer Taxes, and if required by applicable Law, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other document. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to) cooperate in good faith to minimize, to the extent permissible under applicable Law, the amount of any such Transfer Taxes.
(c) In the event the SEC requires a tax opinion regarding the Reincorporation Intended Tax Treatment, the Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Loeb & Loeb LLP to deliver such tax opinion to the Parent. Each party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to execute and deliver customary Tax representation letters to the applicable tax advisor in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such advisor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Loeb & Loeb LLP shall not be required to provide any opinion to any party regarding the Acquisition Merger.
(d) Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of Purchaser’s current taxable year and each subsequent taxable year of Purchaser for which Purchaser reasonably believes that it may be a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (“PFIC”), Purchaser shall (1) determine its status as a PFIC, (2) determine the PFIC status of each of its Subsidiaries that at any time during such taxable year was a foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 7701(a) of the Code (the “Non-U.S. Subsidiaries”), and (3) make such PFIC status determinations available to the shareholders of Purchaser as of immediately prior to the Effective Time. If Purchaser determines that it (or any of its Non-U.S. Subsidiaries) was, or could reasonably be deemed to have been, a PFIC in such taxable year, Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the statements and information (including without limitation, a PFIC Annual Information Statement meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295- 1(g)) necessary to enable Purchaser shareholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and their direct and/or indirect owners that are United States persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) to comply with all provisions of the Code with respect to PFICs, including but not limited to making and complying with the requirements of a “Qualified Electing Fund” election pursuant to Section 1295 of the Code or filing a “protective statement” pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295-3 with respect to Purchaser or any of the Non-U.S. Subsidiaries, as applicable. The covenants contained in this Section 9.2(d), notwithstanding any provision elsewhere in this Agreement, shall survive in full force and effect until the later of (x) two (2) years after the end of Purchaser’s current taxable year or (y) such time as Purchaser has reasonably determined that it is not a PFIC for three (3) consecutive taxable years.
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9.3 Settlement of the Purchaser Parties’ Liabilities. Concurrently with the Closing, all outstanding liabilities of the Purchaser Parties shall be settled and paid in full and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Purchaser’s or Parent’s officers, directors, or any of their respective Affiliates, in connection with identifying, investigating and consummating a business combination shall be paid in full.
9.4 Compliance with SPAC Agreements. The Company Group and Purchaser Parties shall assume the obligations under each of the applicable agreements entered into in connection with the IPO, including that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2024 by and between Parent and the investors named therein.
9.5 Registration Statement.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, but not later than May 16, 2025, Purchaser shall prepare with the assistance, cooperation and commercially reasonable efforts of the Company Group, and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Reincorporation Merger and Acquisition Merger (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Holdback Shares), which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement of Parent (as amended, the “Proxy Statement”) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Parent shareholders for the matters to be acted upon at the Parent Special Meeting and a consent solicitation statement for purposes of obtaining the Required Parent Shareholder Approval and providing the public shareholders of Parent an opportunity in accordance with Parent’s organizational documents and the IPO Prospectus to have their Parent Ordinary Shares redeemed in conjunction with the shareholder vote on the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters as defined below. The Proxy Statement shall include proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Parent shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of Parent shareholders to be called and held for such purpose (the “Parent Special Meeting”), in favor of resolutions approving (i) the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the BRPM and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the Reincorporation Merger and the Acquisition Merger, by the holders of Parent Ordinary Share in accordance with the Parent’s Organizational Documents, BVI Law, Cayman Islands Law and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq, (ii) adoption of the Purchaser’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, (iii) election of the directors of the Purchaser as set forth in Section 2.5 of this Agreement, (iv) approval of an incentive plan for the employees of the Purchaser to be effective as of the Closing and in the form to be mutually agreed by the parties and (iii) such other matters as the Company Group and Parent shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Reincorporation Merger, the Acquisition Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the approvals described in foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, the “Parent Shareholder Approval Matters”), and (iii) the adjournment of the Parent Special Meeting, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of Parent.
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(b) Parent, acting through its board of directors (or a committee thereof), shall (i) recommend the Parent Shareholders to vote for each of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies or votes in favor of the approval of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters, and (iii) take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the approval of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters. If on the date for which the Parent Special Meeting is scheduled, Parent has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Required Parent Shareholder Approval (as defined below), whether or not a quorum is present, Parent may make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Parent Special Meeting; provided that the Parent Special Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned by an aggregate of ten (10) Business Days without the Company’s prior written consent. In connection with the Registration Statement, Parent, Purchaser and the Company Group will file with the SEC financial and other information about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and applicable proxy solicitation and registration statement rules set forth in Parent’s organizational documents, BVI Law and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq.
(c) The Purchaser shall cooperate and provide the Company Group (and its counsel) with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto prior to filing the same with the SEC. The Company Group shall provide the Purchaser Parties with such information concerning the Company Group and its equity holders, officers, directors, employees, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information provided by the Company Group shall be true and correct and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made not materially misleading (subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth in the materials provided by the Company Group). If required by applicable SEC rules or regulations, such financial information provided by the Company Group must be reviewed or audited by the Company Group’s auditors. The Parent shall provide such information concerning Parent and its equity holders, officers, directors, employees, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information provided by the Parent shall be true and correct and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made not materially misleading. The Purchaser will use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be 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 Acquisition Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) The Purchaser shall take any and all commercially reasonable and necessary actions required to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable Laws in connection with the Registration Statement and the Parent Special Meeting and to the cause the Registration Statement to become effective. Each party shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, make their respective directors, officers and employees, upon reasonable advance notice, available, at a reasonable time and location, to the Company Group, the Purchaser, Parent and their respective representatives in connection with the drafting of the public filings with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Registration Statement, and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC. Each party shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Registration Statement (and other related materials) if and to the extent that such information is determined to have become false or misleading in any material respect or as otherwise required by applicable Laws. Purchaser shall amend or supplement the Registration Statement for any such corrections and cause the Registration Statement, as so amended or supplemented, to be filed with the SEC.
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(e) As soon as practicable following the Registration Statement “clearing” comments from the SEC and being declared effective by the SEC, Parent shall distribute the Proxy Statement to Parent’s shareholders, and, pursuant thereto, shall call the Parent Special Meeting in accordance with BVI Law for a date no later than thirty (30) days following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
9.6 Confidentiality. Except as necessary to complete the Proxy Statement and Registration Statement, the Company Group, on the one hand, and the Purchaser Parties, on the other hand, shall hold and shall cause their respective representatives to hold in strict confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law, all documents and information concerning the other party furnished to it by such other party or its representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (a) previously known by the party to which it was furnished, (b) in the public domain through no fault of such party or (c) later lawfully acquired from other sources on a non-confidential basis, which source is not the agent of the other party, by the party to which it was furnished, without any breach by such source of any obligation of confidentiality to the other party), and each party shall not release or disclose such information to any other person, except its representatives in connection with this Agreement. In the event that any party is required to disclose any such confidential information pursuant to applicable Laws, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, such party shall give timely written notice to the other parties so that such parties may have an opportunity to obtain a protective order or other appropriate relief, and such party shall only disclose the minimum amount of such confidential information so required to be disclosed. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations set forth in this Section 9.6 shall not limit any obligation with respect to any confidential information of any party under any existing confidentiality agreements, including the non-disclosure agreement entered into by the Parent and Zhejiang Xiaojianren on October 11, 2024, which remains in full force and effect.
ARTICLE X CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
10.1 Condition to the Obligations of the Parties. The obligations of all of the parties hereto to consummate the Reincorporation Merger, the Acquisition Merger and the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of all the following conditions:
(a) No provisions of any applicable Law, and no Order shall prohibit or prevent the consummation of the Closing.
(b) The SEC shall have declared the Registration Statement effective. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued.
(c) The Parent Shareholder Approval Matters that are submitted to the vote of the shareholders of Parent at the Parent Special Meeting in accordance with the Proxy Statement and Parent’s Organizational Documents shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of Parent at the Parent Special Meeting in accordance with Parent’s Organizational Documents, applicable Law and the Proxy Statement (the “Required Parent Shareholder Approval”).
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(d) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Acquisition Merger, shall have been authorized and approved by the Company and by the holders of Company Ordinary Shares constituting the Requisite Company Vote in accordance with the Cayman Islands Law and the Company’s memorandum and articles of association.
(e) Each of Purchaser and Merger Sub shall have been formed and shall have executed a joinder agreement to this Agreement.
(f) Any required filings under the HSR Act, and other applicable anti-trust laws, shall have been completed and any applicable waiting period, any extensions thereof, and any commitments by the parties not to close before a certain date under a timing agreement entered into with a Governmental Authority shall have expired or otherwise been terminated.
10.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser Parties. The obligation of the Purchaser Parties to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver at the Purchaser Parties’ sole and absolute discretion, of all the following further conditions:
(a) The Company Group shall have duly performed all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing Date in all material respects (disregarding all references to “material respects” that may already be contained in the applicable covenants).
(b) All of the representations and warranties of the Company Group contained in Article V in this Agreement, disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained herein relating to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect shall: (i) be true and correct at and as of the date of this Agreement except as provided in the Company Disclosure Schedules pursuant to Article V, and (ii) be true and correct as of the Closing Date except as provided in the Company Disclosure Schedules pursuant to Article V (except that if the representation and warranties that speak as of a specific date prior to the Closing Date, such representations and warranties need only to be true and correct as of such earlier date), in the case of (i) and (ii), other than as would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) There shall have been no event, change or occurrence which individually or together with any other event, change or occurrence, could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect which is continuing and uncured.
(d) The Purchaser Parties shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect set forth in clauses (a) through (c) of this Section 10.2.
(e) The Purchaser Parties shall have received (i) a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as in effect as of the Closing Date, (ii) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors of the Company and by the Requisite Company Vote of the Company Shareholders authorizing this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) a recent certificate of good standing as of a date no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date regarding the Company from the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated.
(f) The Purchaser Parties shall have received copies of all Company Governmental Approvals, if any, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser Parties, including but not limited to the CSRC filing, and no such Company Governmental Approval shall have been revoked.
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(g) The Purchaser Parties shall have received a copy of each of the Additional Agreements to which the Company is a party duly executed by the Company and such Additional Agreement shall be in full force and effect.
(h) The Purchaser Parties shall have received a copy of each of the Additional Agreements duly executed by all required parties thereto, other than Parent or the Company.
10.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver at the Company’s discretion, of all of the following further conditions:
(a) The Purchaser Parties shall have duly performed all of their obligations hereunder required to be performed by them at or prior to the Closing Date in all material respects (disregarding all references to “material respects” that may already be contained in the applicable covenants).
(b) (i) All of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser Parties contained in Article VI in this Agreement (other than Sections 6.5 (Finders’ Fees) and 6.7 (Capitalization)), disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained herein relating to materiality or Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect, shall be true and correct at and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except that if the representation and warranties that speak as of a specific date prior to the Closing Date, such representations and warranties need only to be true and correct as of such earlier date) other than where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct taken in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) each of the representations and warranties in Sections 6.5 (Finders’ Fees) and 6.7 (Capitalization) shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except that if the representation and warranties that speak as of a specific date prior to the Closing Date, such representations and warranties need only to be true and correct as of such earlier date), except for inaccuracies in the aggregate that are de minimis in effect.
(c) There shall have been no event, change or occurrence which individually or together with any other event, change or occurrence, could reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Parties Material Adverse Effect which is continuing and uncured.
(d) The Company shall have received a certificate signed by an authorized officer of Purchaser Parties to the effect set forth in clauses (a) through (c) of this Section 10.3.
(e) From the date hereof until the Closing, the Purchaser Parties shall have been in material compliance with the reporting requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to the Purchaser Parties.
(f) Purchaser shall remain listed on Nasdaq and the additional listing application for the Merger Consideration Shares shall have been approved by Nasdaq. As of the Closing Date, Purchaser shall not have received any written notice from Nasdaq that it has failed, or would reasonably be expected to fail to meet the Nasdaq listing requirements as of the Closing Date for any reason, where such notice has not been subsequently withdrawn by Nasdaq or the underlying failure appropriately remedied or satisfied.
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ARTICLE XI
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
11.1 Survival. 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, (b) claims for indemnification made pursuant to this Article XI, or (c) in the Case of Fraud. Fraud Claims shall survive the Closing for the applicable statute(s) of limitations.
11.2 Indemnification of the Purchaser Parties. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article XI, from the Closing until the Expiration Date, the Company Shareholders will, solely out of the Holdback Shares, indemnify, without duplication, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser Parties, their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, managers, employees, successors (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Article XI, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, actions, Orders, liabilities, damages, Taxes, interest, penalties, Liens, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (any of the foregoing, a “Loss”), paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, any Indemnified Party to the extent arising in whole or in part out of or resulting from (whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim): (i) the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company and the Specified Shareholders set forth in this Agreement; or (ii) the breach of any covenant or agreement of this Agreement on the part of the Company.
11.3 Limitations on Indemnification.
(a) Any indemnification claims by the Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 11.2 shall be paid with the Holdback Shares. With respect to any such indemnification payment, for purpose of determining the indemnification payment, the Holdback Shares shall be valued at $10.00 per share, regardless of the trading price of the Holdback Shares at the time that the indemnification claim is finally determined in accordance with this Article XI.
(b) Except in the case of Fraud by the Company and/or any Company Shareholder, the sole and exclusive recourse for any amount finally determined to be owed in respect of any indemnity obligations pursuant to this Article XI shall be made only by transfer of Holdback Shares to the Indemnified Parties, no other assets shall in any respect be used to satisfy such indemnity obligations, and once the Holdback Shares shall be fully released and transferred, such indemnity obligations shall terminate. For successful indemnification claims by an Indemnified Party, within five (5) Business Days after the indemnification claim is finally determined in accordance with this Article XI, Purchaser shall retain a number of Holdback Shares, valued at $10.00 per share, equal to the amount of such indemnification claim (as determined in accordance with this Article XI).
(c) In the event Purchaser Parties proceed with the Closing notwithstanding actual knowledge by Purchaser Parties or any Affiliate of Purchaser Parties at or prior to the Closing (as evidenced in a writing, either from the Company to Purchaser Parties or from Purchaser Parties to the Company) of any breach by the Company or any Company Shareholder of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in Article V or in any certificate or Additional Agreement delivered by the Company pursuant hereto, no Indemnified Party shall have any claim or recourse against any Company Shareholder or the Holdback Shares with respect to such breach, under this Article XI or otherwise.
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(d) In no event shall any Indemnified Party be entitled to recover or make a claim for any amounts in respect of, and in no event shall Losses be deemed to include, any punitive, special, incidental, exemplary, consequential, indirect or exemplary damages, or for any diminution in value changes measured as a multiple of earnings, revenue or by any other similar performance metric, (including loss of future revenue or income, loss of business reputation or opportunity), except for any such damages to the extent actually awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction and paid to a third party in a Third Party Claim (as defined below).
(e) Any Losses recoverable hereunder shall be reduced in amount by insurance proceeds, indemnification payments, contribution payments or reimbursements or any Tax benefits or reduction actually received by any Indemnified Party in connection with, or as a result of, such Losses, and the Indemnified Parties shall use reasonable and diligent efforts to realize such benefits, proceeds, payments, reimbursements or reductions.
(f) Each Indemnified Party shall take, and cause its Affiliates to take, all reasonable steps to mitigate any Loss upon becoming aware of any event or circumstance that would be reasonably expected to, or does, give rise thereto, including incurring costs only to the extent reasonably necessary to remedy the breach that gives rise to such Loss.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Indemnified Parties shall be deemed not to have suffered any Losses (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to the extent that such Losses (i) are accrued, provided or reserved for, or otherwise reflected or taken into account in, the Financial Statements, or (ii) arise out of changes after the Closing Date in accounting principles or applicable Laws, rules or regulations or interpretations thereof.
(h) An Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to damages or other payment from the Company Shareholders in respect of any claims concerning the Company or any Company Subsidiary under or in relation to this Agreement if (i) any such claim is less than $50,000 or (ii) the aggregate of all such claims permitted under (i) is less than $250,000, after which the Company Shareholders shall be liable for the full amount of its indemnification Liabilities.
11.4 Indemnification Procedures.
(a) The Indemnified Parties may designate a representative from time to time (the “Indemnified Party Representative”), who shall have the sole right to act on behalf of the Indemnified Parties with respect to any indemnification claims made pursuant to this Article XI, including bringing and settling any indemnification claims hereunder and receiving any notices on behalf of the Indemnified Parties. No later than five (5) Business Days after either party first delivers a Claim Notice (as defined below), (i) the Purchaser Parties shall appoint their Indemnified Party Representative, (ii) the Company shall appoint its Indemnified Party Representative and (iii) the parties shall notify each other of such appointments. Each Indemnified Party Representative shall also act for the applicable Party in its capacity as an Indemnifying Party (each, an “Indemnifying Party Representative”). Each such representative has the sole right to act on behalf of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties, as the case may be, with respect to any indemnification claims made pursuant to this Article XI, including the giving and receiving of any notices in connection with any claim for indemnification under this Agreement.
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(b) In order to make a claim for indemnification hereunder, the Indemnified Party Representative must provide written notice (a “Claim Notice”) of such claim to the Indemnifying Party Representative, which Claim Notice shall include (i) a reasonable description of the facts and circumstances which relate to the subject matter of such indemnification claim to the extent then known and (ii) the amount of Losses suffered by the Indemnified Party in connection with the claim to the extent known or reasonably estimable (including the basis for determination or method of computation of the amount so stated) (provided, that the Indemnified Party Representative may thereafter in good faith adjust the amount of Losses with respect to the claim to reflect additional information obtained after the date of the initial Claim Notice by providing a revised Claim Notice to the Indemnifying Party Representative).
(c) In the case of any claim for indemnification under this Article XI arising from a claim of any third party (a “Third-Party Claim”), the Indemnified Party Representative must give a Claim Notice with respect to such Third-Party Claim to the Indemnifying Party Representative promptly (but in no event later than five (5) Business Days) after the Indemnified Party’s receipt of notice of such Third-Party Claim; provided, that the failure to give such notice will not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying Party will have the right, at its sole option and upon notice thereof to the Indemnified Party, to (i) participate in the defense of any such Third--Party Claim and (ii) control, defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with any such Third-Party Claim, and be represented by counsel selected by the Indemnifying Party, unless such Third-Party Claim is criminal in nature, could reasonably be expected to lead to criminal proceedings, or seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party Representative assumes the defense of such Third-Party Claim, it will within twenty (20) days (or sooner, if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) notify the Indemnified Party Representative of its intent to do so, and the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense, negotiation and settlement of any such Third-Party Claim. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the Indemnifying Party’s request) the provision to the Indemnifying Party of records and information that are reasonably relevant to such Third-Party Claim, and making employees available (without charge) at such times and places as may be reasonably necessary to defend against such Third-Party Claim for the purpose of providing additional information, explanation or testimony in connection with such Third-Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party Representative elects not to, or at any time is not entitled under this Section 11.4(c) to, settle or defend such Third-Party Claim, fails to notify the Indemnified Party Representative of its election as herein provided or refuses to acknowledge or contests its obligation to indemnify under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise deal with such Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Indemnifying Party will have no indemnification obligations with respect to any such Third-Party Claim which is settled by the Indemnified Party or the Indemnified Party Representative without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party Representative (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnified Party will not be required to refrain from paying any Third-Party Claim which has matured by a final, non-appealable Order, nor will it be required to refrain from paying any Third-Party Claim where the delay in paying such claim would result in the foreclosure of a Lien upon any of the property or assets then held by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party may (1) settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim or (2) permit a default or consent to entry of any judgment (x) without the consent of the Indemnified Party if such settlement or resolution is solely for money damages which are fully compensated from the Holdback Shares and the Indemnified Party is not required to admit guilt or liability relating to such matter and (y) with the consent of the Indemnified Party in all other cases, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Indemnified Party Representative will have the right, at its sole expense, to participate in the defense of any Third-Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to direct the defense.
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(d) With respect to any direct indemnification claim that is not a Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party Representative will have a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of the Claim Notice to respond thereto. If the Indemnifying Party Representative does not respond within such thirty (30) days, the Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have accepted responsibility for the Losses set forth in such Claim Notice subject to the limitations on indemnification set forth in this Article XI and will have no further right to contest the validity of such Claim Notice. If the Indemnifying Party Representative responds within such thirty (30) days and rejects such claim in whole or in part, the Indemnifying Party will be free to pursue such remedies as may be available under this Agreement, any Additional Agreements or applicable Law.
11.5 Indemnification Payments. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 11.5, any indemnification obligation of the Indemnifying Party under this Article XI will be settled solely through delivery to the Indemnified Party such number of Holdback Shares that are equal in value to the finally determined amount of indemnification determined, with each such share valued at $10.00. Within five (5) Business Days after the final determination of such obligation in accordance with Section 11.4, Purchaser and the Company’s Indemnified Party Representative will provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser any written instructions or other information or documents required by Purchaser, which shall disburse and transfer such number of Holdback Shares to the Indemnified Party, and in no event shall the Indemnifying Party be required to pay or reimburse with cash or any other assets; provided, however, that, at the election of the Indemnifying Party, such it may satisfy its several indemnification obligation through the payment of cash to the Indemnified Party.
11.6 Exclusive Remedy. From and after the Closing, except with respect to Fraud, or claims under any Additional Agreements, indemnification pursuant to this Article XI shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for the Parties with respect to matters arising under this Agreement of any kind or nature, including for any misrepresentation or breach of any warranty, covenant, or other provision contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the negotiation and discussion thereof. Except with respect to Fraud, no Indemnified Party will have any other entitlement, remedy or recourse, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, or whether at law or in equity, it being agreed that all of such other remedies, entitlements or recourse are expressly waived and released by the Parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE XIIDISPUTE RESOLUTION
12.1 Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) The parties shall submit any dispute, claim, controversy or Action (in each case, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including with respect to the meaning, effect, validity, termination, interpretation, performance, or enforcement of this Agreement), the negotiation, execution performance or any alleged breach thereof (“Related Claim”) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom), or, if no federal court in the State of Delaware accepts jurisdiction, any state court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom) (collectively, the “Specified Courts”)), and the parties hereby irrevocably agree that all Related Claims shall be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby (a) submit to the exclusive personal and subject matter jurisdiction of any Specified Court any Related Claims and (b) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Related Claim brought in any Specified Court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.
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(b) The parties hereby consent to process being served by any other party in any Related Claim by the delivery of a copy thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1 (other than by email) along with a notification that service of process is being served in conformance with this Section 12.1(b). Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.
(c) This submission to jurisdiction Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
12.2 Waiver of Jury Trial; Exemplary Damages.
(a) THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT EACH SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, IN ANY COURT IN WHICH AN ACTION MAY BE COMMENCED, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT, OR BY REASON OF ANY OTHER CAUSE OR DISPUTE WHATSOEVER BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.2(A). NO PARTY SHALL BE AWARDED PUNITIVE OR OTHER EXEMPLARY DAMAGES RESPECTING ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT.
(b) Each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledge that each has been represented in connection with the signing of this waiver by independent legal counsel selected by the respective party and that such party has discussed the legal consequences and import of this waiver with legal counsel. Each of the parties to this Agreement further acknowledge that each has read and understands the meaning of this waiver and grants this waiver knowingly, voluntarily, without duress and only after consideration of the consequences of this waiver with legal counsel.
ARTICLE XIII
TERMINATION
13.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Reincorporation Merger, the Acquisition Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned or terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding any Requisite Company Vote and adoption of this Agreement and the contemplated transactions by the equity holders of the Company or Parent:
(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent duly authorized by each of their respective boards of directors;
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(b) by any of the Purchaser Parties, if (i) any of the representations or warranties of the Company set forth in Article V shall have become materially untrue or materially inaccurate, or if there has been a material breach by the Company of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing and subject to any cure period provided for in this Agreement or agreed to by the Purchaser Parties), in each case such that the conditions to Closing set forth in either Section 10.2(a) or Section 10.2(b) would not be satisfied and (ii) inaccuracy of the representations or warranties of the Company, or the breach or breaches is incapable of being cured or is not cured (or waived by the Purchaser Parties) by the earlier of (A) the Outside Date (as defined below) or (B) 20 days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Company and such inaccuracy or breach or breaches have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however. that the Purchaser Parties shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.1(b) if any Purchaser Party is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation hereunder, which breach has not been cured;
(c) by the Company, if (i) any of the representations or warranties of any Purchaser Party set forth in Article VI shall have become materially untrue or materially inaccurate, or if there has been a material breach by any Purchaser Party of any covenant or agreement on its part set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing and subject to any cure period provided for in this Agreement or agreed to by the Company), in each case such that the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 10.3 would not be satisfied and (ii) inaccuracy of the representations or warranties of any Purchaser Party, or the breach or breaches is incapable of being cured or is not cured (or waived by the Company) by the earlier of (A) the Outside Date or (B) 20 days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Purchaser Parties and such inaccuracy or breach or breaches have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.1(c) if the Company is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation hereunder, which breach has not been cured;
(d) by either the Company or any Purchaser Party:
(i) on or after December 18, 2025 (the “Outside Date”), if the Acquisition Merger shall not have been consummated prior to the Outside Date; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 13.1(d)(i) shall not be available to a Party if the failure of the Acquisition Merger to have been consummated on or before the Outside Date was due to such Party’s breach of or failure to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement; provided further, that if the Acquisition Merger shall not have been consummated prior to the Outside Date, without prejudice to the right of either the Company or any Purchaser Party to terminate this Agreement under this Section 13.1(d)(i), the parties will enter into good faith discussions, with a view to continuing to pursue the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on terms and conditions mutually agreed by the parties; or
(ii) if any Order having the effect set forth in Section 10.1(a) shall be in effect and shall have become final and non-appealable; provided,however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 13.1(d)(ii) shall not be available to a Party if such Order was due to such Party’s breach of or failure to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement; or
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(iii) if any of the Parent Shareholder Approval Matters shall fail to receive the Required Parent Shareholder Approval at the Parent Special Meeting (unless such Parent Special Meeting has been adjourned or postponed, in which case at the final adjournment or postponement thereof);
(e) by the Purchaser Parties, in the event that either (i) the Audited Financial Statements have not been delivered to them on or before April 30, 2025 or (ii) the Unaudited Financial Statements have not been delivered to them on or before April 30, 2025.
13.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement (other than termination pursuant to Section 13.1(a)), written notice thereof shall be given by the Party desiring to terminate to the other Party or Parties, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall following such delivery become null and void (other than the provisions of this Section 13.2 and Article XIV) without Liability of any party to any other party, provided, that in the event of termination pursuant to Section 13.1(b) or Section 13.1(c), termination will not relieve a party from any Liability arising from or relating to any knowing and intentional breach of a representation, a warranty or a covenant by such party prior to the termination, or from Fraud.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
14.1 Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first business day after such delivery; (b) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is sent electronically without any “bounce back” or similar error message; or (c) five days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
if to the Company (or Parent, Purchaser or Merger Sub following the Closing), to:
Mingde Technology Limited
Room 2701, Building 6,
Euro American Financial City,
Cangqian Street, Yuhang District,
Hangzhou City, China
Attn: Ding xiufang, Executive Assistant to the GM
Email: frida@xjr365.ltd
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
DeHeng Law Offices
12th Floor, Building B, Focus Place,
No. 19 Jinrong Street, Xicheng District,
Beijing City, China
Email: dongly@dehenglaw.com
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if to any of Parent, Purchaser and Merger Sub prior to the Closing
YHN Acquisition I Limited
2/F, Hang Seng Building
200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Attn: Satoshi Tominaga, Chief Executive Officer
Email: stominaga8@outlook.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Lawrence Venick
Loeb & Loeb LLP
21st Floor, CCB Tower,
3 Connaught Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
Email: lvenick@loeb.com
14.2 Amendments; No Waivers; Remedies.
(a) This Agreement cannot be amended, supplemented or modified, except by a writing signed by each of the Purchaser Parties (prior to the Reincorporation Effective Time) and the Company and cannot be amended, supplemented or modified orally or by course of conduct. No provision hereof can be waived, except by a writing signed by the party against whom such waiver is to be enforced, and any such waiver shall apply only in the particular instance in which such waiver shall have been given.
(b) Neither any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or in requiring satisfaction of any condition herein nor any course of dealing shall constitute a waiver of or prevent any party from enforcing any right or remedy or from requiring satisfaction of any condition. No notice to or demand on a party waives or otherwise affects any obligation of that party or impairs any right of the party giving such notice or making such demand, including any right to take any action without notice or demand not otherwise required by this Agreement. No exercise of any right or remedy with respect to a breach of this Agreement shall preclude exercise of any other right or remedy, as appropriate to make the aggrieved party whole with respect to such breach, or subsequent exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any other breach.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no statement herein of any right or remedy shall impair any other right or remedy stated herein or that otherwise may be available.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, neither shall any party seek, nor shall any party be liable for, punitive or exemplary damages, under any tort, contract, equity, or other legal theory, with respect to any breach (or alleged breach) of this Agreement or any provision hereof or any matter otherwise based upon this Agreement, relating hereto or arising in connection herewith.
14.3 Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter. This Agreement has been negotiated at arm’s-length by parties of equal bargaining strength, each represented by counsel or having had but declined the opportunity to be represented by counsel and having participated in the drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement creates no fiduciary or other special relationship between the parties, and no such relationship otherwise exists. No presumption in favor of or against any party in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be made based upon which Person might have drafted this Agreement or such provision.
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14.4 Publicity. Except as required by law and except with respect to the Parent SEC Documents, the parties agree that neither they nor their agents shall issue any press release or make any other public disclosure concerning the transactions contemplated hereunder without the prior approval of the other party hereto. If a party is required to make such a disclosure as required by law, the Purchaser Parties or the Company (as applicable) will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such press release or public announcement prior to its issuance. The foregoing shall not prohibit disclosure made in connection with the enforcement of any right or remedy relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
14.5 Expenses. Unless otherwise specified herein, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that if the Closing is consummated, the Purchaser shall bear all expenses in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
14.6 No Assignment or Delegation. No party may assign any right or delegate any obligation hereunder, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law, or otherwise, without the written consent of the other parties hereto. Any purported assignment or delegation that does not comply with the immediately preceding sentence shall be void, in addition to constituting a material breach of this Agreement.
14.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and all Related Claims shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws (both substantive and procedural) of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
14.8 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.
14.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the Additional Agreements, including any exhibits and Schedules attached hereto or thereto, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein. No provision of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement, including any exhibits and Schedules attached hereto or thereto, may be explained or qualified by any agreement, negotiations, understanding, discussion, conduct or course of conduct. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein or any Additional Agreement, there is no condition precedent to the effectiveness of any provision hereof or thereof. No party has relied on any representation from, or warranty or agreement of, any person in entering into this Agreement, prior hereto or contemporaneous herewith or any Additional Agreement, except those expressly stated herein or therein.
14.10 Severability. A determination by a court or other legal Authority that any provision that is not of the essence of this Agreement is legally invalid shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. The parties shall cooperate in good faith to substitute (or cause such court or other legal Authority to substitute) for any provision so held to be invalid a valid provision, as alike in substance to such invalid provision as is lawful.
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14.11 In this Agreement:
(a) Construction of Certain Terms and References. Captions, Sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits not otherwise specified are cross-references to Sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits of this Agreement.
(b) The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and, unless the context requires otherwise, “party” means a party signatory hereto.
(c) Any use of the singular or plural, or the masculine, feminine, or neuter gender, includes the others, unless the context otherwise requires; “including” means “including without limitation;” “or” means “and/or;” “any” means “any one, more than one, or all;” and, unless otherwise specified, any financial or accounting term has the meaning of the term under United States generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied heretofore by the Company Group.
(d) Unless otherwise specified, any reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), instrument, or other document includes all schedules, exhibits, or other attachments referred to therein, and any reference to a statute or other law includes any rule, regulation, ordinance, or the like promulgated thereunder, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time. Any reference to a numbered Schedule means the same-numbered Section of the disclosure schedule.
(e) If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given within a specified number of days following a specific date or event, the day of such date or event is not counted in determining the last day for such action or notice. If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given on or before a particular day which is not a Business Day, such action or notice shall be considered timely if it is taken or given on or before the next Business Day. The word “day” means calendar day unless Business Day is expressly specified.
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(f) Captions are included for convenience, only.
(g) All references in this Agreement to “the knowledge of the Company” or similar terms shall mean the actual knowledge of the Company’s CEO, CFO and/or Specified Shareholder(s) and all references in this Agreement to “the knowledge of the Parent” shall mean the actual knowledge of the Parent CEO and CFO.
(h) For the avoidance of doubt, all references in this Agreement to “ordinary course” or “ordinary course consistent with past practice,” subject to the Company or the Purchaser Parties’ consent, shall take into account any material event or change in circumstances that occurs following the date of this Agreement.
(i) References to the “date hereof’ mean the date of this Agreement.
14.12 Further Assurances. Each party shall execute and deliver such documents and take such action, as may reasonably be considered within the scope of such party’s obligations hereunder, necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable.
14.13 Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof confers any benefit or right upon or may be enforced by any Person not a signatory hereto.
14.14 Waiver. Reference is made to the final IPO prospectus of the Parent, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on September 18, 2024 (the “Prospectus”). The Company Group and the Company Shareholders understand that the Parent has established the Trust Account for the benefit of the public shareholders of the Parent and the underwriters of the IPO pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Parent may disburse monies from the Trust Account only for the purposes set forth in the Investment Management Trust Agreement. For and in consideration of the Parent agreeing to enter into this Agreement, the Company Group and the Company Shareholders each hereby agree that he, she or it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account and hereby agrees that he, she or it will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Purchaser Parties.
14.15 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that no recourse under this Agreement or under any Additional Agreements shall be had against any Person that is not a party to this Agreement or such Additional Agreement, as applicable, including any past, present or future director, officer, agent, employee or other representative of any past, present or future equity holder of any Company Shareholder or of any Affiliate or successor or assignee thereof (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”), as such, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Recourse Party in connection with or arising out of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature pages to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Parent: | |
|---|---|
| YHN Acquisition I Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Satoshi Tominaga |
| Name: | Satoshi Tominaga |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board |
Signature Page to MergerAgreement
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Company: | |
|---|---|
| Mingde Technology Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Liu lirong |
| Name: | Liu Lirong |
| Title: | Director |
Signature Page to Merger Agreement
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LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
| Schedule A | Company Share Ownership; Merger Consideration |
|---|---|
| Schedule B | Specified Shareholders |
| Exhibit A | Form of Lock-up Agreement |
| Exhibit B | Form of Employment Agreement |
| Exhibit C | Charter Documents of Purchaser |
| Exhibit D | Sponsor Support Agreement |
| Exhibit E | Shareholders Support Agreement |
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SCHEDULE A
Part 1 – Company Shareholders as of the date of this Agreement
| Name of Shareholders | Number of Company Ordinary Shares | Shares Ownership Percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Following wind Limited | 29,000,000 | 58.00 | % | ||
| Xiangyun Capital Limited | 3,000,000 | 6.00 | % | ||
| Jizhao Limited | 2,650,000 | 5.30 | % | ||
| Auspicious scene Limited | 2,500,000 | 5.00 | % | ||
| Fule Capital Limited | 2,500,000 | 5.00 | % | ||
| Auspicious omen Limited | 2,000,000 | 4.00 | % | ||
| Fengze Technology Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Auspicious snow Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Prosperous times Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Fuman Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Propitious cloud Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Fuqing International Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Shengyun Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Frae Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | ||
| Full of blessings Limited | 200,000 | 0.40 | % | ||
| Jishun Holding Limited | 150,000 | 0.30 | % | ||
| Total | 50,000,000 | 100.00 | % |
Part 2 – Company Shareholders as of the Closing Date
| Name of Shareholder | Number of Company Ordinary Shares | Shares Ownership Percentage | Closing Payment Shares | Holdback Shares | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Following wind Limited | 29,000,000 | 58.00 | % | 21,819,600 | 1,148,400 | ||||
| Xiangyun Capital Limited | 3,000,000 | 6.00 | % | 2257,200 | 118,800 | ||||
| Jizhao Limited | 2,650,000 | 5.30 | % | 1,993,860 | 104,940 | ||||
| Auspicious scene Limited | 2,500,000 | 5.00 | % | 1,881,000 | 99,000 | ||||
| Fule Capital Limited | 2,500,000 | 5.00 | % | 1,881,000 | 99,000 | ||||
| Auspicious omen Limited | 2,000,000 | 4.00 | % | 1,504,800 | 79,200 | ||||
| Fengze Technology Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Auspicious snow Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Prosperous times Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Fuman Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Propitious cloud Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Fuqing International Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Shengyun Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Frae Capital Limited | 1,000,000 | 2.00 | % | 752,400 | 39,600 | ||||
| Full of blessings Limited | 200,000 | 0.40 | % | 150,480 | 7,920 | ||||
| Jishun Holding Limited | 150,000 | 0.30 | % | 112,860 | 5,940 | ||||
| Total | 50,000,000 | 100.00 | % | 37,620,000 | 1,980,000 |
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SCHEDULE B
Specified Shareholders
| 1. | Following wind Limited |
|---|---|
| 2. | Xiangyun Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 3. | Jizhao Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 4. | Auspicious scene Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 5, | Fule Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 6. | Auspicious omen Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 7. | Fengze Technology Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 8. | Auspicious snow Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 9. | Prosperous times Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 10. | Fuman Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 11. | Propitious cloud Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 12. | Fuqing International Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 13. | Shengyun Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 14. | Frae Capital Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 15. | Full of blessings Limited |
| --- | --- |
| 16. | Jishun Holding Limited |
| --- | --- |
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Exhibit 10.1
SHAREHOLDERS SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This SHAREHOLDERS SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 3, 2025 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among (i) YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (together with its successors, including Purchaser (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) after the Reincorporation Merger (as defined below), “Parent”), (ii) Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), and (iii) the undersigned shareholders of the Company (the “Shareholders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, Parent and the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof and in accordance with the provisions of applicable Law, (a) immediately prior to the Closing, Parent will merge with and into Purchaser, with Purchaser continuing as the surviving entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”), (b) at the Closing, the parties will effect a merger of Merger Sub (or such other name to be agreed), a Cayman Islands company and wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Merger Sub”), to be formed for the sole purpose of merging with and into the Company (the “Acquisition Merger”) in which the Company will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Acquisition Merger” and together with the Reincorporation Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the “Transactions”); and (c) following the Closing, Purchaser will be a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Shareholders own an aggregate of 31,650,000 Company Ordinary Shares (the “Shares”), representing approximately 63.3% of the total issued share capital of the Company, and each Shareholder owns such number of Shares as is set forth immediately underneath his/her/its name on the signature page hereto; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent and Purchaser to enter into the Business Combination Agreement, the Shareholders are executing and delivering this Agreement to Parent and Purchaser.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
- Agreement to Vote. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (x) the Closing, and (y) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with the terms thereof (such period, the “Voting Period”), each Shareholder, with respect to his/her/its Shares, hereby irrevocably agrees to vote or cause to be voted:
(a) In Favor of the Transactions and the Requisite Company Vote. At any meeting of the shareholders of the Company or any class of shareholders of the Company called to seek the Requisite Company Vote, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the shareholders of the Company or any class of shareholders of the Company or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval is sought with respect to the Business Combination Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the Transactions, the Shareholder shall: (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum; and (ii) vote or cause to be voted (including by class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) the Shares in favor of granting the Requisite Company Vote or, if there are insufficient votes in favor of granting the Requisite Company Vote, in favor of the adjournment or postponement of such meeting of the shareholders of the Company to a later date.
(b) Against Other Transactions. At any meeting of shareholders of the Company or any class of shareholders of the Company or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the shareholders of the Company or in any other circumstances upon which the Shareholder’s vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Shareholder shall: (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum; and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares (including by proxy, withholding class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) against (A) any business combination agreement, merger agreement, merger or share exchange (other than the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions), scheme of arrangement, business combination, consolidation, combination, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any public offering of any equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any successor entity of the Company or such Subsidiary (other than any such transaction permitted under the Business Combination Agreement), (B) any transaction with respect to the direct or indirect sale of the Company, or its equity interests, business or material assets (a “Company Competing Transaction”) that would reasonably be expected to prohibit or impair the Transactions, and (C) any amendment to the Organizational Documents of the Company or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would be reasonably likely to in any material respect impede, interfere with, delay or attempt to discourage, frustrate the purposes of, result in a material breach by the Company of, prevent or nullify any provision of the Business Combination Agreement or any Additional Agreement or the Transactions, or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of the Company’s share capital.
(c) Revoke Other Proxies. Each Shareholder represents and warrants that any proxies or powers of attorney heretofore given in respect of the Shares that may still be in effect are not irrevocable, and such proxies or powers of attorney have been or are hereby revoked.
No Transfer. Other than (a) pursuant to this Agreement or the Business Combination Agreement, or (b) upon the consent of the Company and Parent, during the Voting Period, each Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, transfer, tender, grant, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift, tender or exchange offer, merger or operation of law), encumber, hedge or utilize a derivative to transfer the economic interest in (collectively, “Transfer”), or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of, any Shares to any Person other than pursuant to the Acquisition Merger; (ii) grant any proxies (other than as set forth in this Agreement or a proxy granted to a representative of the Shareholder to attend and vote at a shareholders meeting which is voted in accordance with this Agreement) or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, voting deed or otherwise (including pursuant to any loan of the Shares), or enter into any other agreement, with respect to any Shares; (iii) knowingly take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of the Shareholder herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling the Shareholder from performing its obligations hereunder; or (iv) commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions or take any other action or enter into any contract that would reasonably be expected to make any of its representations or warranties contained herein untrue or incorrect in any material respect or would have the effect of preventing or delaying the Shareholder from performing any of its obligations hereunder. Any action attempted to be taken in violation of the preceding sentence will be null and void. Each Shareholder hereby authorizes and requests Parent or the Company to notify the Company’s transfer agent or such other Person with the responsibility for maintaining the Company’s register of members that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Shares (and that this Agreement places limits on the voting of the Shares). Each Shareholder agrees with, and covenants to, Parent and the Company that he/she/it shall not request that the Company register the Transfer (by book-entry or otherwise) of any certificated or uncertificated interest representing any of the Shares in violation of this Section 2.
2
Representations and Warranties. Each Shareholder represents and warrants to the Company, Purchaser and Parent as follows:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by him/her/it of this Agreement and the consummation by him/her/it of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to him/her/it, (ii) require any consent, approval or authorization of, declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, any Person, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien on any Shares (other than pursuant to this Agreement or transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws or the Organizational Documents of the Company), or (iv) conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any provision of Shareholder’s Organizational Documents.
(b) He/She/It is the only record and beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of and has good, valid and marketable title to the Shares free and clear of any Lien (other than pursuant to this Agreement or transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws or the Organizational Documents of the Company) and has the sole power (as currently in effect) to vote the Shares and has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of the Shares that is inconsistent with the Shareholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) (if the Shareholder is an individual) He/She is a natural person, has the power, authority and capacity to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, has not entered into any agreement or undertaking that would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Shareholder. This Agreement, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company, Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Shareholder in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights and to general equitable principles).
(d) (if the Shareholder is a body corporate) It has been duly incorporated or registered and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or registration and has all requisite corporate power and authority to (a) execute and deliver this Agreement, and (b) consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the competent body of such Shareholder and no other company proceeding on the part of such Shareholder is necessary to authorize this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Shareholder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder, enforceable against such Shareholder 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.
(e) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no regulatory or court action, proceeding or, to the Shareholder’s knowledge, investigation pending against the Shareholder or, to the knowledge of the Shareholder, threatened against the Shareholder that questions the beneficial or record ownership of the Shareholder’s Shares, the validity of this Agreement or the performance by the Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Shareholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and the Purchaser are entering into the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon the Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
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(g) No investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission for which Parent, Purchaser or the Company is or will be liable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by the Shareholder.
New Shares. In the event that during the Voting Period (a) any new or additional Company Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company are issued to any of the Shareholders after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Shares or otherwise, (b) any of the Shareholders purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any new or additional Company Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company, or (c) any of the Shareholders acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any new or additional Company Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company (such Company Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company in clauses (a) through (c), collectively, the “New Shares”), then such New Shares acquired or purchased by such Shareholder shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Shares owned by such Shareholder as of the date hereof.
Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the Shareholders under this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the Closing; (b) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms; and (c) the mutual agreement of the Company and Parent. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 hereof will survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement, and (ii) such termination or expiration shall not relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement occurring prior to its termination.
Miscellaneous.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Business Combination Agreement or any Additional Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated.
(b) Any notice, consent, waiver or other communication hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (i) if by hand or reputable, internationally recognized overnight courier service, by 5:00 P.M. on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (ii) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is sent electronically with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (iii) three (3) Business Days after mailing by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
| (A) | If to the Company, to: |
|---|
Mingde Technology Limited
Room 2701, Building 6,
Euro American Financial City,
Cangqian Street, Yuhang District,
Hangzhou City
Attn: Ding Xiufang, Executive Assistant to the GM
Email: frida@xjr365.ltd
with a copy to (which shall not constitutenotice):
DeHeng Law Offices
12/F Tower B, Focus Place, 19 Finance Street, Beijing
Attn: Dong Liyang, Partner
Email: dongly@dehenglaw.com
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| (B) | If to Parent or Purchaser, to: |
|---|
YHN Acquisition I Limited
2/F, Hang Seng Building
200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Attn: Satoshi Tominaga, Chief Executive Officer
Email: stominaga8@outlook.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitutenotice):
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Lawrence Venick, Esq.
Email: lvenick@loeb.com
| (C) | If to the Shareholders, to the address of the Shareholders as set forth underneath the Shareholders’<br>signature on the signature page hereto. |
|---|
(c) If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
(d) This Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.
(e) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person that is not a party hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
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(f) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State 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. All actions, suits or proceedings (collectively, “Action”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any federal or state court having jurisdiction within the State of Delaware. The parties hereto hereby (i) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of federal or state courts within the State of Delaware (and any appellate courts thereof) for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (ii) irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper, or that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder may not be enforced in or by any of the above-named courts.
(g) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court within the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement to post security or a bond as prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
(h) This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) The Shareholders shall execute and deliver, or cause to be delivered, such additional documents, and take, or cause to be taken, all such further actions and do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary (including under applicable laws), or reasonably requested by Parent, Purchaser or the Company, to effect the actions and consummate the Transactions, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and the Additional Agreements.
(j) This Agreement may not be amended, changed, supplemented or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by Parent, Purchaser, the Company and the Shareholders. No provision hereof may be waived except in a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.
(k) This Agreement shall not be effective or binding upon Shareholders until such time as the Business Combination Agreement is executed by each of the parties thereto.
(l) If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Company by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to Shareholders and the Shares as so changed.
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(m) Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Paragraph (m).
(n) Each Shareholder hereby authorizes Parent, Purchaser and the Company to publish and disclose in any disclosure required by the SEC the Shareholders’ identity and beneficial ownership of the Shares and the nature of the Shareholders’ obligations under this Agreement.
(o) The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) the term “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (iii) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(p) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “knowledge” of a Person that is a natural person refers to such Person’s actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry.
(q) This Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship among the Shareholders, the Company, Parent and Purchaser, and is not intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship among the parties hereto or among any other shareholders of Parent, Purchaser or the Company entering into voting or support agreements with the Company, Parent or Purchaser. None of the Shareholders is an Affiliate of any other holder of securities of the Company entering into a voting or support agreement with the Company, Parent or the Purchaser in connection with the Business Combination Agreement or the Transactions and each Shareholder has acted independently regarding its decision to enter into this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or Purchaser any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Shares.
{The remainder of this page is intentionallyleft blank; signature page follows}
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| The Parent: | |
|---|---|
| YHN Acquisition I Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Satoshi Tominaga |
| Name: | Satoshi Tominaga |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| The Company: | |
| --- | --- |
| Mingde Technology Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Liu Lirong |
| Name: | Liu Lirong |
| Title: | Director |
{Signature Page to Shareholder Support Agreement}
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| The Shareholders: | |
|---|---|
| Following Wind Limited | |
| /s/ Liu Lirong | |
| Name: | Liu Lirong |
| Title: | |
| Number of Company Ordinary Shares owned: 29,000,000 | |
| Address for Notice: Room 2701, Building 6, Euro American Financial City, Cangqian Street, Yuhang District, Hangzhou City |
| Jizhao Limited | |
|---|---|
| /s/ Liu Minghui | |
| Name: | Liu Minghui |
| Title: | |
| Number of Company Ordinary Shares owned: 2,650,000 | |
| Address for Notice: Room 2701, Building 6, Euro American Financial City, Cangqian Street, Yuhang District, Hangzhou City |
{Signature Page to ShareholderSupport Agreement}
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Exhibit 10.2
SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 3, 2025 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among (i) YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (together with its successors, including Purchaser (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) after the Reincorporation Merger (as defined below), “Parent”), (ii) Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), and (iii) the shareholder(s) of Parent listed on Exhibit A hereto (the “Shareholders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, Parent and the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof and in accordance with the provisions of applicable Law, (a) immediately prior to the Closing, Parent will merge with and into Purchaser, with Purchaser continuing as the surviving entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”), (b) at the Closing, the parties will effect a merger of Merger Sub (or such other name to be agreed), a Cayman Islands company and wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Merger Sub”), to be formed for the sole purpose of merging with and into the Company (the “Acquisition Merger”) in which the Company will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the Acquisition Merger and together with the Reincorporation Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the “Transactions”); and (c) following the Closing, Purchaser will be a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Shareholder owns the number of ordinary shares, no par value, of Parent set forth on Exhibit A (all such shares, and/or any successor shares of Parent (including, upon the effectiveness of the Reincorporation Merger, any shares of Purchaser issued in exchange therefor) of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by such Shareholder prior to the termination of this Agreement being referred to herein as the “Shares”); and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to proceed towards the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, each Shareholder is executing and delivering this Agreement to the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
- Agreement to Vote. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, and (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Article XIII thereof (the “Expiration Time”), each Shareholder, with respect to its Shares, hereby irrevocably agrees to (1) appear at any meeting of the shareholders of Parent (a “Parent Shareholders’ Meeting”) in person or proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum, and (2) vote, or cause to be voted or consented at a Parent Shareholders’ Meeting, or in any action by written consent of the shareholders, all of the Shares owned as of the record date for such meeting (a) in favor of the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Acquisition Merger, by the Shareholders in accordance with Parent’s Organizational Documents, the BVI Companies Act (as applicable) and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq, (b) in favor of adoption of the amended and restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of PubCo in the form attached to the Business Combination Agreement, (c) in favor of election of the directors of the PubCo as set forth in Section 2.5 of the Business Combination Agreement, (d) in favor of approval of an incentive plan for the employees of PubCo to be effective as of the Closing, (e) in favor of such other matters as the Company and the Purchaser Parties shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Reincorporation Merger and the Acquisition Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (or, if there are insufficient votes in favor of any of the foregoing (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), in favor of the adjournment of such Parent Shareholders’ Meeting to a later date), (f) against the approval of any merger, scheme of arrangement, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by Parent, Purchaser or Merger Sub, or any public offering of any shares of Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub or any of its material subsidiaries, or, in case of a public offering only, a newly-formed holding company of Parent, Purchaser or Merger Sub or such material subsidiaries, other than the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, (g) against the approval of any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of or other business combination transaction (other than the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby), or against any proposal, action or agreement that would (i) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement, the Reincorporation Merger or the Acquisition Merger, (ii) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Parent, Purchaser or Merger Sub under the Business Combination Agreement, or (iii) result in any of the conditions set forth in Article X of the Business Combination Agreement not being fulfilled, and (h) against any amendment of the Organizational Documents of Parent or any change in Parent’s capitalization, corporate structure or business other than as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. Each Shareholder acknowledges receipt and review of a copy of the Business Combination Agreement. The obligations of each Shareholder specified in this Section 1 shall apply whether or not the Reincorporation Merger or the Acquisition Merger or any action described above is recommended by Parent’s Board of Directors.
Each Shareholder hereby irrevocably agrees that it shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.
Redemptions Rights; Waiver Conversion Ratios. Each Shareholder irrevocably agrees that it will (i) not exercise any right to redeem all or a portion of such Shareholder’s Shares (in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Business Combination Agreement or otherwise) as set forth in the Organizational Documents of Parent and (ii) waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in Parent’s Organizational Documents.
Transfer of Shares. Until the Expiration Time, each Shareholder irrevocably agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) sell, assign, transfer (including by operation of law), allow the creation of a lien, pledge, distribute, dispose of or otherwise encumber any of the Shares, either voluntarily or involuntarily (collectively, “Transfer”), or otherwise agree or offer to do any of the foregoing, (b) deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement, (c) enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or undertaking with respect to the direct or indirect acquisition or sale, assignment, transfer (including by operation of law) or other disposition of any Shares, (d) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, with respect to any Shares, (e) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Share, (f) take any action that would have the effect of preventing or disabling Shareholder from performing its obligations hereunder or (g) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in this Section 3; provided, that, Transfers by any such Shareholder to its Affiliate or to a direct or indirect owner of equity or other interest in such Shareholder are permitted (a “Permitted Transfer”); provided, further, that any Permitted Transfer shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee also agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, to assume all of the obligations of the transferring Shareholder under, and be bound by all of the terms of, this Agreement; provided, further, that any Transfer permitted under this Section 3 shall not relieve the transferring Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement. Any Transfer in violation of this Section 3 with respect to the Shareholders’ Shares shall be null and void.
Representations and Warranties. Each Shareholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants for and on behalf of itself to the Company as follows:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by such Shareholder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Shareholder, (ii) require any consent, approval or authorization of, declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, any person or entity, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien on any Shares (other than pursuant to this Agreement or transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws or the Organization Documents of such Shareholder), or (iv) conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any provision of such Shareholder’s Organizational Documents.
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(b) Such Shareholder is the only record and a beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of and has good, valid and marketable title to the Shares free and clear of any Lien (other than (i) pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws) and has the sole power (as currently in effect) to vote the Shares and has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of the Shares that is inconsistent with the Shareholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement. Such Shareholder has the full right, power and authority to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares, and such Shareholder does not own, directly or indirectly, any other Shares, other than Parent Rights held by such Shareholder (if any).
(c) Such Shareholder is a natural person or a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the power, authority and capacity to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, has not entered into any agreement or undertaking that would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Shareholder. This Agreement, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company and Parent, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights and to general equitable principles).
(d) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no action, proceeding or, to such Shareholder’s knowledge, investigation pending against such Shareholder or, to the knowledge of such Shareholder, threatened against such Shareholder that questions the beneficial or record ownership of such Shareholder’s Shares, the validity of this Agreement or the performance by such Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) Such Shareholder understands and acknowledges that the Company is performing its obligations under the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon the Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
(f) No investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission for which Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub or the Company is or will be liable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or, to the knowledge of such Shareholder, on behalf of such Shareholder.
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New Shares. In the event that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the Expiration Time, (a) any Shares are issued to Shareholder after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Shares or otherwise, (b) a Shareholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Shares, or (c) a Shareholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Shares (collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such Shareholder shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Shares owned by such Shareholder as of the date hereof.
Support of the Merger. Until the Expiration Time, each Shareholder shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonable necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and shall not take any action that would reasonably be expected to materially delay or prevent the satisfaction of any of the conditions to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
No Challenges. Each Shareholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective successors or directors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Business Combination Agreement or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Business Combination Agreement.
Shareholder Release. Each Shareholder, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Affiliates and successors, assigns and executors (each, a “Shareholder Releasor”), effective as at the Effective Time, shall be deemed to have, and hereby does, irrevocably, unconditionally, knowingly and voluntarily release, waive, relinquish and forever discharge Purchaser, Parent, the Company, their subsidiaries and successors, assigns, heirs, executors, officers, directors, partners, managers and employees (in each case in their capacity as such) (each, a “Shareholder Releasee”), from (i) any and all obligations or duties Purchaser, Parent, the Company, or their respective subsidiaries has prior to or as of the Effective Time to such Shareholder Releasor or (ii) all claims, demands, liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, actions and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any Shareholder Releasor has prior to or as of the Effective Time, against any Shareholder Releasee arising out of, based upon or resulting from any contract, transaction, event, circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether known or unknown, and which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun prior to the Effective Time (except in the event of fraud on the part of a Shareholder Releasee); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 8 shall release, waive, relinquish, discharge or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any party (i) arising under this Agreement or the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) for indemnification or contribution, in any Shareholder Releasor’s capacity as an officer or director of Purchaser, Parent, the Company, or their respective subsidiaries, (iii) arising under any then-existing insurance policy of Purchaser, Parent, the Company, or their respective subsidiaries, (iv) pursuant to a contract and/or policy of Purchaser, Parent, the Company, or their respective subsidiaries, to reimbursements for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred and documented prior to the Effective Time, or (v) for any claim for fraud.
Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of each Shareholder under this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest of: (a) the Effective Time; (b) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms; and (c) the mutual agreement of the Company and Parent. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, however, such termination or expiration shall not relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement occurring prior to its termination.
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Miscellaneous.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Business Combination Agreement or any other Additional Agreements, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated.
(b) All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by telecopy or e-mail or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10(b)):
If to any Shareholder:
to such Shareholder’s address set forth in Exhibit A.
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Loeb & Loeb
345 Park Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Lawrence Venick, Esq.
E-mail: lvenick@loeb.com
If to the Company, to:
Mingde Technology Limited
Room 2701, Building 6,
Euro American Financial City,
Cangqian Street, Yuhang District,
Hangzhou City
Attn: Ding Xiufang, Executive Assistant to the GM
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
DeHeng Law Offices
12/F Tower B, Focus Place, 19 Finance Street, Beijing
Attn: Dong Liyang, Partner
Email: dongly@dehenglaw.com
If to Parent or Purchaser, to:
YHN Acquisition I Limited
2/F, Hang Seng Building
200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Attn: Satoshi Tominaga, Chief Executive Officer
Email: stominaga8@outlook.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Lawrence Venick, Esq.
Email: lvenick@loeb.com
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(c) If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
(d) This Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise).
(e) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
(f) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State 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. All actions, suits or proceedings(collectively, “Action(s)”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement (“Related Claim”) shall be heard and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom), or, if no federal court in the State of Delaware accepts jurisdiction, any state court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom) (collectively, the “Specified Courts”)), and the parties hereby irrevocably agree that all Related Claims shall be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby (a) submit to the exclusive personal and subject matter jurisdiction of any Specified Court any Related Claims and (b) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Related Claim brought in any Specified Court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(g) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court within the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement to post security or a bond as prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
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(h) This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(i) Each Shareholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be delivered, such additional documents, and take, or cause to be taken, all such further actions and do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary (including under applicable Laws), or reasonably requested by Parent or the Company, to effect the actions and consummate the business combination and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement (including the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby), in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and herein, as applicable.
(j) This Agreement may not be amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by Parent, the Company and each Shareholder.
(k) If, and as often as, there are any changes in Parent by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Shareholders and the Shares as so changed.
(l) Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any Action directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of any Action, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Paragraph (l).
(m) Each Shareholder hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to publish and disclose in any disclosure required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission such Shareholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of the Shares and the nature of such Shareholder’s obligations under this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page is intentionallyleft blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| PARENT: | |
|---|---|
| YHN Acquisition I Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Satoshi Tominaga |
| Name: | Satoshi Tominaga |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
| COMPANY: | |
| Mingde Technology Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Liu lirong |
| Name: | Liu lirong |
| Title: | Director |
| SHAREHOLDERS: | |
| YHN Partners I Limited | |
| By: | /s/ Pui Chun Wong |
| Name: | Pui Chun Wong |
| Title: | Director |
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Exhibit A
Shareholders
| Shareholder | Number of Shares | Address for Notices |
|---|---|---|
| YHN Partners I Limited | 1,625,000 | 2/F, Hang Seng Building, 200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong |
| Total |
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Exhibit 10.3
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [ ], 2025, by and among [PUCO NAME] (f/k/a [*]), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Purchaser” or “PubCo”) and the undersigned shareholders of the PubCo (the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
BACKGROUND
A. YHN Acquisition I Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company (together with its successors, including Purchaser (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) after the Reincorporation Merger (as defined below), “Parent”) and Mingde Technology Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement dated [*], 2025 (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof and in accordance with the provisions of applicable Law, (a) immediately prior to the Closing, Parent will merge with and into Purchaser, with Purchaser continuing as the surviving entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”), (b) at the Closing, the parties will effect a merger of [Merger Sub 2] (or such other name to be agreed), a Cayman Islands [exempted] company and wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Merger Sub”), to be formed for the sole purpose of merging with and into the Company (the “Acquisition Merger”) in which the Company will be the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the Acquisition Merger and together with the Reincorporation Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the Additional Agreements, the “Transactions”); and (c) following the Closing, Purchaser will be a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq.
B. The Closing has occurred as of the date hereof.
C. At the Closing, the Holders were entitled to receive such number of PubCo Ordinary Shares (the “Lock-up Shares”) as is set forth immediately underneath his/her/its name on the signature page hereto, as their respective Merger Consideration Shares upon the consummation of the Acquisition Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Lock-Up.
During the Lock-up Period (as defined below), each Holder irrevocably agrees that it will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Lock-up Shares (as defined below), enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such Lock-up Shares, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of any such Lock-up Shares, in cash or otherwise, publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or engage in any Short Sales (as defined below) with respect to any security of Purchaser.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Purchaser will (i) place an irrevocable stop order on all Lock-up Shares, including those which may be covered by a registration statement, and (ii) notify the Purchaser’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on such Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct the Purchaser’s transfer agent not to process any attempts by such Holder to resell or transfer any Lock-up Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement.
For purposes hereof, “Short Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.
For purpose of this Agreement, the “Lock-up Period” means with respect to the Lock-up Shares, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 365 days thereafter.
The restrictions set forth herein shall not apply to: (1) transfers or distributions to any Holder’s current or former general or limited partners, or members, stockholders, other equity holders or direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or to the estates of any of the foregoing; (2) in the case of an individual, transfers by bona fide gift to a member of any Holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is such Holder or a member of such Holder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes; (3) in the case of an individual, transfers by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such Holder, or in the case of an entity, transfers by virtue of the laws of the state of such Holder’s organization and such Holder’s Organizational Documents upon dissolution of such Holder; (4) transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (5) any pledge, hypothecation or other granting of a security interest in any Lock-up Share or any security convertible into or exchangeable for any such Lock-up Share to one or more banks, financial or other lending institutions as collateral or security for or in connection with any margin loan or other loans, advances or extensions of credit entered into by any Holder or any of its Subsidiaries or any refinancings thereof and any transfers of such shares upon enforcement or foreclosure upon such shares in accordance with the terms of the documentation governing any margin loan or other loan, advance, or extension of credit; or (6) transfers made in connection with a liquidation, merger, or other similar transaction that results in all of the Purchaser’s shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date, in each case of clauses (1) through (5) where such transferee or pledgee (as the case may be) agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
In addition, after the Closing Date, if there is a Change of Control, then upon the consummation of such Change of Control, all Lock-up Shares shall be released from the restrictions contained herein. A “Change of Control” means: (a) the sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Purchaser and the Purchaser’s subsidiaries to a third-party purchaser; (b) a sale resulting in no less than a majority of the voting power of the Purchaser being held by person that did not own a majority of the voting power prior to such sale; or (c) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Purchaser with or into a third-party purchaser that results in the inability of the pre-transaction equity holders to designate or elect a majority of the board of directors (or its equivalent) of the resulting entity or its parent company.
Representations and Warranties. Each of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to the others and to all third party beneficiaries of this Agreement that (a) such party has the full right, capacity and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and is the binding and enforceable obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of such party’s obligations under this Agreement will not conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement, contract, commitment or understanding to which such party is a party or to which the assets or securities of such party are bound.
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Beneficial Ownership. Each Holder hereby represents and warrants that it does not beneficially own, directly or through its nominees (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), any Purchaser Ordinary Shares, or any economic interest in or derivative of such stock, other than those securities specified on Section D of Background above.
No Additional Fees/Payment. Other than the consideration specifically referenced herein, the parties hereto agree that no fee, payment or additional consideration in any form has been or will be paid to the Holders in connection with this Agreement.
Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be sent hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00 PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first business day after such delivery; (b) if by fax or email, on the date that transmission is confirmed electronically, if by 4:00 PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, and otherwise on the first business day after the date of such confirmation; or (c) five days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
If to the Holders, to the address of the Holders as set forth underneath the Holders’ signature on the signature page hereto:
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
[*]
[address]
Attn: [name], [title]
Telephone No.: [*]
Email: [*]
If to Purchaser, to:
[*]
[address]
Attn: [name], [title]
Telephone No.: [*]
Email: [*]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Lawrence Venick, Esq.
Email: lvenick@loeb.com
or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.
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Enumeration and Headings. The enumeration and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in facsimile and in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the terms, covenants, provisions and conditions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is entered into for the benefit of and is enforceable by Parent and its successors and assigns.
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision will be conformed to prevailing law rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the parties hereto.
Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified by written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto.
Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
Governing Law and Dispute Resolution. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be 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. All actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement (“Related Claim”) shall be heard and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom), or, if no federal court in the State of Delaware accepts jurisdiction, any state court within the State of Delaware (and any courts having jurisdiction over appeals therefrom) (collectively, the “Specified Courts”)), and the parties hereby irrevocably agree that all Related Claims shall be heard and determined in such courts. The parties hereby (a) submit to the exclusive personal and subject matter jurisdiction of any Specified Court any Related Claims and (b) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Related Claim brought in any Specified Court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. The parties agree that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
| [NAME OF PUBCO] |
|---|
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
| [NAME OF SHAREHOLDER] |
|---|
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| Number of PubCo Ordinary Shares held: ___________________ |
| Address for Notice: [*] |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
| [NAME OF SHAREHOLDER] |
|---|
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| Number of PubCo Ordinary Shares held: ___________________ |
| Address for Notice: [*] |
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Exhibit 10.4
FORM OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made by and between [PUBCO NAME], a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), and [ ] (the “Executive”) as of [CLOSING DATE], 2025 (the “Effective Date”).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive desires to accept such employment, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement to reflect the employment of the Executive following the merger of the Company with YHN Acquisition I Limited, and the subsequent listing of the Company on Nasdaq, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive’s eligibility to receive the payments, equity, and other benefits offered herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1. Term. The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth below. The term of employment shall continue until terminated by either party pursuant to the terms hereof.
2. Duties. The Executive shall serve as the Company’s [CONFIRM TITLE]. In such capacity, the Executive shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and be responsible for, among other responsibilities, the duties and responsibilities set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto. The Executive shall also perform such other services and duties in connection with the Company commensurate with his position and title as may be reasonably assigned or delegated to the Executive from time to time by or under the authority of the Board. The Company shall make available to the Executive an indemnification package, including without limitation an indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive in the form attached as ExhibitB, and in any event on customary terms for comparable businesses, and in no event less favorable to the Executive than the indemnification package that the Company provides for [ ] and other senior executives of the Company.
3. Compensation; Benefits; Equity. The compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under this Agreement shall be as follows:
(a) Compensation. For all services rendered by the Executive under this Agreement, and provided the Executive remains employed with the Company, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the annualized rate of [ ] dollars ($[ ]) per year. The base salary shall be payable in equal monthly installments in connection with the Company’s payroll dates and payroll procedures and will be subject to applicable taxes, deductions, and withholdings.
(b) Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the benefit plans and programs that the Company makes available to its other senior executives from time to time.
(c) Vacation. The Executive will be eligible for paid vacation time in accordance with the Company’s policies applicable to its other senior executives from time to time.
(d) Expense Reimbursement. The Company will reimburse the Executive on a monthly basis for all normal and reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in the course of performing the Executive’s duties for the Company hereunder, provided the Executive timely and properly completes and submits an expense report and any other appropriate documentation to the Company, as may be required in accordance with the policies in effect from time to time for Company employees. All reimbursement of expenses shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and occur no later than the 45 days after the calendar year in which the expense is incurred (or such earlier date as applies under the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy) and reimbursements in one year shall not affect the amount of reimbursement available in any subsequent year.
(e) [RESERVED].
(f) [RESERVED].
4. Extent of Service. During the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall devote the Executive’s best efforts and business judgment, skill, and knowledge to the advancement of the Company’s interests and to the discharge of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Executive may engage other business activities, provided that such activities do not: (i) violate any of the Executive’s contractual (set forth in this Agreement and/or in any other agreement between the Executive and the Company) and/or legal obligations to the Company; and (ii) materially limit or materially adversely impact the Executive’s performance of his duties and obligations to the Company.
5. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances:
(a) Termination by the Company Without Cause. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(f) below, The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company at any time without Cause (as defined below) without further liability on the part of the Company, effective immediately, upon written notice to the Executive.
(b) Termination by the Company With Cause. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company at any time with Cause (as defined below) without further liability on the part of the Company, effective immediately, upon written notice to the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement “Cause” shall be defined as follows:
| (i) | dishonest or disparaging statements of the Executive pertaining to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof; |
|---|---|
| (ii) | commission by the Executive of any acts involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud or commission by the Executive of a felony; |
| (iii) | the Executive’s repeated failure to perform the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder and such failure or refusal shall have continued for a period of ten (10) days following written notice from the Company; |
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| (iv) | violation by the Executive of any written Company policy of which Executive has been advised; |
|---|---|
| (v) | gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Executive with respect to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof; or |
| (vi) | material breach of the Executive of any of the Executive’s obligations hereunder and/or under any other written agreement between the Executive and the Company, which material breach shall have continued for a period of ten (10) days following written notice from the Company. |
(c) Termination by the Executive without Good Reason. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Executive, without further liability on the part of the Company, by written notice to the Board at least fifteen (15) days prior to such termination.
(d) Termination by the Executive with Good Reason. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(f) below, the Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Executive with Good Reason and without further liability on the part of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:
| (i) | A material diminution in the Executive’s base compensation; |
|---|---|
| (ii) | A material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities; |
| (iii) | A change in the geographic location at which the Executive must perform services hereunder of more than thirty-five (35) miles; |
| --- | --- |
| (iv) | The Company ceases active business operations or becomes insolvent; |
| --- | --- |
| (v) | The Company or its Chief Executive Officer are charged with criminal activity (excluding minor traffic violations and similar matters); |
| --- | --- |
| (iv) | A material breach by the Company of this Agreement. |
| --- | --- |
For Good Reason to exist, the Executive must provide notice to the Employer of the existence of any of the foregoing conditions within fifteen (15) days of the initial existence of the condition, and the Company shall, upon receipt of such notice, have a period of fifteen (15) days during which it may remedy the condition (and upon such remedy Good Reason shall be deemed not to have existed). In addition, if Good Reason exists hereunder, that is, if the foregoing fifteen (15) day cure period has expired without such remedy having been completed, then the Executive must resign within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of such cure period, and if the Executive fails to do so, he shall be deemed to have waived the right to terminate his employment for Good Reason with respect to such instance of Good Reason.
(e) Death. The Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate immediately upon the death of the Executive, without further liability on the part of the Company except to reimburse expenses incurred prior to termination and to pay all accrued compensation and provided that the Company’s insurance coverage and indemnity obligations hereunder shall survive following the Executive’s death (for claims arising out of his service to or involvement with the Company) for the periods provided for in the applicable insurance policies and indemnification arrangements, which shall be no less shorter in duration as applicable to the Executive than the corresponding periods that apply to [ ] and other senior executives of the Company.
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(f) Termination Payments. In the event that the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined above) or if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, commencing with the month following the Executive’s separation from service, the Company will make monthly payments to the Executive in an amount equal to [ ] dollars ($[ ]) until the later of (1) the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date; or (2) six (6) months following the date of termination. Any and all payments referenced in the preceding sentence are subject to: (i) applicable taxes, deductions, and withholdings; (ii) the Executive’s continuing compliance with the Executive’s post-employment obligations set forth in this Agreement; and (iii) the Company’s receipt of a customary separation agreement prepared by the Company containing, among other provisions for the benefit of the Company, a general release of claims executed by the Executive (within the time period specified in the separation agreement), and the expiration of any revocation period referenced therein. In addition, Company will reimburse expenses incurred prior to termination and will pay all accrued compensation and the Company’s insurance coverage and indemnity obligations hereunder shall survive following the Executive’s termination (for claims arising out of his service to or involvement with the Company) for the periods provided for in the applicable insurance policies and indemnification arrangements, which shall be no less shorter in duration as applicable to the Executive than the corresponding periods that apply to [ ] and other senior executives of the Company. The Executive and the Company agree that the Executive will not be entitled to, and will not receive, the termination payments set forth above if the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated: (i) by the Company for Cause; (ii) by the Employee without Good Reason; or (iii) due to the Employee’s death pursuant to Section 5(e) or disability.
6. Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. The Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive is employed by the Company. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. The Executive shall also cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any examination or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such examination or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Company will reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation.
7. Confidential Information, Inventions, Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Disparagement.
(a) Definitions.
(i) Proprietary Information. During the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will have access to the trade secrets and other confidential information on which the Company’s business is based. As used in this Agreement, “ProprietaryInformation” means (1) the information referred to in the preceding sentence, (2) information regarding products and/or service the Company may subsequently sell or manufacture, have under development, active consideration or planning, (3) Inventions (as defined below), (4) the confidential information of others with which the Company has a business relationship, and (5) any other information which the Company possesses or to which the Company has rights which have value to the Company, including (by way of example and without limitation) trade secrets, product ideas, designs, configurations, processes, techniques, formulas, software, improvements, data, know-how, copyrightable materials, marketing plans and strategies, including but not limited to social media plans and strategies, production plans and strategies, costs, pricing, vendor lists contact lists, and customer lists. Proprietary Information includes information developed by the Executive in the course of the Executive’s employment by the Company or otherwise relating to Inventions which belong to the Company, as well as other proprietary non-public information of the Company to which the Executive may have access in connection with the Executive’s employment. Proprietary Information shall not include information previously known to Executive, information that he develops independently without reference to the Company’s Proprietary Information, information disclosed by third parties not obligated to maintain the confidentiality thereof, information that is publicly available or information that is required to be disclosed by applicable law, regulation or collective bargaining agreement.
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(ii) Company. For purposes of this Section 7, all references to the “Company” will be deemed to include the Company and its Affiliates.
(b) Goodwill. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (i) during and as a result of the Executive’s employment by the Company, the Executive will acquire experience, skills and knowledge related to the Company’s business; and (ii) the Company depends upon its goodwill which it will entrust to the Executive during the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company by affording the Executive the opportunity to become acquainted with the clients, customers, accounts, prospects, suppliers, and licensees of the Company, to establish business relationships with them and to have access to records detailing their business activities with the Company.
(c) Confidentiality. The Executive understands and agrees that the Executive’s employment creates a relationship of confidence and trust between the Executive and the Company with respect to all Proprietary Information. At all times, both during the Executive’s employment with the Company and after its termination, the Executive will keep in confidence and trust all such Proprietary Information, and will not use or disclose any such Proprietary Information without the written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing the Executive’s duties to the Company. The Executive understands that the restrictions contained in this paragraph extend to and expressly prohibit disclosure of Proprietary Information through social media. The restrictions set forth in this Section7(c) will not apply to information which is generally known to the public or in the trade, unless such knowledge results from an unauthorized disclosure by the Executive, but this exception will not affect the application of any other provision of this Agreement to such information in accordance with the terms of such provision.
(d) Documents, Records, Etc. All documents, records, apparatus, equipment, photography and other physical property, whether or not pertaining to Proprietary Information, which are furnished to the Executive by the Company or are produced by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment will be and remain the sole property of the Company. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment, or at any earlier time upon the Company’s request, the Executive will immediately return to the Company all Company property, documents (including without limitation all written and graphic notes of any kind and description, including customer and contact lists, letters, correspondence, memoranda, notes, reports, computer or data processing results, computer software or data processing tapes, photography, disks or other material in machine readable form) and any Proprietary Information, it being understood that the Executive may retain an archive copy thereof and will not be required to purge emails or computer backups; provided that he makes no further use thereof except as required for compliance with applicable law or court or governmental orders.
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(e) Ownership of Inventions and Developments. The Executive agrees to disclose promptly, completely and in writing to the Company any original works of authorship (including all copyrights with respect thereto), any discovery, process, design, improvement, innovation, development, improvement or invention, whether or not patentable and whether reduced to writing or practice or not, which the Executive discovers, conceives and/or develops, in whole or in part, either individually or jointly with others (whether on or off the Company’s premises or during or after working hours) in the course of his services for the Company, and which was or is directly or indirectly related to the business or proposed business of the Company, or which resulted or results from or was suggested by any work performed by any employee or agent thereof during such period of employment or for one year thereafter (“Inventions”). The Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company without any separate or additional remuneration the Executive’s entire right, title and interest in all such Inventions, together with any and all United States and foreign rights thereto. The Executive agrees that all Inventions and all works of authorship, literary works (including computer programs), audiovisual works, translations, compilations, and any other written materials, including but not limited to, copyrightable works (the “Works”) which are originated or produced by the Executive (solely or jointly with others), in whole or in part, within the scope of, or in connection with, the Executive’s employment will be considered “works made for hire” as defined by the U.S. Copyright Act (17 USC §101, as amended) and further acknowledges that the Executive is an employee as defined under that Act. All such works made for hire are and will be the exclusive property of the Company, and the Executive agrees to treat any such works as Proprietary Information. In the event that any Works are not deemed to be “works made for hire,” the Executive hereby assigns all of his right, title, and interest in and to such Works, including but not limited to, the copyrights therein, to the Company. The Executive agrees to cooperate with the Company, both during and subsequent to the Executive’s employment, to execute all instruments including patent and copyright applications and assignments therefor, and to do all other things reasonably necessary to fully vest, and perfect, in the Company the ownership rights contemplated herein. In the event the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure the Executive’s signature on any document or instrument necessary to secure trademarks, letters patent, copyrights or other analogous protection relating to any Works, whether because of the Executive’s physical or mental capacity or for any other reason whatsoever, the Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and on the Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file any such application or applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and the Executive agree that: (i) the Executive shall retain all intellectual property rights with respect to inventions, creations, developments, and copyrights created or arising out of the Executive’s outside business interests (both within the scope of those interests as of the Effective Date and as such scope may reasonably evolve in the future); and (ii) to the extent the Executive incorporates any such intellectual property into the business of the Company, the Company shall have a worldwide, royalty-free and irrevocable license to use such intellectual property.
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(f) Non-Competition. During Non-Competition Period, as defined below, and regardless of the reasons for the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will not, in any form or manner, directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, officer, director, shareholder (unless the shares of stock acquired are listed on a national stock exchange and represent less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding capital stock of such corporation), consultant, agent, lender, representative, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, manage, operate, control, engage in, participate in, be interested in, or invest in any business, which is competitive with the business of the Company, it being understood that if the Company materially changes the scope and/or focus of its business from such scope as of the Effective Date, and the Executive’s employment ends prior to or contemporaneously with such change, “the business” of the Company” shall not include such materially changed scope or focus. The Executive understands that the restrictions set forth in this Section7(f) are intended to protect the Company’s interest in its Proprietary Information and established customer relationships and goodwill, and agrees that such restrictions are reasonable and appropriate for this purpose. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this section extend to and expressly prohibit conduct via social media that would violate this Section. For purposes of this Section7, the term “Non-Competition Period” shall mean the period of time during which the Executive is employed by the Company and for the twelve (12) consecutive months following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Executive have agreed as follows:
(i) If the Company’s business evolves such that it becomes (or reasonably may become) competitive with, or otherwise conflict (or reasonably may conflict) with, any of the Executive’s pre-existing business activities as of the date that the Company first advises the Executive of its intention to go into the new business area, the Executive will, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the Company of such competition or conflict, and upon receipt of such notice, the Company may take steps to shield or limit the Executive’s role in the Company’s new business that is creating such competition or conflict (but it shall not terminate Executive’s employment due to such competition or conflict), the Executive shall not be required to discontinue any of Executive’s related pre-existing business activities, and the Executive’s non-competition restrictions shall not apply to the overlap between such pre-existing business activities of the Executive and such new business area of the Company; and
(ii) If the Company’s business evolves to include an area unrelated to the scope of its business as of the Effective Date, and such new business area creates a conflict with any of the Executive’s then pre-existing business relationships or activities, the Executive may elect not to be actively involved or engaged in such new business area of the Company so as to avoid any conflicts with the Executive’s then pre-existing business relationships or activities.
(g) Non-Solicitation. During Non-Competition Period (the “Restricted Period”), and regardless of the reasons for the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, neither party will, in any form or manner, directly or indirectly: (1) hire, employ, engage, solicit, entice, encourage, accept or cause to terminate his/her relationship with the other party or attempt to hire, employ, engage, solicit, entice, encourage, accept or cause to terminate his/her relationship with the other party, any employee, consultant or other service provider; or (2) hire, employ, engage or otherwise become involved in a business association or attempt to hire, employ, engage or otherwise become involved in a business association with any person who at any time during the one (1) year prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company was employed by the other party or engaged as a consultant to the Company; or (3) contact, solicit, divert, take away, or attempt to contact, solicit, divert or take away, any clients, customers, suppliers, vendors or accounts, or prospective clients, customers, suppliers, vendors, or accounts, of the other party, or any of the other party’s business with such clients, customers, suppliers, vendors or accounts. The parties acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section extend to and expressly prohibit conduct via social media that would violate this Section.
(h) Third-Party Agreements and Rights. The Executive hereby confirms that the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any other party which restricts in any way the Executive’s use or disclosure of information that will be disclosed to the Company or the Executive’s engagement in any business covered by this Agreement. The Executive represents to the Company that the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company, and the performance of the Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any obligations the Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In the Executive’s work for the Company, the Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and the Executive will not bring to the premises of the Company any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party.
(i) Non-Disparagement. The Executive agrees that he will not, during the Executive’s employment with the Company or at any time thereafter, make any statements that are disparaging about or adverse to the business interests of the Company (including its officers, directors and employees) or which are intended to harm the reputation of the Company, including, but not limited to, any statements that disparage any product, service, capability or any other aspect of the business of the Company, including via social media. The Company agrees that it will not, make any statements that are disparaging about or adverse to the business interests of the Executive or which are intended to harm the reputation of the Executive, including, but not limited to, any statements that disparage any product, service, capability or any other aspect of the Executive’s business, including via social media.
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(j) Injunctive Relief. The Executive understands and acknowledges that the Company’s Proprietary Information, Inventions, and goodwill are of a special, unique, unusual character which gives them a peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably compensated in damages in an action at law. The Executive understands and acknowledges that, in addition to any and all other rights or remedies that the Company may possess, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief, without posting a bond, if the Executive breaches any portion of this Agreement or in order to prevent a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement (and/or any provision thereof and in particular, the provisions contained in this Section 7 regarding non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and non-disparagement) by the Executive.
8. Taxes, Deductions, & Withholding. All payments made by the Company under this Agreement to the Executive shall be subject to any taxes, deductions, and amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law.
9. Integration. This Agreement, and the agreements and documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
10. Assignment; Successors and Assigns, etc. Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive in the event that either the Company or its Affiliates, if any, shall hereafter effect a reorganization, consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, partnership, organization or other entity, or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other corporation, partnership, organization or other entity. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Executive, their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns.
11. Enforceability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provisions in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any obligation of the Executive’s under Section 7 of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such obligation or the geographic area covered, the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or geographic area of such provision, and in its modified form such provision shall be enforceable.
12. Forwarding of Agreement. The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company may, in order to protect its interests, send a copy of this Agreement to any person or entity with which the Executive has a business relationship, and that the Executive shall have no claim against the Company in the event it does so. The Executive hereby further acknowledges and agrees that, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to include this Agreement, and information regarding the Executive’s employment, in publicly filed materials such as filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to applicable law, and that the Executive shall have no claim against the Company in the event it does so.
13. Advice of Counsel/Construction. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has been advised by the Company to review the terms of this Agreement with legal counsel of the Executive’s choice and that the Executive has been given a reasonable opportunity to seek such legal advice.
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14. Executive Acknowledgement. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive’s responsibilities, duties, position, compensation, title and/or other terms and conditions of employment may change from time to time or the Executive may have a break in service or employment with the Company and, notwithstanding any change in any terms and conditions of employment or a break in service or employment, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
15. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.
16. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, electronic transmission to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention Chief Executive Officer.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
18. Affiliates. For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliates” means all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, where control may be by either management authority or equity interest.
19. Indemnification. To the extent required by law, the Executive agrees to pay all taxes with respect to all compensation received by the Executive from the Company. The Executive agrees to defend and indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from and against any claims made by the any taxing authorities resulting from the Executive’s performance of services under this Agreement.
20. Confidentiality of Personal Information Regarding the Executive. The Company agrees that the Company will not disclose, and will take reasonable efforts to prevent its personnel from disclosing, to any person or entity, or use for his, its or their own benefit or the benefit of any other person or entity, any confidential information regarding the personal affairs of the Executive.
21. Governing Law/Forum. The laws of New York shall govern the interpretation, validity and effect of this Agreement without regard to the place of performance thereof or principles of choice of law. The Executive agrees that any and all suits regarding this Agreement shall be brought solely and exclusively in New York and the Executive hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts of New York.
22. Section 409A.
(a) In General. The provisions of this Agreement are intended not to result in the imposition of additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and such provisions shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with such intent. Without limiting the foregoing, this Agreement shall not be amended or terminated in a manner so as to result in the imposition of such tax or interest, any reference to “termination of employment” or similar term shall mean an event that constitutes a “separation from service” or “involuntary separation from service” (in the case of the Company’s termination of the Executive without Cause) within the meaning of Section 409A, each payment or installment shall be treated as a separate payment, and if at separation from service the Executive is considered a Specified Executive within the meaning of said Section 409A, then any payments hereunder that are nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of said Section 409A that are to be made upon separation from service shall not commence earlier than six (6) months after the date of such separation from service, and any such amounts that would otherwise be paid to the Executive within the first six months following the separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive in a lump sum six months and one day following the separation from service (or if the Executive dies during such six-month period, as soon as practical following the date of death). The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company shall not be liable to any person for the tax consequences of any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
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(b) Effect of Release. To the extent that separation payments pursuant to this Agreement are conditioned upon execution and delivery by Executive of a release of claims, Executive shall forfeit all rights to such payments unless such release is signed, delivered and any right to revoke has expired so as to make the release fully effective, within sixty (60) days following the date of Executive’s separation from service. If such release is so signed, delivered and effective, then such payments shall be made or commence upon the business day next following the date the release is so signed, delivered and effective; provided, however, that if such sixty (60) period would end in the calendar year following the date of Executive’s separation from service, then such payments shall be made or commence upon the later of the date the release is so signed, delivered and effective and the first business day of such following calendar year.
23. Survival of Obligations. The provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement shall survive the expiration of this Agreement or the earlier termination of the Executive’s employment. Other provisions of this Agreement shall survive the expiration of this Agreement or the earlier termination of the Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of each party’s respective rights and obligations.
24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signature of more than one party hereto, and each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The facsimile or PDF signatures of the parties shall be deemed to constitute original signatures, and facsimile or PDF copies hereof shall be deemed to constitute duplicate originals.
25. Captions and Headings. Captions and paragraph headings used herein are for convenience and ready reference only and are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in the construction or interpretation thereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Employment Agreement is entered into by the parties’ signatures below.
| [NAME OF PUBCO] | [ ]: |
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| By: | |
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| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| Date: | Date: |
| Address: | Address: |
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EXHIBITA
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EXHIBITB
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