UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 3, 2022

 

 

Jack Creek Investment Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Cayman Islands   001-39602   00-0365269
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

386 Park Avenue South, FL 20  
New York, New York   10016
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 710-5060

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e 4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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

 

Title of Each Class:

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered:

Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant   JCICU   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share   JCIC   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   JCICW   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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 Agreement

On August 3, 2022, Jack Creek Investment Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“JCIC”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among JCIC, Wildfire New PubCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of JCIC (“New PubCo”), Wildfire Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub I”), Wildfire Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub II”), Wildfire Merger Sub III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub III”), Wildfire GP Sub IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire GP Sub IV” and together with Wildfire Merger Sub I, Wildfire Merger Sub II and Wildfire Merger Sub III, the “Merger Subs”), BTOF (Grannus Feeder) – NQ L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blocker”), and Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”).

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the parties thereto will enter into a business combination transaction (the “Business Combination” and together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Transactions”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Wildfire Merger Sub I will merge with and into Blocker (the “First Merger”), with Blocker as the surviving entity of the First Merger, upon which Wildfire GP Sub IV will become general partner of such surviving entity, (ii) Wildfire Merger Sub II will merge with and into JCIC (the “Second Merger”), with JCIC as the surviving company of the Second Merger (the “Second Surviving Company”), and (iii) Wildfire Merger Sub III will merge with and into the Company (the “Third Merger” and together with First Merger and Second Merger, the “Mergers”), with the Company as the surviving company of the Third Merger. Following the Mergers, each of Blocker, JCIC, and the Company will be a subsidiary of New PubCo, and New PubCo will become a publicly traded company. At the closing of the Transactions (“Closing”), New PubCo will change its name to Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc., and its common stock is expected to list on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “BAER.”

The Business Combination is expected to be consummated after the required approval by the shareholders of JCIC and the satisfaction of certain other conditions summarized below.

Merger Agreement

Consideration Paid to the Company – Company Transaction Consideration

The aggregate consideration to be paid to the equityholders of the Company (other than the holders of Series C preferred shares of the Company (“Company Series C Preferred Shares”)) (“Aggregate Common Stock Consideration”) at the Closing will consist of a number of shares of common stock of New PubCo (“New PubCo Common Stock”) equal to (i) (A) $724,600,000 minus (B) the aggregate stated value of the Company’s Series C Preferred Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (the “First Effective Time”) and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon since the end of immediately preceding semi-annual distribution period, which amounts are to be determined in accordance with the Company’s current limited liability company agreement, minus (C) if the amount remaining in the trust account of JCIC (“Trust Account”) after allocating funds to the redemption (“JCIC Shareholder Redemption”) of Class A ordinary shares of JCIC (“JCIC Class A Ordinary Shares”) is less than $20,000,000, the excess of the aggregate fees and expenses for legal counsel, accounting advisors, external auditors and financial advisors incurred by Blocker and certain of its affiliates, the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions, over $6,500,000, if any, divided by (ii) $10.00.

The aggregate consideration to be paid to holders of the Company Series C Preferred Shares at the Closing will consist of a number of shares of Series A preferred stock of New PubCo (“New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock”) equal to the number of Company Series C Preferred Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger. Shares of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock will have rights and preferences that mirror certain rights and preferences currently held by the holders of the Company Series C Preferred Shares, including (i) cumulative, compounding dividends (initially anticipated to be 7.00% but to eventually increase to 11.00% after April 25, 2029 and subject to further increase upon the occurrence of certain events); (ii) a liquidation preference equal to the initial issuance price plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared (the


Series A Preferred Stated Value”); (iii) mandatory redemption by New PubCo after April 25, 2032 for an amount equal to the aggregate Series A Preferred Stated Value; (iv) optional redemption (in whole or in part) by New PubCo at any time on or after April 25, 2027 for an amount equal to the aggregate Series A Preferred Stated Value (subject to a make-whole in the event of a redemption in connection with a change of control transaction prior to April 25, 2027); (v) optional conversion at the option of the holders into shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to the Series A Preferred Stated Value divided by $11.00 per share (or $9.00 per share if converted within 30 days following the Closing Date); and (vi) certain consent rights with respect to the issuance by New PubCo of senior or pari passu equity securities, dividend payments to holders of New PubCo Common Stock prior to repayment of a liquidation preference, any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of New PubCo, certain change of control transactions if the full liquidation preference is not paid and certain amendments that would adversely affect the holders of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock. The foregoing description of the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the proposed Certificate of Incorporation of New PubCo.

Effect of the First Merger

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the First Effective Time: (i) the partnership interests of Blocker outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive an aggregate number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the Per Share Common Stock Consideration and (y) the number of Class B common shares of the Company held by Blocker immediately prior to the First Effective Time, which consideration will be allocated among the holders of the general partnership interests and limited partnership interests of Blocker (as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time) and (ii) the outstanding common stock of Wildfire Merger Sub I shall be converted into and become general partnership and limited partnership interests of surviving entity following the First Merger (the “First Surviving Limited Partnership”), which shall constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding equity of First Surviving Limited Partnership, to be owned by Wildfire GP Sub IV and New PubCo as provided in an amended and restated limited partnership agreement of First Surviving Limited Partnership in the form to be mutually agreed upon by JCIC, the Company and Blocker in good faith prior to the Closing. The “Per Share Common Stock Consideration” means the Aggregate Common Stock Consideration divided by the number of (a) common shares of the Company (“Company Common Shares”) issued and outstanding (other than any Company Common Shares held by the Company in its treasury) as of immediately prior to the respective Effective Time (as defined below), plus (b) the number of Company Common Shares into which preferred shares of the Company (other than Company Series C Preferred Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time) outstanding as of immediately prior to such Effective Time are convertible.

Effect of the Second Merger

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Second Merger (the “Second Effective Time”), by virtue of the Second Merger:

(i)    each ordinary share of JCIC (“JCIC Ordinary Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time (other than Purchaser Excluded Shares (as defined below)) will be converted into one share of New PubCo Common Stock;

(ii)    each share of common stock of Wildfire Merger Sub II issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be converted into and become one share of common stock of the Second Surviving Company;

(iii)    each JCIC Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time with respect to which a JCIC shareholder has validly exercised its redemption rights (collectively, the “Redemption Shares”) will not be converted into and become a share of New PubCo Common Stock, and will at the Second Effective Time be converted into the right to receive from the Second Surviving Company, in cash, an amount per share calculated in accordance with such shareholder’s redemption rights; and


(iv)    at the Second Effective Time, by virtue of the assumption of the warrant agreement, dated as of January 26, 2021, between JCIC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, by New PubCo, each warrant of JCIC that entitles its holder to purchase one share of Class A ordinary share of JCIC at a price of $11.50 per share (“JCIC Warrant”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will automatically and irrevocably be modified to provide that such JCIC Warrant will be entitled to purchase one share of New PubCo Common Stock on the same terms and conditions.

Purchaser Excluded Shares” means, without duplication, (i) the Redemption Shares, (ii) JCIC Ordinary Shares (if any), that, at the respective Effective Time, are held in the treasury of JCIC and (iii) JCIC Ordinary Shares (if any), that are owned by the Company and its subsidiaries.

Effect of the Third Merger

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Third Merger (the “Third Effective Time” and with the First Effective Time and the Second Effective Time, the “Effective Times”), each Company Common Share will be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to the Per Share Common Stock Consideration and each Company Series C Preferred Share will be converted into the right to receive one share of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock. The limited liability company interests of Wildfire Merger Sub III outstanding immediately prior to the Third Effective Time will be converted into and become the limited liability company interests of the surviving company (“Third Surviving Company”), which will constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding equity of the Third Surviving Company. The (i) Company Common Shares and the Company Series C Preferred Shares (if any) (together with Company Common Shares, the “Company Shares”) that are held in the treasury of the Company or its subsidiaries at the Third Effective Time and (ii) the Company Shares that are held by JCIC or any of its affiliates at the Third Effective Time, will be cancelled and no consideration will be paid or payable with respect thereto.

Representations and Warranties

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties thereto with respect to, among other things, (i) entity organization, formation and authority, (ii) authorization to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iii) capital structure, (iv) consents and approvals, (v) financial statements, (vi) liabilities, (vii) real estate, (viii) litigation, (ix) material contracts, (x) taxes, (xi) intellectual property, (xii) absence of changes, (xiii) environmental matters, (xiv) employee matters, (xv) licenses and permits, (xvi) compliance with laws, (xvii) regulatory matters, (xviii) benefit plans, (xix) insurance and (xx) Federal Aviation Administration certificate matters. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in the Merger Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect as of the Closing.

Covenants

The Merger Agreement contains customary covenants of the parties, including, among others, covenants providing for (i) the operation of the Company and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses in the ordinary course of business prior to consummation of the Transactions, (ii) the parties’ efforts to satisfy conditions to consummation of the Transactions, (iii) prohibitions on discussions regarding alternative transactions, (iv) the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the New PubCo Common Stock and warrants of New PubCo (“New PubCo Warrants”) to be issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which will also contain a prospectus and proxy statement for the purpose of soliciting proxies from JCIC’s shareholders to vote in favor of certain matters (the “JCIC Shareholder Matters”), including, (1) the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Transactions, (2) the amendment and restatement of the memorandum and articles of association of JCIC, attached as Exhibit I to the Merger Agreement, (3) on an advisory basis only, the material differences between JCIC’s existing Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of New PubCo, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Merger Agreement, (4) the approval and assumption of the Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan and any grants or awards issued thereunder and the approval of the Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of New PubCo, substantially in the forms attached as Exhibit L and Exhibit M to the Merger Agreement, respectively, (5) any other proposals that the


Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the proxy statement or correspondence related thereto, (6) any other proposals that the parties agree are necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions and (7) adjournment of the special meeting of shareholders of JCIC (the “Special Meeting”), if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing, (v) the protection of, and access to, confidential information of the parties, (vi) the extension (“Extension”) of the deadline by which JCIC must complete a business combination upon written request of the Company (upon which request JCIC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to seek an extension of not earlier than March 27, 2023 so long as the consummation of the Transactions following such date would not be permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of any final, non-appealable governmental order or any applicable law, (vii) New PubCo, JCIC, and the Company’s efforts to obtain a listing of the New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Warrants on NASDAQ and (viii) the parties’ efforts to obtain necessary approvals from governmental agencies.

Conditions to Closing

The consummation of the Transactions is subject to customary closing conditions for transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies, including, among others: (i) approval of the JCIC Shareholder Matters by JCIC’s shareholders, (ii) the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iii) no order, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions being in force, (iv) the Registration Statement having become effective, (v) the shares of New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Warrants to be issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement having been approved for listing on NASDAQ, (vi) JCIC having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets remaining after JCIC Shareholder Redemption and (vii) customary bring-down conditions. Additionally, the obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries and Blocker to consummate the Transactions are also conditioned upon, among others, (A) each of the covenants of each of the parties to the Sponsor Agreement (as defined below) required under the Sponsor Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing having been performed in all material respects and (B) New PubCo having delivered to the Company executed copies of the Registration Rights Agreement and Stockholders Agreement.

Termination

The Merger Agreement may be terminated as follows:

 

  (i)

by written consent of Company and JCIC;

 

  (ii)

prior to the Closing, by written notice to the Company from JCIC if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that certain closing conditions would not be satisfied at the Closing, subject to a 30-day cure period, or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before January 26, 2023 (the “Termination Date”) (provided, that if JCIC obtains the approval of its shareholders for an Extension, JCIC or the Company will have the right by providing written notice thereof to the other party to extend the Termination Date for an additional period equal to the shortest of (a) two (2) additional months, (b) the period ending on the last date for JCIC to consummate its Business Combination pursuant to such Extension, (c) such period as mutually agreed by JCIC and the Company as the earliest practicable date for consummation of the Transactions and (d) the period ending on the date on which the consummation of the Mergers is permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable governmental order or a statute, rule or regulation);

 

  (iii)

prior to the Closing, by written notice to JCIC from the Company if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of JCIC set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that certain closing conditions would not be satisfied at the Closing, subject to a 30-day cure period, (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before the Termination Date, or (iii) the consummation of the Mergers is permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable governmental order or a statute, rule or regulation;


  (iv)

by written notice from the Company if the JCIC Shareholder Matters are not approved by the JCIC shareholders at the Special Meeting (subject to any adjournment, postponement or recess of the meeting);

 

  (v)

by written notice from JCIC to the Company if the Company fails to deliver to JCIC the written consent of the equityholders of the Company consenting to the terms of the Merger Agreement and approving the Transactions within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution of the Merger Agreement; or

 

  (vi)

by written notice from the Company to JCIC if there has been a withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification in the recommendation of the board of directors of JCIC to the shareholders of JCIC to approve the Transactions.

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and any related agreements. The Merger Agreement has been included as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) to provide investors with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about JCIC, the Company, Blocker or any other party to the Merger Agreement or any related agreement. In particular, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, are subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties (including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts) and are subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that may differ from those applicable to investors and security holders. Investors and security holders are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements, or any descriptions thereof, as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of any party to the Merger Agreement. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in JCIC’s public disclosures.

A copy of the Merger Agreement is filed with this Current Report as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

Related Agreements

Sponsor Agreement

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, JCIC, each of its officers and directors and JCIC Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor” and together with its officers and directors, “Sponsor Persons”) and New PubCo entered into a Sponsor Agreement (the “Sponsor Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to a forfeiture, effective as of immediately prior to the Closing, of the number of Class B ordinary shares of JCIC (“JCIC Class B Ordinary Shares”) equal to the sum of (a) 8,550,000 minus the number of Available Sponsor Shares (as defined below), and (b) if the amount remaining in the Trust Account after allocating funds to the JCIC Shareholder Redemption is less than $20,000,000, (i) the excess of the aggregate of fees and expenses for legal counsel, accounting advisors, external auditors and financial advisors incurred by JCIC in connection with the Transactions prior to Closing, but excluding any deferred underwriting fees, over $6,500,000, if any, divided by (ii) $10.00.

Available Sponsor Shares” means, (i) if the Trust Account is less than or equal to $50,000,000, after deducting all amounts payable in respect of the JCIC Shareholder Redemption, 4,275,000 JCIC Class B Ordinary Shares and (ii) if the Trust Account is greater than $50,000,000, after deducting all amounts payable in respect of the JCIC Shareholder Redemption, a number of JCIC Class B Ordinary Shares equal to (A) 8,550,000, multiplied by (B)(1) the amount in the Trust Account after deducting all amounts payable in respect of the JCIC Shareholder Redemption, divided by (2) $100,000,000; provided, that, in no event shall the Available Sponsor Shares exceed 8,550,000.


In addition, pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, the Sponsor agreed to subject 20% of the Available Sponsor Shares (“Earnout Shares”) to a performance-based vesting schedule such that 50% of the Earnout Shares will vest on the first date during the earnout period of 5 years (the “Earnout Period”) on which the volume-weighted average closing sale price of a share of New PubCo Common Stock is greater than $11.50 for a period of at least twenty (20) days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days and 50% of the Earnout Shares will vest on the first date during the Earnout Period on which the volume-weighted average closing sale price of a share of New PubCo Common Stock is greater than $13.00 for a period of at least twenty (20) days out of thirty (30) consecutive trading days.

If the amount remaining in the Trust Account after deducting all amounts payable in respect of the JCIC Shareholder Redemption is less than $50,000,000, then immediately prior to Closing, each of JCIC and the Sponsor agreed to convert any outstanding loan balance under a promissory note between JCIC and the Sponsor, under which $500,000 has been drawn as of the date hereof, into a number of JCIC Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the amount of outstanding loan balance under such promissory note divided by $10.00, rounded up to the nearest whole share.

The foregoing description of the Sponsor Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Sponsor Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Stockholders Agreement

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, New PubCo, the Sponsor, certain of Bridger Element LLC and its equityholders (collectively, the “Founder Stockholders”) and certain entities affiliated with Blackstone Inc. (collectively, the “BTO Stockholders”) have agreed to enter into a Stockholders Agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) at the closing of the Transaction. Pursuant to terms of the Stockholders Agreement, effective as of the date the closing of the Transaction occurs (the “Closing Date”), New PubCo’s board of directors (the “Board”) is anticipated to be comprised of nine directors.

Following the Closing, the BTO Stockholders, collectively, will have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate for election to the Board (i) up to two (2) directors, for so long as the BTO Entities (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) collectively beneficially own (directly or indirectly) at least 10% of the outstanding Stock (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement); and (ii) one (1) director, for so long as the BTO Entities collectively beneficially own (directly or indirectly) less than 10% of the outstanding Stock, but at least 33% of the shares of Stock held by the BTO Entities as of the Closing. In addition, for so long as the BTO Entities have such nomination rights, (i) the Board will use reasonable best efforts to cause any committee of the Board to include in its membership at least one director nominated by the BTO Stockholders provided that such individual satisfies all applicable SEC and stock exchange requirements and (ii) the BTO Stockholders will have a consent right over affiliate transactions entered into by New PubCo or any of its subsidiaries, subject to customary exceptions.

The Founder Stockholders, to the extent they collectively beneficially own (directly or indirectly) at least 10% of the outstanding Stock will have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate the Chairperson of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of the Board, subject to satisfaction of applicable SEC and stock exchange requirements.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement, (i) each of the Founder Stockholders and the BTO Stockholders agree to take all necessary action (including, without limitation, voting or providing a proxy with respect to such stockholder’s shares) to effect the appointment of the directors nominated by the BTO Stockholders and (ii) the Sponsor agrees to vote all shares of New PubCo Common Stock owned by it in favor of the slate of directors nominated by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof in connection with each vote taken in connection with the election of directors to the Board and agrees not to seek to remove or replace a designee of the BTO Stockholders.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement and applicable securities laws, the BTO Stockholders will have preemptive rights to acquire their pro rata share of any new issuance of equity securities (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for equity securities) by New PubCo after the consummation of the Transactions, subject to customary exceptions. The BTO Stockholders will be entitled to


apportion the preemptive rights granted to it in such proportions as it deems appropriate, among (i) itself and (ii) any BTO Entity; provided that each such BTO Entity agrees to enter into the Stockholders Agreement, as a “Stockholder” under the Stockholders Agreement. The foregoing description of the Stockholders Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Stockholders Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit D to the Merger Agreement which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended & Restated Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, New PubCo, the Sponsor, the BTO Stockholders and certain stockholders of the Company have agreed to enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) at the time of the Closing. The Registration Rights Agreement will provide these holders (and their permitted transferees) with the right to require New PubCo, New PubCo’s expense, to register New PubCo Common Stock that they hold on customary terms for a transaction of this type, including customary demand and piggyback registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide that New PubCo pay certain expenses of the electing holders relating to such registrations and indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise under the Securities Act. In addition, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement the Company’s stockholders (other than the BTO Entities) and the Sponsor will be subject to a restriction on transfer of their New PubCo Common Stock for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing, and the BTO Entities will be subject to a restriction on transfer of their New PubCo Common Stock for a period of six (6) months following the Closing, in each case subject to certain exceptions. The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The disclosure set forth above under the caption “Merger Agreement” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference herein. The issuance of shares of the New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock to be issued in the Mergers to equityholders of the Company delivering a written consent consenting to the terms of the Merger Agreement and approving the Transactions will not be registered under the Securities Act, in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.    

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 4, 2022, JCIC and the Company issued a joint press release (the “Press Release”) announcing the Transactions. The Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Attached as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference herein is an investor presentation dated August 2022, that will be used by JCIC and the Company with respect to the Transactions.

Attached as Exhibit 99.3 and incorporated by reference herein is an email and note to the Company’s employees, dated August 4 2022, regarding the Transaction that the Company plans to distribute to its employees.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3 hereto, is furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to liabilities under that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of JCIC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings. This Current Report will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information of the information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3.


Item 8.01.

Other Events

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Waiver of Deferred Underwriting Fees

Pursuant to a letter dated July 29, 2022 from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) to JCIC, J.P. Morgan notified JCIC that, subject to certain conditions, J.P. Morgan waives its entitlement to the payment of any deferred compensation in connection with its role as underwriter in JCIC’s January 2021 initial public offering. The condition to such waiver is the occurrence of the earlier of (i) notice by J.P. Morgan to JCIC that the condition is deemed satisfied by J.P. Morgan in its sole discretion or (ii) the filing of an acceleration request pursuant to Rule 461 relating to the Registration Statement relating to the Transactions. Effective as of the satisfaction of such condition, J.P. Morgan resigns from, and ceases and refuses to further act in, every office, capacity, and relationship contemplated under the terms of the underwriting agreement, dated January 21, 2021, among JCIC, on the one hand, and J.P. Morgan and UBS Securities LLC, on the other hand, or otherwise in connection with the Business Combination.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statement and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

The Exhibit Index is incorporated by reference herein.

*******

No Offer or Solicitation

This Current Report does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction, or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the Business Combination or any related transactions, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. This Current Report does not constitute either advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this Current Report are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements, including for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “target,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, expectations related to the terms, satisfaction of conditions precedent and timing of the Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Current Report, and on the current expectations of JCIC’s and the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Business Combination, including the risk that any required stockholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Business Combination is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business


Combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully and timely develop, sell and expand its technology and products, and otherwise implement its growth strategy; risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including information technology and cybersecurity risks, loss of requisite licenses, flight safety risks, loss of key customers and deterioration in relationships between the Company and its employees; risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential disruption of current plans, operations and infrastructure of the Company as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; risks that the Company is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; risks that the post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the ability to compete with existing or new companies that could cause downward pressure on prices, fewer customer orders, reduced margins, the inability to take advantage of new business opportunities, and the loss of market share; the amount of redemption requests made by JCIC’s shareholders; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability to successfully select, execute or integrate future acquisitions into the business, which could result in material adverse effects to operations and financial conditions; and those factors discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in JCIC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, JCIC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in those documents that JCIC or New PubCo has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties above are not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that neither JCIC nor the Company presently know or that JCIC and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward looking statements reflect JCIC’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Current Report. JCIC and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause JCIC’s and the Company’s assessments to change. However, while JCIC and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, JCIC and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing JCIC’s and the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this Current Report. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

The Business Combination will be submitted to shareholders of JCIC for their consideration and approval at a special meeting of shareholders. JCIC and the Company will prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the SEC by New PubCo, which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to JCIC’s shareholders in connection with JCIC’s solicitation for proxies for the vote by JCIC’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to JCIC’s shareholders and certain of the Company’s equityholders in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, JCIC will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the Business Combination. JCIC’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, in connection with JCIC’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the Business Combination, because these documents will contain important information about JCIC, the Company and the Business Combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the Business Combination and other documents filed with the SEC by JCIC, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Copies of these filings may be obtained free of charge on JCIC’s “Investor Relations” website at https://www.jackcreekinvestmentcorp.com/ or by directing a request to Lauren Ores, 386 Park Avenue South, FL 20, New York, NY 10016.

Participants in the Solicitation

JCIC and the Company and their respective directors and executive officers, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of JCIC’s shareholders in connection with the Business


Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding JCIC’s directors and executive officers in JCIC’s filings with the SEC, including JCIC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2022. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to JCIC’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination, including a description of their direct and indirect interests, which may, in some cases, be different than those of JCIC’s shareholders generally, will be set forth in the Registration Statement. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Registration Statement carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.

This Current Report is not a substitute for the Registration Statement or for any other document that JCIC or New PubCo may file with the SEC in connection with the potential Business Combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of other documents filed with the SEC by JCIC and New PubCo through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

2.1*    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 3, 2022 by and among Jack Creek Investment Corp., Wildfire New PubCo, Inc., Wildfire Merger Sub I, Inc., Wildfire Merger Sub II, Inc., Wildfire Merger Sub III, LLC, Wildfire GP Sub IV, LLC, BTOF (Grannus Feeder) – NQ L.P., and Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC.
10.1    Sponsor Agreement, dated August 3, 2022, by and among JCIC, each of its officers and directors, JCIC Sponsor LLC and New PubCo.
99.1    Joint Press Release of Jack Creek Investment Corp. and Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC issued August 4, 2022.
99.2    Investor Presentation dated August 2022.
99.3    Employee Email and Note, dated August 4, 2022.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

*

Schedules omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Jack Creek Investment Corp. agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.


SIGNATURE

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.

 

    JACK CREEK INVESTMENT CORP.
Date: August 4, 2022     By:  

/s/ Lauren Ores

    Name:   Lauren Ores
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

JACK CREEK INVESTMENT CORP.,

WILDFIRE NEW PUBCO, INC.

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB I, INC.,

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB II, INC.,

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB III, LLC,

WILDFIRE GP SUB IV, LLC,

BTOF (GRANNUS FEEDER) – NQ L.P.,

and

BRIDGER AEROSPACE GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC

dated as of

August 3, 2022

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     3  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      3  

Section 1.02

  Construction      20  

Section 1.03

  Knowledge      21  

Section 1.04

  Equitable Adjustments      21  

ARTICLE II MERGERS

     21  

Section 2.01

  The Mergers      21  

Section 2.02

  Effect of the Merger      23  

Section 2.03

  Governing Documents; Directors and Officers      23  

Section 2.04

  Further Assurances      23  

ARTICLE III TRANSACTION CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

     24  

Section 3.01

  Effect of the First Merger      24  

Section 3.02

  Effect of the Second Merger      24  

Section 3.03

  Effect of the Third Merger      25  

Section 3.04

  Exchange of Certificates      26  

Section 3.05

  Fractional Shares      29  

Section 3.06

  Company Transaction Expenses      29  

Section 3.07

  Withholding Rights      29  

ARTICLE IV CLOSING TRANSACTIONS

     29  

Section 4.01

  Closing      29  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY PARTIES

     30  

Section 5.01

  Organization of the Company      30  

Section 5.02

  Subsidiaries      30  

Section 5.03

  Due Authorization      31  

Section 5.04

  No Conflict      31  

Section 5.05

  Governmental Authorities; Consents      31  

Section 5.06

  Current Capitalization      32  

Section 5.07

  Capitalization of Subsidiaries      32  

Section 5.08

  Financial Statements      33  

Section 5.09

  Undisclosed Liabilities      34  

Section 5.10

  Litigation and Proceedings      34  

Section 5.11

  Compliance with Laws      35  

Section 5.12

  Contracts; No Defaults      36  

Section 5.13

  Company Benefit Plans      39  

Section 5.14

  Labor Matters      41  

Section 5.15

  Taxes      42  

Section 5.16

  Insurance      45  

Section 5.17

  Permits      45  

Section 5.18

  Real Property      45  

 

- i -


Section 5.19

  Equipment and Other Tangible Property      46  

Section 5.20

  Intellectual Property and IT Security      46  

Section 5.21

  Data Privacy      49  

Section 5.22

  Environmental Matters      50  

Section 5.23

  Absence of Changes      51  

Section 5.24

  Brokers’ Fees      51  

Section 5.25

  Related Party Transactions      51  

Section 5.26

  Customers and Vendors      52  

Section 5.27

  Registration Statement and Proxy Statement      52  

Section 5.28

  FAA Certificate Matters      52  

Section 5.29

  Aircraft Matters      53  

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER PARTIES

     54  

Section 6.01

  Corporate Organization      54  

Section 6.02

  Subsidiaries      54  

Section 6.03

  Due Authorization      55  

Section 6.04

  No Conflict      55  

Section 6.05

  Litigation and Proceedings      56  

Section 6.06

  Governmental Authorities; Consents      56  

Section 6.07

  Compliance with Laws      56  

Section 6.08

  Financial Ability; Trust Account      56  

Section 6.09

  Brokers’ Fees      58  

Section 6.10

  SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley Act; Undisclosed Liabilities      58  

Section 6.11

  Business Activities      59  

Section 6.12

  Taxes      60  

Section 6.13

  Capitalization      61  

Section 6.14

  NASDAQ Listing      62  

Section 6.15

  Sponsor Agreement      63  

Section 6.16

  Agreements      63  

Section 6.17

  Title to Property      63  

Section 6.18

  Investment Company Act      63  

Section 6.19

  Interest in Competitors      63  

Section 6.20

  Registration Statement and Proxy Statement      64  

Section 6.21

  Absence of Changes      64  

ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BLOCKER

     64  

Section 7.01

  Organization of Blocker      64  

Section 7.02

  Due Authorization      64  

Section 7.03

  No Conflict      65  

Section 7.04

  Litigation and Proceedings      65  

Section 7.05

  Governmental Authorities; Consents      65  

Section 7.06

  Capitalization, Assets and Liabilities      65  

Section 7.07

  Taxes      66  

ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

     68  

Section 8.01

  Conduct of Business      68  

Section 8.02

  Inspection      71  

Section 8.03

  No Claim Against the Trust Account      71  

 

- ii -


Section 8.04

  Proxy Solicitation; Other Actions      72  

Section 8.05

  Omnibus Incentive Plan      73  

Section 8.06

  Employee Stock Purchase Plan      73  

Section 8.07

  Indemnification and Insurance      74  

Section 8.08

  Aircraft Registration Certificate      75  

Section 8.09

  Mountain Air      75  

Section 8.10

  Third Party Consents      75  

Section 8.11

  Helena FSDO      75  

Section 8.12

  International Registry Contracts of Sale      76  

Section 8.13

  International Registry International Interests      76  

Section 8.14

  Blocker Restructuring      76  

ARTICLE IX COVENANTS OF PURCHASER

     76  

Section 9.01

  Conduct of Purchaser During the Interim Period      76  

Section 9.02

  [Reserved]      78  

Section 9.03

  Inspection      78  

Section 9.04

  New PubCo NASDAQ Listing      78  

Section 9.05

  Purchaser Public Filings      79  

Section 9.06

  Section 16 Matters      79  

Section 9.07

  Qualification as an Emerging Growth Company      79  

Section 9.08

  Stockholder Litigation      79  

Section 9.09

  Blocker Restructuring      79  

ARTICLE X COVENANTS OF BLOCKER

     79  

Section 10.01

  Conduct of Business      79  

Section 10.02

  Inspection      80  

ARTICLE XI JOINT COVENANTS

     81  

Section 11.01

  Regulatory Approvals      81  

Section 11.02

  Support of Transaction      83  

Section 11.03

  Preparation of Registration Statement; Purchaser Special Meeting      84  

Section 11.04

  Exclusivity      87  

Section 11.05

  Tax Matters      88  

Section 11.06

  Confidentiality; Publicity      89  

Section 11.07

  Post-Closing Cooperation; Further Assurances      89  

Section 11.08

  Stockholder Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement      90  

Section 11.09

  Board of Directors      90  

Section 11.10

  Foreign Stock Record      90  

ARTICLE XII CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

     91  

Section 12.01

  Conditions to Obligations of All Parties      91  

Section 12.02

  Additional Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser Parties      92  

Section 12.03

  Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties and Blocker      94  

Section 12.04

  Frustration of Conditions      94  

 

- iii -


ARTICLE XIII TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

     95  

Section 13.01

  Termination      95  

Section 13.02

  Effect of Termination      96  

ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS

     96  

Section 14.01

  Waiver      96  

Section 14.02

  Notices      97  

Section 14.03

  Assignment      98  

Section 14.04

  Rights of Third Parties      98  

Section 14.05

  Expenses      98  

Section 14.06

  Governing Law      98  

Section 14.07

  Captions; Counterparts      99  

Section 14.08

  Schedules and Exhibits      99  

Section 14.09

  Entire Agreement      99  

Section 14.10

  Amendments      99  

Section 14.11

  Severability      99  

Section 14.12

  Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY      99  

Section 14.13

  Enforcement      100  

Section 14.14

  Non-Recourse      100  

Section 14.15

  Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants      101  

Section 14.16

  Acknowledgements      101  

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A       Form of New PubCo Charter
Exhibit B       Form of New PubCo Bylaws
Exhibit C       Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D       Form of Stockholder Agreement
Exhibit E       Form of First Certificate of Merger
Exhibit F       Form of Second Certificate of Merger
Exhibit G       Form of Third Certificate of Merger
Exhibit H       Form of First Surviving Limited Partnership Certificate of Limited Partnership
Exhibit I       Form of Second Surviving Company Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Exhibit J       Form of Third Surviving Company Limited Liability Company Agreement
Exhibit K       Mountain Air Term Sheet
Exhibit L       Form of 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Exhibit M           Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Exhibit N       Accredited Investor Questionnaire

 

- iv -


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 3, 2022, by and among Jack Creek Investment Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Purchaser”), Wildfire New PubCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (“New PubCo”), Wildfire Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub I”), Wildfire Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub II”), Wildfire Merger Sub III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire Merger Sub III”), Wildfire GP Sub IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo (“Wildfire GP Sub IV” and together with Wildfire Merger Sub I, Wildfire Merger Sub II and Wildfire Merger Sub III, the “Merger Subs”), BTOF (Grannus Feeder) – NQ L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Blocker”) and Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”). Purchaser, New PubCo, the Merger Subs, Blocker and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.” Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in Section 1.01.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Purchaser is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and formed to acquire one or more operating businesses through a business combination;

WHEREAS, New PubCo is a newly formed, wholly owned, direct subsidiary of Purchaser, and was formed for the purpose of the Transactions, including to act as the publicly traded company for the Company and its Subsidiaries (and their businesses) after the Closing;

WHEREAS, each of the Merger Subs is a newly formed, wholly owned, direct subsidiary of New PubCo, and was formed for the sole purpose of the Mergers;

WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Parties intend to enter into a business combination transaction pursuant to which (i) Wildfire Merger Sub I will merge with and into Blocker and Wildfire GP Sub IV will become general partner of the surviving entity (the “First Merger”), with Blocker as the surviving entity of the First Merger, (ii) Wildfire Merger Sub II will merge with and into Purchaser (the “Second Merger”), with Purchaser as the surviving company of the Second Merger and (iii) Wildfire Merger Sub III will merge with and into the Company (the “Third Merger” and together with First Merger and Second Merger, the “Mergers”), with the Company as the surviving company of the Third Merger; following the Mergers, each of Blocker, Purchaser, and the Company shall be a subsidiary of New PubCo;

WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, all of the issued and outstanding Series A-1 and Series A-2 preferred shares of the Company have been redeemed by the Company;

WHEREAS, prior to the First Effective Time, New PubCo shall amend and restate the certificate of incorporation of New PubCo to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “New PubCo Charter”);


WHEREAS, prior to the First Effective Time, New PubCo shall amend and restate the bylaws of New PubCo to be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the “New PubCo Bylaws”);

WHEREAS, the governing body of Blocker has unanimously (i) determined and declared it advisable to enter into this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the First Merger, in accordance with the Delaware Limited Partnership Act (“DLPA”) and (ii) approved this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the First Merger, in accordance with the DLPA and on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the board of managers of the Company has unanimously (i) determined and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the Third Merger, in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) and other applicable Laws, (ii) approved this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the Third Merger in accordance with the DLLCA, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and (iii) recommended the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the members of the Company;

WHEREAS, the board of directors of each Merger Sub has unanimously (i) determined that it is in the best interests of such Merger Sub and declared it advisable to enter into this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the applicable Mergers in accordance with the DLLCA, the DLPA and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), as applicable and (ii) approved this Agreement and each of the Transactions, including the applicable Mergers, in accordance with the DLLCA, the DLPA or the DGCL, as applicable, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, New PubCo, in its capacity as the sole member or shareholder, as applicable, of each Merger Sub, has, by its execution and delivery hereof, approved and adopted this Agreement, the Mergers and the other Transactions in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL and Section 18-402 of the DLLCA, as applicable (the “Merger Sub Approvals”);

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Purchaser has unanimously (i) determined that it is fair to and in the best interests of Purchaser, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement providing for the Mergers in accordance with the applicable Laws, and to consummate the Transactions, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, in accordance with the Companies Act, DGCL, DLPA and the DLLCA, as applicable, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and (iii) adopted a resolution recommending the initial business combination with the Company be approved by the shareholders of Purchaser (the “Purchaser Board Recommendation”);

WHEREAS, the Company shall deliver to Purchaser (i) a written consent (the “Written Consent”) of its equity owners consenting to the terms of this Agreement (“Consenting Equityholders”) and approving the Transactions by the applicable requisite holders of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution of this Agreement and (ii) written evidence reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser that such Consenting Equityholders are each an Accredited Investor (including by delivery of an Accredited Investor Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit N (each, an “Accredited Investor Questionnaire”) completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser) within as soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of this Agreement;

 

- 2 -


WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, including the Mergers, at or prior to the Closing, New PubCo will enter into (i) an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with certain stockholders of New PubCo substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) and (ii) a Stockholder Agreement with certain equityholders of the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto (the “Stockholder Agreement”);

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Purchaser, each of its officers and directors and JCIC Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor” and together with its officers and directors, “Sponsor Persons”) and New PubCo have entered into the Sponsor Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to (i) the forfeiture of certain of its Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares in the event shareholder redemptions in connection with the Transactions exceed specified levels, (ii) subject 20% of its Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares (after taking into account any such forfeitures) to a performance-based vesting schedule, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and (iii) agreed not to transfer any Purchaser Ordinary Shares or Purchaser Warrants until the earlier of the Closing and termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; and

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) Bridger Aviation Services, LLC and Mountain Air, LLC (“Mountain Air”) have entered into an amendment to that certain Management Services Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2018 and (ii) Bridger Air Tanker, LLC and Northern Fire Management Services, LLC have entered into an amendment to that certain Support Services Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2019 (together, the “Services Agreement Amendments”).

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

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

Acquisition Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(a).

Accredited Investor Questionnaire” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Action” means any claim, action, suit, complaint, assessment, audit, inquiry, investigation, arbitration or legal, judicial or administrative proceeding (whether at law or in equity) or arbitration by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

- 3 -


Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise.

Aggregate Common Stock Consideration” means an aggregate number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to (i) (A) $724,600,000 minus (B) the aggregate Series C Preferred Stated Value (as defined in the Company LLC Agreement) on all Company Series C Preferred Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon since the end of the immediately preceding semi-annual Distribution Period (as defined in the Company LLC Agreement), minus (C) if the amount remaining in the Trust Account after allocating funds to the Purchaser Shareholder Redemption is less than $20,000,000, the excess of Company Transaction Expenses over $6,500,000, if any, divided by (ii) $10.00.

Aggregate Series C Preferred Stock Consideration” means a number shares of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock equal to the number of the Company Series C Preferred Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time.

Aggregate Transaction Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a).

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Aircraft” means collectively an airframe, and the engine(s) and, if applicable, the propeller(s) attached to such airframe.

Aircraft Object” means any airframe designed and intended to be used for air navigation purposes; any piston or turboprop aircraft engines rated for 550 or more takeoff horsepower; any turbojet aircraft engine rated for at least 1,750 lbs. of thrust; and any aircraft propeller rated to absorb 750 or more takeoff shaft horsepower.

Aircraft Registration Certificate” means an FAA Standard Airworthiness Certificate (FAA Aeronautical Center Form 8050-3)

Airworthiness Certificate” means an FAA Standard Airworthiness Certificate (FAA Aeronautical Center Form 8100-2) without restriction or limitation.

Allocated Omnibus Awards” means any equity award with respect to the Company Common Shares granted following the date hereof and prior to the Closing pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan in the form of “restricted share units” or similar full value equity equivalents.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means any applicable Laws relating to anti-bribery or anti-corruption (governmental or commercial), including Laws that prohibit the corrupt payment, offer, promise, or authorization of the payment or transfer of anything of value (including gifts or entertainment), directly or indirectly, to any Governmental Official or representative of a Governmental Authority or commercial entity to obtain a business advantage, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, and all national and international Laws enacted to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions.

 

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Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means the Money Laundering Control Act, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, and any other foreign, federal, state, or local Laws relating to fraud or money laundering.

Antitrust Law” means the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as amended, and any applicable foreign antitrust Laws and all other applicable Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.

Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.08(a).

BAGM” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

Blocker Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Blocker, expressly and specifically set forth in Article VII of this Agreement, as qualified by the Blocker Schedules.

Blocker Restructuring” means any direct or indirect sale, exchange, assignment, transfer, distribution, contribution or other disposition of Company Class B Common Shares (or any direct or indirect interests therein) or shares of New PubCo Common Stock (or any direct or indirect interests therein), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by any BTO Entity to any other BTO Entity.

Blocker Schedules” means the disclosure schedules of Blocker.

Book-Entry Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(b).

BTO Entities” means (a) Blackstone Inc. or any Affiliate thereof, or (b) any entity, investment vehicle, account or fund that is directly or indirectly owned, managed or controlled by or under common control or ownership with Blackstone Inc. or any Affiliate thereof (including Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Advisors L.L.C.).

Business Combination” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Memorandum and Articles.

Business Combination Proposal” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.

Cape Town Convention” means collectively (i) the official English language text of the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, adopted on 16 November 2001, at a diplomatic conference in Cape Town, South Africa, as adopted by the United States of America; and (ii) the official English language text of the Protocol to the Cape Town Convention on matters specific to Aircraft Equipment.

 

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Certificates” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(b).

Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01.

Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01.

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

Companies Act” means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.

Company” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 5.13(a).

Company Class A Common Shares” means the Class A common shares of the Company.

Company Class B Common Shares” means the Class B common shares of the Company.

Company Class C Common Shares” means the Class C common shares of the Company.

Company Class D Common Shares” means the Class D common shares of the Company.

Company Common Shares” means the Company Class A Common Shares, the Company Class B Common Shares, the Company Class C Common Shares and the Company Class D Common Shares.

Company Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01(b).

Company Employees” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14(a).

Company Excluded Shares” means, without duplication, (i) Company Shares (if any) that are held in the treasury of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) Company Shares that are owned by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, in each case, at the Third Effective Time.

Company Financing Agreements” means (i) the Municipal Bonds, (ii) the Loan Agreement by and between Bridger Aviation Services, LLC and Rocky Mountain Bank, dated February 3, 2020, (iii) the Loan Agreement by and between Bridger Air Tanker 1, LLC and Live Oak Banking Company, dated May 19, 2020, (iv) Promissory Note by and between Bridger Air Tanker 1, LLC and Live Oak Banking Company, dated August 21, 2020, (v) the Loan Agreement by and between Bridger Air Tanker 2, LLC and Live Oak Banking Company, dated August 10, 2020, (vi) Promissory Note by and between Bridger Air Tanker 2, LLC and Live Oak Banking Company, dated October 1, 2020, (vii) the Construction Loan Agreement by and between Bridger Solutions International, LLC and Rocky Mountain Bank, dated September 30, 2019, (viii) Premium Finance Agreement by and among Lockton Companies, LLC, ElementCompany, Inc. and Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC, dated December 6, 2021 and (ix) all financing arrangements with First Interstate Bank.

Company Intellectual Property” means all Owned Intellectual Property and Licensed Intellectual Property.

 

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Company LLC Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, effective April 25, 2022.

Company Parties” means the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Company Preferred Shares” means the Company Series C Preferred Shares.

Company Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company Parties, expressly and specifically set forth in Article V of this Agreement, as qualified by the Company Schedules.

Company Schedules” means the disclosure schedules of the Company Parties.

Company Series C Preferred Shares” means the Series C preferred shares of the Company.

Company Shares” means the Company Common Shares and the Company Preferred Shares.

Company Software” means all Software owned or purported to be owned by any of the Company Parties.

Company Subsidiary Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 5.07.

Company Transaction Consideration” means the Aggregate Common Stock Consideration plus the Aggregate Series C Preferred Stock Consideration.

Company Transaction Expenses” means the aggregate of fees and expenses for legal counsel, accounting advisors, external auditors and financial advisors incurred by Blocker or any other BTO Entity, the Company or its Subsidiaries, in each case, in connection with the Transactions.

Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 14.09.

Contract of Sale” has the meaning given to the term in the Cape Town Convention.

Contracts” means any legally binding contracts, agreements, arrangements, subcontracts, leases, purchase orders, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, licenses or other instruments or obligations of any kind.

Copyleft License” means any license that requires, as a condition to the use, modification or distribution of any Open Source Software, that any Intellectual Property that is incorporated into, derived from, based on, linked to, or used, distributed or made available with such Open Source Software, be licensed, distributed, or otherwise made available: (a) in source code form; (b) under terms that permit redistribution, reverse engineering or creation of derivative works or other modification of any of the foregoing Intellectual Property; or (c) without a license fee.

COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or any other epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.

 

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D&O Tail” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(b).

Data” means all databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data whether machine readable or otherwise.

DGCL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

DLLCA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

DLPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

DOT” means the United States Department of Transportation or any successor agency.

DTC” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(b).

Effective Times” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03.

Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to pollution or protection of the environment (including natural resources), human health and safety as related to exposure to Hazardous Materials, or the use, storage, emission, disposal or release of Hazardous Materials.

ERISA” has the meaning specified in Section 5.13(a).

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.

ESPP” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06.

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

Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(a).

Exchange Fund” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(a).

Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(c).

FAA” means the United States Federal Aviation Administration or any successor agency.

FAA Civil Aviation Registry” means the FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Aircraft Registration Branch, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 South MacArthur Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73169.

FAR” means collectively the Aeronautics Regulations of the FAA and the DOT, as codified at Title 14, Parts 1 to 399 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations.

 

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Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.08(a).

First Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

First Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

First Surviving Limited Partnership” means the surviving entity following the First Merger.

Founder Warrants” means the private placement Purchaser Warrants purchased by Sponsor in connection with Purchaser’s initial public offering.

Fully Diluted Shares” means the sum of (without duplication) the aggregate number of Company Common Shares issued and outstanding (excluding any Company Common Shares held by the Company in its treasury and any Allocated Omnibus Awards) as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

Government Contract” means any Contract in which the counterparty or the ultimate customer is, or the work performed under such contract was funded by, a Governmental Authority.

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

Governmental Filing” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.

Governmental Official” means any officer or employee of a Governmental Authority or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any political subdivision, sovereign wealth fund, or any corporation or other Person owned or controlled in whole or in part by any Governmental Authority or department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or of a public international organization, or any Person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such Governmental Authority or department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or for or on behalf of any public international organization.

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

Hazardous Material” means any material, substance or waste that is listed, regulated, or otherwise classified as “hazardous,” “toxic,” or “radioactive,” or as a “pollutant” or “contaminant” (or words of similar meaning or effect) under applicable Environmental Laws as well as petroleum, petroleum by-products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, flammable or explosive substances, or pesticides.

Helena FSDO” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11.

 

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

ICE” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14(h).

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person as of any time, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person or indebtedness issued by such Person in substitution or exchange for borrowed money, (b) indebtedness evidenced by any note, bond, debenture or other debt security, in each case, as of such time of such Person, (c) obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or other services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations as lessee that are required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP, (e) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, to the extent drawn or claimed against, (f) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such Person, (g) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person, (h) all interest expense accrued but unpaid on or related to any note, bond, or other equity or debt security or instrument, (i) any obligations in respect of declared but unpaid dividends and (j) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a)—(i) of this definition of any other Person, the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety or otherwise, including any guarantee of such obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, “Indebtedness” of any Person shall not include any item that would otherwise constitute “Indebtedness” of such Person that is an obligation between such Person and any wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person or between any two or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person in the ordinary course of business.

Indemnitee Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property, and all corresponding rights, in any jurisdiction throughout the world, including all: (a) patents and patent applications, and all continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, reexaminations, extensions, renewals, substitutions and reissues of any of the foregoing; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, trade dress, logos, corporate names and other indicia of source or origin, and all registrations, applications, renewals and extensions of any of the foregoing, together with all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing (collectively, “Trademarks”); (c) Internet domain names; (d) copyrights and works of authorship, and all registrations, applications, reversions, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, and all moral rights, however denominated; (e) trade secrets, confidential know-how and other confidential information (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); and (f) Technology.

Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05(b).

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.08(a).

Interim Period” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

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International Interest” and “Prospective International Interest” have the meanings given to those terms in the Cape Town Convention.

International Registry” means the International Registry of Mobile Assets located in Dublin, Ireland, established pursuant to the Cape Town Convention.

IT Systems” means all computer systems, information technology systems, Software, servers, networks, databases, network equipment, websites, and other computer hardware and equipment owned, leased, licensed, controlled or used by or on behalf of any of the Company Parties.

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, treaty, code, directive, regulation, Governmental Order or legal requirement (including the common law), in each case, of any Governmental Authority.

Leased Real Property” means all real property leased by any of the Company Parties.

Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18(a).

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(b).

Liability” means, with respect to any Person, any liability or obligation of such Person of any kind or nature whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated, unliquidated or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, and regardless of when or by whom asserted.

Licensed Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20(b).

Lien” means any mortgage, charge, claim, registration, defect in title, contingent right, deed of trust, license, covenant, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, easement, option, right of first refusal, security interest or other lien of any kind, and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include with respect to the provisions of Section 5.29, any lien, mortgage, security interest, lease, trust, International Interest, Prospective International Interest, conditional sales contract, charge, claim, or other encumbrance, including mechanics liens, fuel liens, airport liens, customs and import duties, liens for taxes (whether assessed or assessable), whether filed or unfiled, or recorded with the FAA Civil Aviation Registry, the International Registry or other governmental agency, or unrecorded, or known or unknown, or choate or inchoate, or perfected or unperfected.

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Company, any event, circumstance, change or effect that, individual or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes and effects, (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, assets, liabilities, operations or financial condition of the Company Parties, taken as a whole or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impede the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Mergers; provided, however, that, with respect to subparagraph (i), in no event shall any of the following (or the effect of any of the following), alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Material Adverse Effect” on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company

 

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Parties, taken as a whole: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business, financial, commodity, currency or market conditions generally, (c) the announcement or the execution of this Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the Mergers or the performance of this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, licensors, distributors, partners, providers and employees, (d) any change generally affecting any of the industries or markets in which any of the Company Parties operate or the economy as a whole, (e) any earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, tornado, flood, mudslide, wild fire or other natural disaster, act of God or other force majeure event, (f) any national or international political or social conditions in countries in which, or in the proximate geographic region of which, the Company operates, including the engagement by the United States or such other countries in hostilities or the escalation thereof, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence or the escalation of any military or terrorist attack, upon any Person or country, or any territories, possessions, or diplomatic or consular offices of the United States or such other countries or upon any United States or such other country military installation, equipment or personnel, (g) any failure of the Company Parties, taken as a whole, to meet any projections, forecasts or budgets; provided, that clause (g) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change or effect underlying such failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in, or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Material Adverse Effect (to the extent such change or effect is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Material Adverse Effect) and (h) COVID-19 or any Law, directive, pronouncement or guideline issued by a Governmental Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization or industry group providing for business closures, changes to business operations, “sheltering-in-place” or other restrictions that relate to, or arise out of, an epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 pandemic) or any change in such Law, directive, pronouncement or guideline or interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement or the any of the Company Party’s compliance therewith; provided that in the case of clauses (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (h), such changes may be taken into account to the extent (but only to the extent) that such changes have had a disproportionate impact on the Company Parties, taken as a whole, as compared to other industry participants.

Material Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(a).

Memorandum and Articles” means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Purchaser, dated as of September 21, 2020, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

Mergers” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

Merger Sub Approvals” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

Merger Subs” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 11.03(b).

Mountain Air” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

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Municipal Bond” means that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2022, by and among Gallatin County, Montana, a county and political subdivision of the State of Montana, Bridger Aerospace Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 3, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 4, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 5, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 6, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 7, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Air Tanker 8, LLC, a Montana limited liability company, Bridger Solutions International 1, LLC, a Montana limited liability company and Bridger Solutions International 2, LLC, a Montana limited liability company.

New PubCo Award” means a restricted share unit award granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan of New PubCo (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Allocated Omnibus Awards that convert into awards of New PubCo restricted share units pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Third Merger).

New PubCo Bylaws” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

New PubCo Charter” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

New PubCo Common Stock” means the common stock of New PubCo.

New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock” means the Series A preferred stock of New PubCo.

New PubCo Warrants” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(e).

NASDAQ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Omnibus Incentive Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05.

On-Demand Operations” shall have the same meaning given the term in Section 119.3 of the FAR.

Open Source Software” means any Software that is licensed, provided, distributed or made available as “free software,” “open source software,” “copyleft software,” “freeware” or “shareware” or similar licensing or distribution models, including Software licensed pursuant to the GNU General Public License, the GNU Library General Public License, the GNU Lesser General Public License, the Affero General Public License, the Mozilla Public License, the Common Development and Distribution License, the Eclipse Public License, any Creative Commons “sharealike” license, or any license that is, or is substantially similar to, a license now or in the future approved by the Open Source Initiative.

Owned Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by any of the Company Parties.

Part 135 Certificate” means that certain Air Carrier Certificate issued to Mountain Air, LLC by the FAA pursuant to Part 119 of the FAR and bearing certificate number 4GIA1410, together with all other certificates, registrations (including registration with the DOT as an air taxi operator), and documents (including, without limitation, operations specifications) required in order that Mountain Air may lawfully conduct On-Demand Operations in common carriage in accordance with the applicable requirements of Part 135 of the FAR.

 

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Part 137 Certificate” means that certain Operating Certificate issued to Bridger Air Tanker, LLC by the FAA pursuant to Part 137 of the FAR and bearing certificate number 8R6G132Q, together with all other certificates, registrations and documents required in order that Bridger Air Tanker, LLC may lawfully conduct commercial agricultural aircraft operations in accordance with the applicable requirements of Part 137 of the FAR.

Part 145 Certificate” means that certain Air Agency Certificate issued to Bridger Aviation Repair, LLC, d/b/a Bridger Aerospace, by the FAA pursuant to Part 145 of the FAR and bearing certificate number 8G9R705D, with limited airframe, limited engine, limited radio, and limited instrument ratings, together with all other certificates, registrations and documents (including, without limitation, operations specifications) required in order that Bridger Aviation Repair, LLC, d/b/a Bridger Aerospace may lawfully operate an aircraft repair station in accordance with the applicable requirements of Part 145 of the FAR.

Party” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Per Share Common Stock Consideration” means the Aggregate Common Stock Consideration, divided by the number of Fully Diluted Shares.

Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 5.11.

Permitted Liens” means (a) statutory or common law Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, landlords, carriers, repairmen, construction contractors and other similar Liens that arise in the ordinary course of business, that relate to amounts not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith through appropriate Actions, in each case only to the extent appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate Actions for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (d) Liens, encumbrances and restrictions on real property (including easements, covenants, rights of way and similar restrictions of record) that (i) are matters of record, (ii) would be disclosed by a current, accurate survey or physical inspection of such real property, or (iii) do not materially interfere with the present uses of such real property, (e) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted by any of the Company Parties to its customers in the ordinary course of business, (f) Liens securing any Indebtedness of the Company Parties (including Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any the Company Financing Agreement), (g) zoning, building codes and other land use restrictions, environmental regulations, survey exceptions, utility easements, rights of way, and other Liens regulating the use or occupancy of real property or the activities conducted thereon which are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such real property and which are not violated by the current use or occupancy of such real property or the operation of the businesses of the Company Parties or any violation of which would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries or their respective operations and (h) Liens described on Schedule 1.01(a) of the Company Schedules.

 

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

Personal Information” means all information in any form or media that identifies, could be used to identify or is otherwise related to an individual person (including any current, prospective, or former customer, end user or employee), in addition to any definition for “personal information” or any similar term provided by applicable Law or by any of the Company Parties in any of their respective privacy policies, notices or contracts (e.g., “personal data,” “personally identifiable information” or “PII”).

Personnel IP Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20(c).

Policies” has the meaning specified in Section 5.16.

Pre-Closing Holders” means all Persons who hold one or more Company Common Shares, Allocated Omnibus Awards or Company Series C Preferred Shares, in each case as of immediately prior to the Third Effective Time.

Privacy Laws” means any and all applicable Laws, legal requirements and self-regulatory guidelines (including of any applicable foreign jurisdiction) relating to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage, processing, sharing, safeguarding, security (technical, physical or administrative), disposal, destruction, disclosure or transfer (including cross-border) of any Personal Information, including the Federal Trade Commission Act, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and any and all applicable Laws relating to breach notification, the use of biometric identifiers, or the use of Personal Information for marketing purposes.

Privacy Requirements” means all applicable Privacy Laws and all of the Company Parties’ respective policies, notices, and contractual obligations relating to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage, processing, sharing, safeguarding, security (technical, physical and administrative), disposal, destruction, disclosure, or transfer (including cross-border) of Personal Information.

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement with respect to shares of the New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Warrants to be offered and issued to (i) the Purchaser Shareholders, holders of Purchaser Public Warrants and (ii) holders of Company Shares that did not execute the Written Consent.

Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement of Purchaser included in the Registration Statement to be used for the Special Meeting to approve the Purchaser Shareholder Matters (which shall also provide the Purchaser Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Purchaser Ordinary Shares in conjunction with a shareholder vote on the Transactions contemplated herein, including the Mergers).

 

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Purchaser” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Purchaser Affiliate Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 6.16.

Purchaser Board Recommendation” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Purchaser.

Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Purchaser.

Purchaser Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01(c).

Purchaser Excluded Shares” means, without duplication, (i) Purchaser Ordinary Shares for which Redemption Rights have been exercised in connection with the Purchaser Shareholder Redemption, (ii) Purchaser Ordinary Shares (if any), that, at the Effective Time, are held in the treasury of Purchaser and (iii) Purchaser Ordinary Shares (if any), that are owned by the Company Parties.

Purchaser Ordinary Shares” means Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares.

Purchaser Organizational Documents” means the Purchaser’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

Purchaser Parties” means Purchaser, New PubCo and the Merger Subs.

Purchaser Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(a).

Purchaser Public Warrant” means a Purchaser Warrant, a fraction of which was issued as part of a unit, comprised of one share of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and one-half of one Purchaser Warrant, in Purchaser’s initial public offering.

Purchaser Representations” means the representations and warranties of Purchaser Parties expressly and specifically set forth in Article VI of this Agreement, as qualified by the Purchaser Schedules.

Purchaser Schedules” means the disclosure schedules of Purchaser Parties.

Purchaser Shareholder Matters” has the meaning specified in Section 11.03(a)(i).

Purchaser Shareholder Redemption” has the meaning specified in Section 11.03(a)(i).

Purchaser Shareholders” means the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares.

Purchaser Warrant” means a warrant that entitles the holder to purchase one share of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share.

 

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Redemption Rights” means the redemption rights provided in Section 8 of the Memorandum and Articles.

Redemption Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(c).

Registered Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, Trademark registrations, applications for Trademark registration, copyright registrations, applications for copyright registration and Internet domain names, in each case, owned or purported to be owned by any of the Company Parties.

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

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-4 of New PubCo with respect to the registration of shares of the New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Warrants to be issued in connection with the Transactions, including the Prospectus.

Regulatory Consent Authorities” means the Governmental Authorities with jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable Law.

Related Party Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 5.25.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment.

Representative” means, as to any Person, any of the officers, directors, managers, employees, counsel, accountants, financial advisors, lenders and consultants of such Person.

Schedules” means the Company Schedules, the Purchaser Schedules and the Blocker Schedules.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SEC Clearance Date” means, with respect to the Registration Statement, the date on which the SEC has declared the Form S-4 effective and has previously confirmed that it has no further comments on such Registration Statement.

SEC Reports” has the meaning specified in Section 6.10(a).

Second Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

Second Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

Second Surviving Company” means the surviving company following the Second Merger.

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

Securities Laws” means the securities laws of any state, federal or foreign entity and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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Seller Group” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05(e).

Services Agreement Amendments” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Software” means all: (a) software or computer programs of any type, including all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form; (b) descriptions, flow-charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize or develop any of the foregoing; (c) user interfaces, report formats, firmware and development tools; (d) data, databases and compilations of data, including all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise; and (e) documentation and other materials related to any of the foregoing, including user manuals and training materials.

Special Meeting” means an extraordinary general meeting of the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to be held for the purpose of approving the Purchaser Shareholder Matters.

Specified Blocker Representations” has the meaning specified in Section 12.02(a)(v).

Specified Representations” has the meaning specified in Section 12.02(a)(i).

Specified Subs” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02.

Sponsor” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

Sponsor Agreement” means that certain Sponsor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Purchaser, New PubCo and the Sponsor Persons.

Sponsor Persons” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any corporation or other organization (including a limited liability company or a partnership), whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which such Person directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization or any organization of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.

Surviving Companies” means the First Surviving Limited Partnership, the Second Surviving Company and the Third Surviving Company.

Surviving Provisions” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

Tangible Company Property” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19.

Tax” means (i) any and all federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, foreign and other net income tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, franchise tax, gross income, adjusted gross income or gross receipts tax, employment related tax (including employee withholding or employer payroll tax), or other assessments, including ad valorem, transfer, franchise, license, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, personal property, real property, capital stock,

 

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profits, disability, registration, imposts, levies, contributions, value added, estimated, customs duties, and sales or use tax, or other tax of any kind or charge of any kind in the nature of (or similar to) taxes whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not and (ii) any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) of this definition as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period, as a result of any tax sharing or tax allocation agreement, arrangement or understanding, or as a result of being liable for another person’s taxes as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

Tax Officer’s Certificates” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05(e).

Tax Return” means any return, report, statement, refund, claim, declaration, information return, statement, estimate or other document filed or required to be filed with a Governmental Authority in respect of Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto and including any amendments thereof.

Technology” means all technology, Software, information, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical data, programs, subroutines, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses, and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing, in any form whether or not specifically listed herein.

Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01(b).

Terminating Purchaser Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01(c).

Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01(b).

Third Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

Third Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

Third Surviving Company” means the surviving company following the Third Merger.

Top Customers” has the meaning specified in Section 5.26.

Top Vendors” has the meaning specified in Section 5.26.

Transaction Agreements” means this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Stockholder Agreement, the Sponsor Agreement, New PubCo Bylaws, New PubCo Charter, and all the agreements, documents, instruments and certificates entered into in connection herewith or therewith and any and all exhibits and schedules thereto.

Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers.

 

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Transfer Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05(a).

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations, including proposed and temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code.

Trust Account” has the meaning specified in Section 6.08(a).

Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 6.08(a).

Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 6.08(a).

Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2021, between Purchaser and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation.

WARN Act” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14(g).

Written Consent” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto

Section 1.02 Construction.

(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (iv) the terms “Article”, “Section”, “Schedule”, “Exhibit” and “Annex” refer to the specified Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit or Annex of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified, (v) the word “including” shall mean “including without limitation,” (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive, and (vii) the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a thing extends (rather than if).

(b) When used herein, “ordinary course of business” means, with respect to any Person, an action taken, or omitted to be taken, in the ordinary and usual course of such Person’s and its Subsidiaries’ business, consistent with past practice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, actions taken in light of COVID-19, but only to the extent such actions are reasonably appropriate in light of the circumstances).

(c) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto.

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

 

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(e) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.

(f) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. If any action is to be taken or given on or by a particular calendar day, and such calendar day is not a Business Day, then such action may be deferred until the next Business Day.

(g) Unless context otherwise requires, all accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

(h) The phrases “provided to,” “furnished to,” “made available” and phrases of similar import when used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, means that a copy of the information or material referred to has been provided no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement to the Party to which such information or material is to be provided or furnished (i) in the virtual “data room” set up by the Company in connection with this Agreement or (ii) by delivery to such Party or its legal counsel via electronic mail or hard copy form.

Section 1.03 Knowledge. As used herein, the phrase “to the knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry, of the persons set forth on Schedule 1.03(a) of the Company Schedules and, in the case of Purchaser, the persons set forth on Schedule 1.03(b) of the Purchaser Schedules, and, in the case of Blocker, the persons set forth on Schedule 1.03(c) of the Blocker Schedules.

Section 1.04 Equitable Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing, the outstanding Company Shares or Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class, by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares, or any similar event shall have occurred, then any number, value (including dollar value) or amount contained herein which is based upon the number of the Company Shares or Purchaser Ordinary Shares, as applicable, will be appropriately adjusted to provide to the holders of Company Shares or the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares, as applicable, the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event; provided, however, that this Section 1.04 shall not be construed to permit the Company or Purchaser and their respective Subsidiaries to take any action with respect to their respective securities that is prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

MERGERS

Section 2.01 The Mergers.

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date, Blocker and Wildfire Merger Sub I shall cause the First Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto (the “First Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and the DLPA (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed in writing by the Company and Purchaser and specified in the First Certificate of Merger, being the “First Effective Time”).

 

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(b) Following the First Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date, Purchaser and Wildfire Merger Sub II shall cause the Second Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger in substantially the form of Exhibit F attached hereto (the “Second Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and a Plan of Merger (as defined below) with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands in accordance with the Companies Act (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed in writing by the Company and Purchaser and specified in the Second Certificate of Merger and Plan of Merger in accordance with the Companies Act, being the “Second Effective Time”). Subject to this Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Purchaser and Wildfire Merger Sub II shall execute a plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”) in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and Purchaser and such parties shall file the Plan of Merger and other documents required under the Companies Act to effect the Merger with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands as provided by Section 233 of the Companies Act.

(c) Following the Second Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, on the Closing Date, the Company and Wildfire Merger Sub III shall cause the Third Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger in substantially the form of Exhibit G attached hereto (the “Third Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DLLCA (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed in writing by the Company and Purchaser and specified in the Third Certificate of Merger, being the “Third Effective Time” and with the First Effective Time and the Second Effective Time, the “Effective Times”). The Parties agree that the Effective Times may be extended with the agreement of the Parties as deemed necessary to comply with or take account applicable Law, or as may otherwise be considered economically beneficial for the Parties.

(d) At the applicable Effective Times, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, DLPA, DLLCA and the DGCL, (i) the separate corporate existence of Wildfire Merger Sub I shall cease and Blocker shall continue as the First Surviving Limited Partnership after the First Merger and as a subsidiary of New PubCo, (ii) the separate corporate existence of Wildfire Merger Sub II shall cease and Purchaser shall continue as the Second Surviving Company after the Second Merger and as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo and (iii) the separate corporate existence of Wildfire Merger Sub III shall cease and the Company shall continue as the Third Surviving Company after the Third Merger and as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New PubCo.

 

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Section 2.02 Effect of the Merger.

At the applicable Effective Time, the effect of each Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the applicable Certificate of Merger, the Plan of Merger, as applicable, and the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, DLPA, DLLCA and DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the applicable Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the applicable Merger Sub shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the applicable Surviving Company, which shall include the assumption by the applicable Surviving Company of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of the applicable Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the applicable Effective Time.

Section 2.03 Governing Documents; Directors and Officers.

(a) Subject to obtaining the approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters and prior to the First Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of New PubCo shall be amended to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto, respectively.

(b) At the First Effective Time, the certificate of limited partnership of the First Surviving Limited Partnership shall be amended to read substantially in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto. Wildfire GP Sub IV shall be the general partner of the First Surviving Limited Partnership immediately after the First Effective Time.

(c) Subject to obtaining the approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters, at the Second Effective Time, the memorandum and articles of association of the Second Surviving Company shall be amended and restated to read substantially in the form of the memorandum and articles of association of Purchaser attached as Exhibit I hereto. At the Second Effective Time, the individuals set forth on Schedule 2.03(c) of the Company Schedules shall be the board of directors and officers of the Second Surviving Company.

(d) At the Third Effective Time, the limited liability company agreement of the Third Surviving Company shall be amended to read substantially in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto. At the Third Effective Time, the board of directors and officers of the Company shall be the board of directors and officers of the Third Surviving Company.

Section 2.04 Further Assurances. If, at any time after the Effective Times, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Companies with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Purchaser, the Company or the Merger Subs, the applicable directors, officers, members and managers of Purchaser, the Company and the Merger Subs (or their designees) are fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations/companies or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III

TRANSACTION CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 3.01 Effect of the First Merger(a) . On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the First Effective Time, by virtue of the First Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of any securities of Blocker or Wildfire Merger Sub I, the following shall occur: (a) the partnership interests of Blocker outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive an aggregate number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the Per Share Common Stock Consideration and (y) the number of Company Class B Common Shares held by Blocker immediately prior to the First Effective Time, which consideration shall be allocated among the holders of the general partnership interests and limited partnership interests of Blocker (as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time) as contemplated in a written notice to be delivered by Blocker to New PubCo and the Company no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing and (b) the outstanding common stock of Wildfire Merger Sub I shall be converted into and become general partnership and limited partnership interests of First Surviving Limited Partnership, which shall constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding equity of First Surviving Limited Partnership, to be owned by Wildfire GP Sub IV and New PubCo as provided in an amended and restated limited partnership agreement of First Surviving Limited Partnership in the form to be mutually agreed upon by Purchaser, the Company and Blocker in good faith prior to the Closing.

Section 3.02 Effect of the Second Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Second Effective Time, by virtue of the Second Merger and without any further action on the part of any Party or the holders of any securities of Purchaser, the following shall occur:

(a) Each Purchaser Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time (other than Purchaser Excluded Shares) shall be converted into, and the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to receive for each Purchaser Ordinary Share (other than Purchaser Excluded Shares), one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of New PubCo Common Stock (“Purchaser Transaction Consideration” and together with the Company Transaction Consideration, the “Aggregate Transaction Consideration”). All such Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist.

(b) Each share of common stock of Wildfire Merger Sub II issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time, shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary share of the Second Surviving Company. From and after the Effective Time, all certificates representing the common stock of Wildfire Merger Sub II, shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of ordinary shares of the Second Surviving Company into which they were converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

(c) Each Purchaser Excluded Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time with respect to which a Purchaser shareholder has validly exercised its Redemption Rights (collectively the “Redemption Shares”) shall not be converted into and become a share of New PubCo Common Stock, and shall at the Second Effective Time be converted into the right to receive from the Second Surviving Company, in cash, an amount per share calculated in accordance with such shareholder’s Redemption Rights. As promptly as practicable after the Second Effective Time, the Second Surviving Company shall cause such cash payments to be made in respect of each such Redemption Share. As of the Second Effective Time, all such Redemption Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Redemption Share (or related certificate or book-entry shares) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the cash payments from Purchaser referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

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(d) Each Purchaser Excluded Share other than Redemption Shares shall be cancelled and no consideration shall be paid or payable with respect thereto.

(e) New PubCo shall assume the Warrant Agreement. At the Second Effective Time, by virtue of the Second Merger and the assumption of the Warrant Agreement by New PubCo and without any action on the part of any holder of Purchaser Warrants, each Purchaser Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 4 of the Warrant Agreement, automatically and irrevocably be modified to provide that such Purchaser Warrant shall no longer entitle the holder thereof to purchase the number of Purchaser Ordinary Shares set forth therein and in substitution thereof such Purchaser Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire such number of shares New PubCo Common Stock per Purchaser Warrant, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 4 and the last sentence of Section 3.1 of the Warrant Agreement, that such holder was entitled to acquire pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement. The parties shall cause the Warrant Agreement to be amended as of immediately prior to the Second Effective Time to the extent necessary to give effect to this Section 3.02(e), with the effect that the Purchaser Warrants outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be exchanged for warrants to purchase New PubCo Common Stock (“New PubCo Warrants”).

Section 3.03 Effect of the Third Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Third Effective Time, by virtue of the Third Merger and without any action of any Party or the holders of any securities of the Company or Wildfire Merger Sub III, the following shall occur:

(a) No later than five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Purchaser an allocation (the “Allocation Schedule”) setting forth: (i) the mailing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses for each Pre-Closing Holder, (ii) the number and class of equity securities or Allocated Omnibus Awards held by each Pre-Closing Holder, (iii) with respect to each Pre-Closing Holder of Company Common Shares (including Company Preferred Shares to be converted into Company Common Shares immediately prior to the Third Effective Time), the aggregate Per Share Common Stock Consideration issuable to such Pre-Closing Holder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (iv) with respect to each Pre-Closing Holder of Company Series C Preferred Shares, the aggregate number of shares of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock issuable to such Pre-Closing Holder and (v) with respect to each Pre-Closing Holder of an Allocated Omnibus Award, the award’s vesting terms and the number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock subject to such New PubCo Award. The Company will review any comments to the Allocation Schedule provided by Purchaser or any of its Representatives and consider in good faith any reasonable comments proposed by Purchaser or any of its Representatives.

 

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(b) Each Company Common Share outstanding immediately prior to the Third Effective Time other than Company Excluded Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Common Stock Consideration; provided, that, any Company Transaction Consideration issued to BAGM Holdings, LLC (“BAGM”) shall further be distributed to the holders of BAGM’s Class D units in accordance with the Limited Liability Company Agreement of BAGM, pursuant to which such portion of the Company Transaction Consideration shall be subject to the same vesting conditions as currently applied to the Class D units of BAGM (such vesting conditions shall be individualized for each holder of BAGM’s Class D units). Each Company Series C Preferred Share outstanding immediately prior to the Third Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive a share of New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock. All such Company Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist.

(c) Each Allocated Omnibus Award (if any) outstanding immediately prior to the Closing shall be converted into a New PubCo Award issued under the Omnibus Incentive Plan and assumed by New PubCo in respect of a number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock equal to (i) the number of Company Common Shares granted pursuant to such Allocated Omnibus Award multiplied by (ii) the Per Share Common Stock Consideration, and which award shall otherwise be subject to the same terms and conditions, including in respect of vesting and expiration as the Allocated Omnibus Award. For the avoidance of doubt, each share of New PubCo Common Stock granted pursuant to such New PubCo Award shall upon grant be deemed to reduce the number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock eligible to be awarded in the future by New PubCo under the Omnibus Incentive Plan.

(d) The limited liability company interests of Wildfire Merger Sub III outstanding immediately prior to the Third Effective Time shall be converted into and become the limited liability company interests of the Third Surviving Company, which shall constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding equity of the Third Surviving Company. From and after the Third Effective Time, the limited liability company interests of the Wildfire Merger Sub III shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of membership interests into which they were converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

Each Company Excluded Share, except as otherwise set forth above, shall be cancelled and no consideration shall be paid or payable with respect thereto.

Section 3.04 Exchange of Certificates.

(a) Prior to the First Effective Time, New PubCo shall designate a bank or trust company selected by Purchaser and reasonably satisfactory to the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (the “Exchange Agent”) for the purpose of issuing shares of New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock and shall enter into an agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company (which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) with the Exchange Agent relating to the services to be performed by the Exchange Agent. New PubCo shall issue and deliver to the Exchange Agent, a number of validly issued,

 

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fully paid and non-assessable shares of New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock equal to the Aggregate Transaction Consideration (such New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Series A Preferred Stock, the “Exchange Fund”). New PubCo shall cause the Exchange Agent, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, to pay the Aggregate Transaction Consideration out of the Exchange Fund as promptly as practicable in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.

(b) Exchange Procedures.

(i) As promptly as practicable after the First Effective Time, New PubCo shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of Company Shares evidenced by certificates (the “Certificates”) or represented by book-entry (the “Book-Entry Shares”) and not held by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) a letter of transmittal, which shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and the Company (the “Letter of Transmittal”) and shall specify (A) to the extent applicable, that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and (B) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, pursuant to the Letter of Transmittal. Within two (2) Business Days (but, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event prior to the Effective Times) after the surrender to the Exchange Agent of all Certificates or Book-Entry Shares held by such holder for cancellation, if applicable, together with a Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefore, and the New PubCo and the Company shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver, the applicable Company Transaction Consideration, and the Certificate and Book-Entry Shares so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.04, each Certificate and each Book-Entry Share shall be deemed at all times after the First Effective Time and the exchange in accordance with Section 3.04(a) to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the applicable portion of the Company Transaction Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive. To the extent requested by the Company, New PubCo shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Company to provide holders of Book-Entry Shares the opportunity to complete and return any Letter of Transmittal and such other documents as may be required by this paragraph prior to the Closing, in order to facilitate prompt delivery of the applicable portion of the Company Transaction Consideration to the holders thereof following the First Effective Time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the issuance of any portion of the Company Transaction Consideration to a Consenting Equityholder shall be expressly conditioned upon such Consenting Equityholder’s delivery of an Accredited Investor Questionnaire completed in the form attached hereto as Exhibit N, indicating that such Consenting Equityholder is an accredited investor.

 

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(ii) With respect to Book-Entry Shares, including Purchaser Ordinary Shares, held through the DTC, New PubCo, Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate to establish procedures with the Exchange Agent and DTC to ensure that the Exchange Agent will transmit to DTC or its nominees as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the Closing Date, upon surrender of Book-Entry Shares held of record by DTC or its nominees in accordance with DTC’s customary surrender procedures, the applicable Purchaser Transaction Consideration.

(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged New PubCo Common Stock. All shares of New PubCo Common Stock to be issued as Company Transaction Consideration shall be deemed issued and outstanding as of the applicable Effective Time; provided, that no dividends or other distributions declared or made after the applicable Effective Time with respect to shares of New PubCo Common Stock with a record date after the applicable Effective Time will be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Share with respect to the shares of New PubCo Common Stock to be issued in exchange therefor until the holder of such Certificate surrenders such Certificate or Book-Entry Share in accordance with Section 3.04(b). Subject to the effect of escheat, Tax or other applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, the holder of the Certificate or Book-Entry Share representing a share of New PubCo Common Stock issued in exchange therefore will be paid, without interest, (i) promptly, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Times and theretofore paid with respect to such share of New PubCo Common Stock, and (ii) at the applicable payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions, with a record date after the applicable Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date occurring after surrender, payable with respect to such share of New PubCo Common Stock.

(d) No Further Rights. The Aggregate Transaction Consideration payable in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid and issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to Purchaser Ordinary Shares and Company Shares that are exchanged for the applicable portion of the Aggregate Transaction Consideration. Upon the First Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company and Purchaser shall be closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Purchaser and the Company, of Purchaser Ordinary Shares and Company Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time.

(e) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the former holders of Company Shares for one (1) year after the First Effective Time shall be delivered to New PubCo, upon demand, and any former holders of Company Shares who have not theretofore complied with this Section 3.04 shall thereafter look only to New PubCo for their respective portion of the Company Transaction Consideration. Any portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by any person as of a date which is immediately prior to such time as such Exchange Fund or amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any government entity shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of New PubCo free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

 

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(f) No Liability. None of the Exchange Agent, Company, Merger Subs, Purchaser, New PubCo, Blocker or Surviving Companies shall be liable to any person for any shares of New PubCo Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or other cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

Section 3.05 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of New PubCo Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of the Purchaser Ordinary Shares or the Company Shares and the number of shares of New PubCo Common Stock to be issued to each holder in respect of the Purchaser Ordinary Shares and the Company Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

Section 3.06 Company Transaction Expenses . No less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver in writing to Purchaser and Blocker a statement setting forth the Company Transaction Expenses.

Section 3.07 Withholding Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Purchaser, the Merger Subs, the Company, the Surviving Companies, Blocker and their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, any amount required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Law; provided, that if the Company or any of its Affiliates, or any party acting on their behalf determines that any payment to the Company hereunder is subject to deduction and/or withholding, then Purchaser shall (i) provide notice to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable after such determination and (ii) cooperate with the Company to reduce or eliminate any such deduction or withholding to the extent permitted by applicable Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Any amounts so withheld shall be timely remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority.

ARTICLE IV

CLOSING TRANSACTIONS

Section 4.01 Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place (a) electronically by the mutual exchange of electronic signatures (including portable document format (.PDF)) commencing as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the third (3rd) Business Day) following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article XII (other than those conditions that by their terms or nature are to be satisfied at the Closing; provided that such conditions are satisfied or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waived at the Closing) or (b) at such other place, time or date as Purchaser and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing shall occur is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

 

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ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY PARTIES

Except as set forth in the Company Schedules to this Agreement (each of which qualifies (a) the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant if specified therein and (b) such other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representation, warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent on its face), each Company Party, as applicable, represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:

Section 5.01 Organization of the Company. The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing and has the requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties, rights and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The copies of the organizational documents of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof, previously made available by the Company to Purchaser (i) are true, correct and complete and (ii) are in full force and effect. The Company has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, operate and lease all of its properties, rights and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of its property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole. Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its organizational documents.

Section 5.02 Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary of the Company as of the date of this Agreement is set forth on Schedule 5.02 of the Company Schedules, which shall include the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and the ownership of equity interests of such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary of the Company has been duly formed or organized, is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has the power and authority to own, operate and lease their properties, rights and assets and to conduct their business as it is now being conducted except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be in good standing or so licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole. Each of Bridger Air Tanker 6, LLC, Bridger Air Tanker 7, LLC and Bridger Air Tanker 8, LLC (“Specified Subs”) has been duly formed or organized and is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each of the Specified Subs has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no assets, Liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to the Municipal Bonds, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.03 Due Authorization. Each Company Party has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement to which it is a party and (subject to the approvals described in Section 5.05) to perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and such Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been authorized by the board of directors, board of managers or equivalent governing body of the applicable Company Party, and no other proceeding on the part of any Company Party party thereto is necessary to authorize this Agreement or such Transaction Agreements. This Agreement has been, and each such Transaction Agreement will (when executed and delivered) be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each Company Party and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes, and each such Transaction Agreement will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Company Party, enforceable against such Company Party in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

Section 5.04 No Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 5.05, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement to which any Company Party is a party by such Company Party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under, the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of any Company Party, including the Company LLC Agreement, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default by any Company Party under, or require any filing, registration or qualification under, any applicable Law, (c) require any consent, waiver or other action by any Person under, violate, or result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration, cancellation, termination or modification of, or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, cancel or modify, any Material Contract or Lease, (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties, rights or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (e) constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, termination, acceleration, modification, cancellation or creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) or (f) result in a violation or revocation of any license, permit or approval from any Governmental Authority or other Person, except for such violations (other than with respect to violations pursuant to subsection (a)), breaches or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole.

Section 5.05 Governmental Authorities; Consents. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of Purchaser and Blocker contained in this Agreement, no action by, consent, waiver, approval, permit or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority (collectively, “Governmental Filings”) is required on the part of any Company Party with respect to such Company Party’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (a) applicable requirements of the HSR Act, (b) any actions, consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations, designations, declarations, filings, or notice, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole, and (c) as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 5.05 of the Company Schedules.

 

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Section 5.06 Current Capitalization.

(a) Schedule 5.06(a) of the Company Schedules sets forth, as of the date hereof, the number and class of issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company, the record and beneficial owners thereof and the number and class of shares held by each such record and beneficial owner. Schedule 5.06(a) also lists with respect to the Company Class D Common Shares, the grant date and the unit hurdle price or amount. The outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, and all requirements set forth in (A) the Company LLC Agreement and (B) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities, (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Company LLC Agreement, or Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound, and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens.

(b) The Company has not granted any outstanding subscriptions, options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for equity interests of the Company, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional equity interests or registration rights with respect to any equity interests, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests or rights of the Company or the value of which is determined by reference to equity interests of the Company, and the Company is not a party to any voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind that may obligate the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests of the Company.

Section 5.07 Capitalization of Subsidiaries. The outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each of the Subsidiaries of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. All of the outstanding ownership interests in each of the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens (other than the restrictions under applicable Securities Laws and Liens securing obligations under any Company Financing Agreement) and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such ownership interests) and have not been issued in violation of preemptive or similar rights. There are no outstanding (a) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, (b) obligations, options, warrants or other rights, commitments or arrangements to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or other obligations or commitments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, sell or otherwise transfer, any ownership interests in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company or (c) restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company (the

 

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items in clauses (a)-(c), in addition to all ownership interests of the Subsidiaries of the Company, being referred to collectively as the “Company Subsidiary Securities”). There are no (i) voting trusts, proxies, equityholders agreements or other similar agreements or understandings to which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which any Subsidiary of the Company is bound with respect to the voting or transfer of any shares of capital stock of such Subsidiary, or (ii) obligations or commitments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of the Company Subsidiary Securities or make payments in respect of such shares, including based on the value thereof, or to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any other Person. Except for the Company Subsidiary Securities, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any equity, ownership, profit, voting or similar interest in or any interest convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity, profit, voting or similar interest in, any Person. No shares of capital stock are held in treasury by any Subsidiary of the Company.

Section 5.08 Financial Statements.

(a) Attached as Schedule 5.08 of the Company Schedules are true, accurate and complete copies of (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, and the related audited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods then ended, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (the “Audited Financial Statements”) and (b) the unaudited consolidated condensed balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at March 31, 2022 and the related unaudited consolidated condensed statement of income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 (the “Interim Financial Statements” and, together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”).

(b) The Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof (taking into account the notes thereto), and the results of its operations, income, losses, changes in stockholders’ equity deficit (with respect to the Audited Financial Statements only) and cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were or will be prepared in conformity, and in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, for the absence of footnotes or the inclusion of limited footnotes), (iii) were prepared from, and are in accordance with and accurately reflect in all material respects, the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (iv) when delivered by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement for filing with the SEC will comply with the applicable accounting requirements (including the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant, in effect as of the respective dates thereof.

 

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(c) Since January 1, 2020, neither the Company (including, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee thereof) nor any independent auditor of the Company has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or system of internal accounting controls utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company or its Subsidiaries or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing. Since January 1, 2020, there have been no internal investigations regarding accounting or revenue recognition discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or the board of managers of the Company.

(d) The Company qualifies as a “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of Item 10(f) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

(e) All financial projections with respect to the Company that were delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser or its Representatives were prepared in good faith using assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable.

Section 5.09 Undisclosed Liabilities. Since December 31, 2021, except as set forth on Schedule 5.09 of the Company Schedules, there is no other material liability, debt (including Indebtedness) or obligation of, or claim or judgment against, the Company or its Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due) required to be reflected or reserved for on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities, debts, obligations, claims or judgments (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, (b) that have arisen in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements, or (c) arising under this Agreement and/or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

Section 5.10 Litigation and Proceedings. Except for Actions under any Tax Law (as to which certain representations and warranties are made pursuant to Section 5.15) and Actions under any Environmental Law (as to which certain representations and warranties are made pursuant to Section 5.21(b)), there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing Actions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any investigations or inquiries initiated, pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority, or other proceedings at law or in equity) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, rights or assets, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole. There is no Governmental Order imposed upon or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing Actions against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, rights or assets, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole. There is no unsatisfied judgment or any open injunction binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole.

 

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Section 5.11 Compliance with Laws.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 of the Company Schedules, the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2020 have been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Governmental Orders. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold, and since January 1, 2020 have held, all material certifications, licenses, approvals, consents, registrations, franchises and permits (the “Permits”) necessary for the lawful conduct of the business. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 of the Company Schedules, from January 1, 2020, (a) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any violations of applicable Laws, Governmental Orders or Permits and (b) to the knowledge of the Company, no assertion or Action of any violation of any Law, Governmental Order or Permit by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 of the Company Schedules, no investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened and no such investigations have been conducted by any Governmental Authority since January 1, 2020. This section shall not pertain to compliance with any Environmental Law (as to which certain representations and warranties are made pursuant to Section 5.22).

(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries currently comply with and have, since January 1, 2020, complied with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Since January 1, 2020, (i) there has been no action taken by the Company, its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their officers, directors, managers, employees, consultants or agents, in each case, acting on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law, (ii) neither Company nor its Subsidiaries has been convicted of violating any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws or subjected to any investigation by a Governmental Authority for a violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (iii) neither Company nor its Subsidiaries has conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a voluntary, directed, or involuntary disclosure to any Governmental Authority regarding any alleged act or omission arising under or relating to any noncompliance with any Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law and (iv) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or citation, or to the knowledge of the Company, any non-written notice, from a Governmental Authority for any actual or potential noncompliance with any applicable Anti-Corruption Law or Anti-Money Laundering Law.

(c) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective officers, directors, managers, or employees, consultants or agents, (i) is a Person with whom transactions are prohibited or limited under any Laws relating to economic sanctions, including those administered by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Department of State, or the Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, or the European Union, (ii) since January 1, 2020, has knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that, at the time of the dealing or transaction, is or was the subject or the target of broad territorial sanctions, including the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or Syria, or (iii) has violated any Laws relating to economic sanctions since January 1, 2020.

 

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Section 5.12 Contracts; No Defaults.

(a) Schedule 5.12(a) of the Company Schedules contains a true and complete listing of all Contracts (other than purchase orders) described in clauses (i) through (xvii) of this Section 5.12(a) to which, as of the date of this Agreement, Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (together with all material amendments, waivers or other changes thereto) (collectively and together with all Personnel IP Contracts, the “Material Contracts”). True, correct and complete copies of the Material Contracts have been delivered to or made available to Purchaser (other than executed Personnel IP Contracts on the form of Personnel IP Contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made available to Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement).

(i) Contracts creating or imposing a Liability greater than $500,000;

(ii) Contracts imposing a Liability greater than $100,000 that may not be cancelled by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, on less than sixty (60) days’ prior notice without payment of a material penalty or termination fee;

(iii) Each note, debenture, other evidence of Indebtedness, guarantee, loan, pledge, credit or financing agreement or instrument or other Contract for money borrowed by the Company Parties or any of the Company Party’s agreements or commitments for future loans, credit or financing or pursuant to which a Lien has been placed on any material on any material asset of the Company Parties, including Company Financing Agreements;

(iv) Each Contract that is a definitive purchase and sale or similar agreement for the acquisition of any Person or any business unit thereof or the disposition of any material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2019, in each case, involving payments in excess of $3,000,000;

(v) The Leases, and each other lease, rental or occupancy agreement, installment and conditional sale agreement and each other Contract with outstanding obligations that (x) provides for the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property and (y) involves aggregate payments in excess of $100,000 in any calendar year, other than sales or purchase agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and sales of obsolete equipment;

(vi) Each Contract related to the formation, governance or operation of a joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement or the sharing of profits or revenues therefrom or pursuant to which a Company Party has an ownership interest in any other Person;

 

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(vii) Each Contract requiring capital expenditures after the date of this Agreement in an amount in excess of $500,000;

(viii) Contracts prohibiting, preventing, restricting or impairing in any material respect any business practice of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as their respective businesses are currently conducted, any acquisition of material property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in business as currently conducted by it or compete with any other Person;

(ix) Contracts pursuant to which (A) any Person grants to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any license, sublicense, right, option, permission, consent or non-assertion under or with respect to any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company or such Subsidiary (other than licenses granted by any Person to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for (1) off-the-shelf Software that is generally commercially available to the public on standard, non-negotiated terms for a one-time or annual fee (whichever is higher) of no more than $50,000 or (2) Open Source Software) or (B) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries grants to any Person any license, sublicense, right, option, permission, consent or non-assertion under or with respect to any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company or such Subsidiary;

(x) Contracts providing for the invention, creation, conception or other development of any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any Person, (B) by any Person for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Personnel IP Contracts) or (C) jointly by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Person;

(xi) Contracts providing for the assignment or transfer of any ownership interest in any Intellectual Property material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person or (B) any Person to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Personnel IP Contracts);

(xii) Contracts (other than any Company Benefit Plan, Personnel IP Contracts, employment offer letters or employment agreements) between the Company, on the one hand, and Affiliates of the Company (other than the Company), the officers and managers (or equivalents) of the Company, or the equityholders of the Company, any employees of the Company or a member of the immediate family of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand;

(xiii) Contracts that provide for the employment or engagement of any individual on a full-time, part-time, consulting or other basis providing annual base compensation in excess of $200,000;

 

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(xiv) Contracts with any employee or consultant of the Company that provides for change in control, retention or similar payments or benefits contingent upon, accelerated by or triggered by the consummation of the Transactions;

(xv) Any Contract that (A) grants to any third Person any “most favored nation rights”, rights of first refusal or other similar provisions with respect to any transaction engaged by the Company (B) grants to any third Person price guarantees or (C) grants to any Person (other than the Company) a right of first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire equity interests in, or lease, purchase or acquirer any material properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(xvi) Government Contracts; and

(xvii) Any commitment to enter into agreement of the type described in clauses (i) through (xvi) of this Section 5.12(a).

(b) Except for any Contract that has terminated or will terminate upon the expiration of the stated term thereof prior to the Closing Date, as of the date of this Agreement, all of the Contracts listed pursuant to Section 5.12(a) are (i) in full force and effect and (ii) represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the other parties thereto, in each case, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. As of the date of this Agreement, except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as whole, (w) none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is or is alleged to be in breach of or default under any such Contract, (x) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim or notice of breach of or default under any such Contract, (y) to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default under any such Contract (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both) and (z) no party to any such Contract that is a customer of or supplier to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, within the past 12 months, canceled or terminated its business with, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing to cancel, terminate, limit or adversely modify its business with, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has any such Person as of the date of this Agreement otherwise been involved in or threatening a dispute against the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses.

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) none of the Company or any of its officers, directors or key employees has been debarred or suspended from, or declared ineligible for, government procurement pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Subpart 9.4, or any comparable state or local Laws and, to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that could give rise to debarment, suspension, or a declaration that the Company or any of its officers, directors or key employees are ineligible for government procurement; (ii) the Company is, and for the past five (5) years has been, in compliance

 

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with the terms of such Government Contracts, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”), and all Laws applicable to government procurement; (iii) the Company is not, and has not been, in default under a Government Contract, and no Government Contract has been terminated for cause; (iv) the Company is not the subject of any pending claim pursuant to the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq.) and, to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim under the False Claims Act or any comparable state or local Laws against the Company; (v) all invoices and claims for payment, reimbursement or adjustment submitted by the Company in connection with a Government Contract were correct as of their respective submission dates; (vi) the Company does not hold a facility security clearance, has not held any classified Government Contracts, and is not otherwise subject to the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (Department of Defense Instruction 5520.22-M); (vii) the Company has not held any Government Contract that includes requirements for safeguarding covered defense information or clause 48 CFR 252.204-7012 requirements for cyber incident reporting; and (viii) the Company has complied, and is compliant, with the terms of FAR 52.204-24, -25, and -26, relating to covered telecommunications equipment and video surveillance equipment.

Section 5.13 Company Benefit Plans.

(a) Schedule 5.13(a) of the Company Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of each material Company Benefit Plan. For purposes hereof, “Company Benefit Plan” means, each “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and each stock purchase, stock option, severance, employment, individual consulting, retention, change-in-control, fringe benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, under which (i) any current or former employee, officer, director or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which are contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Company Benefit Plan” shall not include any plan, program, policy or arrangement that is maintained by a Governmental Authority.

(b) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, the Company has delivered or made available to Purchaser copies of (i) each Company Benefit Plan and any trust agreement or other funding instrument relating to such plan, (ii) the most recent summary plan description, if any, required under ERISA with respect to such Company Benefit Plan, (iii) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 and all attachments with respect to such Company Benefit Plan (if applicable), (iv) the most recent actuarial valuation (if applicable) relating to such Company Benefit Plan, and (v) the most recent determination or opinion letter, if any, issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any Company Benefit Plan.

 

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(c) Each Company Benefit Plan has been administered in material compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code. Except as would not be reasonably expected to result in material liability to Purchaser, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) all contributions required to be made with respect to any Company Benefit Plan on or before the date hereof have been made and all obligations in respect of each Company Benefit Plan as of the date hereof have been accrued and reflected in the Company’s financial statements to the extent required by GAAP, (ii) each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (A) has received a favorable determination or opinion letter as to its qualification or (B) has been established under a standardized master and prototype or volume submitter plan for which a current favorable Internal Revenue Service advisory letter or opinion letter has been obtained by the plan sponsor and is valid as to the adopting employer, and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any current or projected liability in respect of post-employment or post-retirement health, medical or life insurance benefits for current, former or retired employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as required to avoid an excise tax under Section 4980B of the Code or otherwise except as may be required pursuant to any other applicable Law.

(e) No Company Benefit Plan is: (i) a “defined benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, or a plan that is or was, within the last six (6) years, subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code; (ii) a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA; (iii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 210 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code; or (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, or is reasonably expected to have, any current or contingent liability or obligation under Title IV of ERISA or with respect to a plan subject to Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, including on account of any ERISA Affiliate.

(f) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation of the Mergers will (whether alone or in connection with any subsequent event(s)) (i) result in the acceleration, vesting or creation of any rights of any director, officer or employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries to payments or benefits or increases in any payments or benefits or any loan forgiveness under any Company Benefit Plan or (ii) result in severance pay or any increase in severance pay upon any termination of employment of any Company Employee.

(g) No amount or benefit that could be, or has been, received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property or the cancellation of Indebtedness) by any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiary of who is a “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code could reasonably be expected to be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code) as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.14 Labor Matters.

(a) Schedule 5.14(a) of the Company Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all (i) employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company Employees”), and (ii) independent contractors (other than those employed or retained by third-party corporate entities) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, showing date of hire, hourly rate or salary or consulting fees or incentive compensation, including annual bonus target, full-time or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status (if applicable), and type of service performed. To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, no director, officer, or key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiary intends to terminate his or her employment relationship.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor organization, and there are no labor or collective bargaining agreements, labor contracts, neutrality agreements, memorandums of understanding, or other written agreements or arrangements with any labor union that pertain to any Company Employees or group of Company Employees. None of the Company Employees are represented by any union, labor organization or works council with respect to their employment with the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no union, labor organization, or group of Company Employees that has made a pending demand for recognition, and there are no representation proceedings or petitions presently pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or other labor relations tribunal. There is no organizing activity involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by any union, labor organization, or group of Company Employees.

(c) There has been no labor dispute or strike, material slowdown, material concerted refusal to work overtime, material work stoppage against the Company, picketing sessions, or lockout or arbitration threatened against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Employee. There are no unfair labor practice charges, grievances or complaints pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or on behalf of any Company Employee or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) There are no complaints, charges or claims against the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to knowledge of the Company, threatened that could be brought or filed with any Governmental Authority, based on, arising out of, in connection with or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment or failure to employ any individual by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) No judgment, consent decree, or arbitration award imposes material continuing remedial obligations that materially limits or affects the Company and its Subsidiaries’ ability to manage its employees, service providers, or job applicants.

 

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(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and for the past five (5) years, have (i) been in compliance in all material respects with all Laws relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, immigration, wages, hours and benefits (including minimum wage and overtime), child labor, discrimination, withholdings and deductions, classification and payment of employees, independent contractors, and consultants, employment equity, and workers compensation, (ii) been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and comparable regulations and orders thereunder and (iii) not engaged in any unlawful labor practice. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability arising from the failure to pay wages (including overtime wages), the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, or the misclassification of employees as exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act or similar state Laws.

(g) Within the past six (6) months, (i) there have been no “mass layoff” or “plant closing” (as defined by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (“WARN Act”) or similar state or local laws) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been affected by any transaction that would trigger application of the WARN Act or similar state or local laws; and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in layoffs or employment terminations sufficient in number to trigger application of the WARN Act or similar state or local laws.

(h) To the knowledge of the Company, the current employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who work in the United States are authorized and have appropriate documentation to work in the United States. The Company and its Subsidiaries have never been notified of any investigation by any branch or department of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), or other federal agency charged with administration and enforcement of federal immigration laws concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have never received any “no match” notices from ICE, the Social Security Administration, or the IRS.

(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions that are reasonably calculated to prevent discrimination and harassment. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability arising from such allegations.

(j) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement do not require the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries to seek or obtain any consent, engage in consultation with, or issue any notice to or make any filing with (as applicable) any unions or labor organizations with respect to any Company Employee.

Section 5.15 Taxes.

(a) All material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by the Company or its Subsidiaries have been filed within the applicable time limits, taking into account any valid extensions obtained in the ordinary course of business, and those Tax Returns were, and remain, true, correct, and complete in all material respects.

 

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(b) All material Taxes due and owing by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been paid within applicable time limits other than Taxes which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP and since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Interim Financial Statements neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have incurred any material Tax liability outside the ordinary course of business.

(c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has (i) withheld all material amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld by it in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or any other third party, (ii) remitted, or will remit on a timely basis and within applicable time limits, such amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (iii) complied in all material respects with applicable Law with respect to Tax withholding.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any Action with respect to Taxes. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a dispute, assessment, or claim with respect to Taxes, other than disputes or claims that have since been resolved, and to the knowledge of the Company, no such claims have been communicated in writing. No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file a Tax Return that such entity is or may be subject to Taxes by that jurisdiction in respect of Taxes that would be the subject of such Tax Return, which claim has not been resolved.

(e) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no written request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(g) There are no Liens with respect to Taxes on any of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than Permitted Liens.

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor or (iii) by Contract (except, in each case, for Liabilities pursuant to commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, or has any obligation to any Governmental Authority or other Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) under any Tax allocation, Tax sharing or Tax indemnification agreement (except, in each case, for any such agreements that are commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

 

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(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken, permitted or agreed to take any action, and does not intend to or plan to take any action, or has any knowledge of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment (with the exception of any actions specifically contemplated by this Agreement, and limited, in the case of the Second Merger, to matters relating to qualification under Section 351 of the Code).

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (A) change in method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or similar provision of Law), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (B) “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or similar provision of Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (C) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (D) advance payments, prepaid or deferred amounts received outside of the ordinary course of business on or prior to the Closing Date.

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates has (A) obtained a Paycheck Protection Program Loan pursuant to Section 1102 of the CARES Act, (B) applied for loan forgiveness pursuant to Section 1106 of the CARES Act, (C) deferred payment of the employer portion of FICA and Medicare Tax pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act, or (D) claimed the employee retention credit pursuant to Section 2301 of the CARES Act.

(m) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and has always been resident only in its jurisdiction of incorporation for Tax purposes and is not and has not been, treated as having a permanent establishment, branch or taxable presence for Tax purposes in any jurisdiction other than in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

(n) The Company has made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the income Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since its formation in 2018.

(o) The Company is, and at all times since its formation has been, properly treated as a partnership or a disregarded entity for Tax purposes. Each of the Subsidiaries of the Company is, and at all times since formation has been, properly treated as an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3) and for applicable state and local income Tax purposes.

(p) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable transfer pricing rules described in Section 482 of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law.

 

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(q) The Company has in effect a valid election under Section 754 of the Code.

For purposes of this Section 5.15, any reference to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to include any Person that merged with, was liquidated or converted into or is otherwise a predecessor to for Tax purposes, the Company or any of its Subsidiary, as applicable.

Section 5.16 Insurance. True, correct and complete copies of all material policies (or, to the extent that policies are not available, binders) of property, fire and casualty, vehicle, product liability, workers’ compensation, and all other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of, the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Policies”) as of the date of this Agreement have previously been made available to Purchaser. As of the date of this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole, (a) all of the Policies are in full force and effect and all premiums due have been paid and (b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received a written notice of cancellation of any of the Policies or of any material changes that are required in the conduct of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries as a condition to the continuation of coverage under, or renewal of, any of the Policies.

Section 5.17 Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, and since January 1, 2020, have had, all material Permits that are required to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business. The Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained all of the material Permits necessary under applicable Laws to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to own, operate, use and maintain their assets and maintained and to conduct the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each material Permit held by the Company is, and since January 1, 2020, has been, in full force and effect. The Company (a) is not in default or violation in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any material Permit to which it is a party, (b) is not or has not been the subject of any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened Action by a Governmental Authority seeking the revocation, suspension, termination, modification, or impairment of any material Permit, and (c) has not received any notice that any Governmental Authority that has issued any material Permit intends to cancel, terminate, or not renew any such material Permit, except to the extent such material Permit may be amended, replaced, or reissued as a result of and as necessary to reflect the Transactions, provided such amendment, replacement, or reissuance does not materially adversely affect the continuous conduct of the business of the Company as currently conducted from and after Closing. Schedule 5.17 of the Company Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list of Permits necessary for the operation of the business as currently conducted held by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 5.18 Real Property.

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiary owns any real property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiary is party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property interest therein. Schedule 5.18(a) of the Company Schedules contains (x) a true, correct and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all Leased Real Property (inclusive of ground leases) including, the address of each Leased Real Property, and (y) all subleases, licenses or rights to use or occupy any Leased Real Property or any portion thereof provided by the Company Parties to a third party. The Company has

 

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made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the material Contracts pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries occupy (or have been granted an option to occupy) the Leased Real Property or is otherwise a party with respect to the Leased Real Property, including all amendments, modifications, renewals and supplements thereto (the “Leases”). Except for Enforceability Exceptions, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has a valid and subsisting leasehold estate in, and enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession of, all Leased Real Property, subject only to Permitted Liens. With respect to each Lease and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole, (i) such Lease is valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect against the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other party thereto, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, (ii) neither the Company nor one of its Subsidiaries has received or given any written notice of default or breach under any of the Leases, (iii) there does not exist under any Lease any event or condition (individually or in the aggregate) which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, the other party thereto, (iv) there are no use restrictions under any Leases or any zoning or other rules or regulations issued by any government or quasi-governmental authority that limits or restricts the operation of the business of any Company Parties as currently operated, and (v) no buildings, structures, and improvements on the Leased Real Property existing as of the Closing Date encroach upon any real property of, or easement held by, any other Person, nor are there any buildings, structures, and nor improvements encroaching upon the Leased Real Property.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in the Leased Real Property or any interest therein which is still in effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material default or violation of, or not in compliance with, any legal requirements applicable to its occupancy of the Leased Real Property, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole.

Section 5.19 Equipment and Other Tangible Property. The Company owns or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use by valid license or otherwise, all material machinery, equipment and other tangible property (the “Tangible Company Property”) reflected on the books of the Company as owned or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. All Tangible Company Property are structurally sound, free of engineering defects and in reasonably good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear expected) and are suitable for their present use. There has not been any material interruption of the business of the Company due to any defects, maintenance or obsolescence of the Tangible Company Property.

Section 5.20 Intellectual Property and IT Security.

(a) Schedule 5.20(a) of the Company Schedules sets forth a true and correct list of all Registered Intellectual Property, including, for each such item, the record owner (and, if different, the beneficial owner), the jurisdiction of issuance, registration or application, and the issuance, registration or application number and date. All Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting and unexpired, and all issuances and registrations included in the Registered Intellectual Property are valid and enforceable.

 

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(b) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to all Owned Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has a valid right to use, practice, license or otherwise exploit all other Intellectual Property as currently used, practiced, licensed or otherwise exploited by the Company and such Subsidiary of the Company (the “Licensed Intellectual Property”), free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). The Owned Intellectual Property and the Licensed Intellectual Property constitute all of the Intellectual Property used or practiced in, held for use or practice in or necessary and sufficient for the operation of the respective businesses of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries.

(c) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Owned Intellectual Property, the conduct or operations of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the products or services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the making, use, offer for sale, sale, importation, exportation, distribution, performance or other disposal or exploitation of any products or services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) has in the past five (5) years infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or does infringe, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate, any Intellectual Property of any Person. There is no Action pending or threatened in writing, or, to the knowledge of the Company, otherwise threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and, in the three (3) year period prior to the date of this Agreement, no Person has asserted any claim in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, otherwise against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, (i) challenging or contesting the use, validity, enforceability or ownership of any of the Company Intellectual Property (other than office actions received from any Governmental Authority in the normal course of prosecuting applications for issuance or registration of any Intellectual Property) or (ii) alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Intellectual Property of any Person (including any unsolicited offer to license any patents that could be reasonably construed as a claim of infringement of such patents). To the knowledge of the Company, no Owned Intellectual Property has in the past three (3) years been or is being infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated by any third Person.

(d) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken and take commercially reasonable actions and measures to preserve, protect and maintain (i) the ownership by the Company or its Subsidiaries of the Owned Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) all material Trade Secrets included in the Owned Intellectual Property and (iii) all Trade Secrets owned by any Person with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a confidentiality obligation. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has authorized the disclosure of any material Trade Secret included in the Owned Intellectual Property, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no material Trade Secret included in the Owned Intellectual Property has been actually disclosed, to any Person other than pursuant to a written confidentiality Contract restricting the disclosure and use thereof.

 

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(e) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have entered into valid and enforceable written Contracts with all past and current employees, contractors and consultants who or that have been employed, engaged or otherwise retained at any time by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and who or that have contributed to the discovery, conception, development, creation, or reduction to practice of any material Intellectual Property for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, pursuant to which each such Person has: (i) effectively and validly assigned to the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to all such Intellectual Property (except where such right, title and interest is owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries upon its creation by operation of law); and (ii) agreed to hold all Trade Secrets of the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company in confidence (collectively, the “Personnel IP Contracts”).

(f) No funding, facilities or personnel of any Governmental Authority or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution has been used to create, develop or conceive any Owned Intellectual Property or is being used to create, develop or conceive any Intellectual Property for, on behalf of or in collaboration with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(g) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken and take commercially reasonable steps to protect and maintain the performance, confidentiality, and security of all IT Systems (and all Software, information and data stored or contained therein or transmitted thereby). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, or has a valid right to access and use, all IT Systems used in the respective businesses of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. The IT Systems are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the respective businesses of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in all material respects. The IT Systems do not contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bugs, faults or other devices, errors, contaminants or effects (as such terms are commonly understood in the software industry) that (i) materially disrupt or adversely affect the functionality of any IT Systems or (ii) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization any IT Systems where such unauthorized access would have a material adverse impact on the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there have been no security breaches or unauthorized use, access or intrusions of any IT Systems that have had a material adverse impact on the business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(h) No Open Source Software is or has been included, incorporated or embedded in, linked to, combined or distributed with or used in the delivery or provision of any Company Software, in each case, in a manner that subjects any Company Software to any Copyleft License. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied and do comply with all material license terms applicable to any Open Source Software that is or has been included, incorporated or embedded in, linked to, combined or distributed with, or used in the delivery or provision of any Company Software.

 

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(i) None of the source code or related source materials for any Company Software has been licensed, provided or made available to, or used or accessed by, any Person other than employees, consultants or contractors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who have entered into written confidentiality Contracts with respect to such source code or related source materials. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any source code escrow Contract or any other Contract (or a party to any Contract obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into a source code escrow Contract or other Contract) requiring the deposit of any source code or related source materials for any Company Software.

(j) The Company Software is free from any defect, bug, virus, design or documentation error or corruptant that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the operation or use of any Company Software. None of the Company Software: (i) constitutes, contains or is considered spyware or trackware (as such terms are commonly understood in the software industry); (ii) records a user’s actions without such user’s knowledge (and, where a user’s consent is required pursuant to applicable Law, without such user’s consent); (iii) gathers or transmits information regarding a user or a user’s behavior, in each case, without such user’s knowledge (and, where a user’s consent is required pursuant to applicable Law, without such user’s consent); or (iv) contains any code designed or intended to damage or destroy any data or file without the user’s knowledge (and, where a user’s consent is required pursuant to applicable Law, without such user’s consent).

(k) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not result in: (i) the loss or impairment of, or any Lien on, any material Company Intellectual Property; (ii) the grant, assignment or transfer to any other Person of any license or other right or interest in, to or under, or covenant not to assert with respect to, any Owned Intellectual Property; (iii) the payment of any additional consideration to, or the reduction of any payments from, any Person with respect to any Company Intellectual Property; or (iv) the breach of, or the right of any Person to terminate or modify, any Contract relating to any material Company Intellectual Property.

Section 5.21 Data Privacy.

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Personal Information have, since January 1, 2019, materially complied with all Privacy Requirements. None of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ privacy policies or notices issued since January 1, 2019 have contained any material omissions or been misleading or deceptive. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have, since January 1, 2019, received any written notice (including written notice from third parties acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of any claims, charges, investigations, or regulatory inquiries related to or alleging the violation of any Privacy Requirements. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that could reasonably form the basis of any such claim, charge, investigation, or regulatory inquiry.

 

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(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) implemented and since January 1, 2019 have maintained reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational safeguards, at least consistent with practices in the industry in which the Company and any of its Subsidiaries respectively operate, to protect Personal Information and other confidential data in its possession or under its control against loss, theft, misuse or unauthorized access, use, modification, alteration, destruction or disclosure, and (ii) taken reasonable steps to ensure that any third party with access to Personal Information collected by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintained the same. To the knowledge of the Company, any third party who has provided Personal Information to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, since January 1, 2019, done so in compliance with applicable Privacy Laws, including providing any notice and obtaining any consent required. Since January 1, 2019, there have been no material breaches, security incidents, misuse of or unauthorized access to or disclosure of any Personal Information in the possession or control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or collected, used or processed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have provided or been legally required to provide any notice to any Person in connection with a disclosure of Personal Information. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are subject to any contractual requirements or other legal obligations that, following the Closing, would prohibit the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from receiving, accessing, storing or using any Personal Information in the manner in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries received, accessed, stored and used such Personal Information prior to the Closing. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not violate any applicable Privacy Requirements.

Section 5.22 Environmental Matters. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company Parties, taken as a whole:

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2020 have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all Permits required under Environmental Laws for the conduct of their respective businesses;

(b) There are no Actions pending against or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries alleging any violations of or liability under any Environmental Law or any violations or liability concerning any Release of Hazardous Materials;

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person, has Released any Hazardous Materials at any Leased Real Property or any real property formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in an obligation for investigation, cleanup or remedial action by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law;

(d) To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have Released per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during its firefighting operations in a manner that could reasonably be expected to result in an obligation for investigation, cleanup or remedial action by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Law;

 

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(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries have made available to Purchaser any and all material environmental site assessments, studies, compliance audits, and other material environmental reports with respect to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, any Leased Real Property and any real estate formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in their possession; and

(f) The representations and warranties made in Section 5.08 (Financial Statements), Section 5.09 (Undisclosed Liabilities), this Section 5.22 (Environmental Matters) and Section 5.23 (Absence of Changes) are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company Parties with respect to Environmental Laws and Hazardous Materials in this Agreement.

Section 5.23 Absence of Changes.

(a) Since December 31, 2021, no Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

(b) Since December 31, 2021, except (i) as set forth on Schedule 5.23(b) of the Company Schedules and (ii) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Agreement, through and including the date of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries have carried on their respective businesses and operated their properties in all material respects in the ordinary course of business.

(c) Since December 31, 2021, except (i) as set forth on Schedule 5.23(c) of the Company Schedules and (ii) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or permitted to occur any action that, were it to be taken from and after the date hereof, would require the prior written consent of Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.01.

Section 5.24 Brokers Fees. Except for fees described on Schedule 5.24 of the Company Schedules, no broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other similar fee, commission or other similar payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates.

Section 5.25 Related Party Transactions. Except for the Contracts set forth on Schedule 5.25 of the Company Schedules, there are no Contracts between Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate, officer or director of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate of any of them, on the other hand, except in each case, for (a) employment agreements, fringe benefits and other compensation paid to directors, officers and employees consistent with previously established policies, (b) reimbursements of expenses incurred in connection with their employment or service (excluding from clause (a) and this clause (b), and therefore expressly included in the definition of “Related Party Contracts,” any loans made by the Company or its Subsidiaries to any officer, director, employee, member, stockholder, or equityholder and all related arrangements, including any pledge arrangements) and (c) amounts paid pursuant to the Company Benefit Plans (the “Related Party Contracts”).

 

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Section 5.26 Customers and Vendors. Schedule 5.26 of the Company Schedules sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the top 10 customers of the Company; and the top 10 vendors of the Company, in each case, based on the aggregate Dollar value of the Company’s transaction volume with such counterparty during the trailing twelve (12) months for the period ending December 31, 2021 (each group of Persons, respectively, the “Top Customers” and “Top Vendors”).

Section 5.27 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company specifically in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement will, (a) when the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement are first filed, (b) on the effective date of the Registration Statement, (c) on the date when the Proxy Statement is mailed to the Purchaser’s shareholders and (d) at the time of the Purchaser’s Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

Section 5.28 FAA Certificate Matters.

(a) Part 135 Certificate is current, valid, and in good standing. Neither the Company nor any Company Party is a party to or the subject of an FAA legal enforcement action that, if decided against the Company or any Company Party, could result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 135 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 135 Certificate. To the knowledge of the Company, no investigation of any actual or alleged violation of any FAA regulations is currently being conducted by the FAA that could ultimately result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 135 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 135 Certificate.

(b) Part 137 Certificate is current, valid, and in good standing. Neither the Company nor any Company Party is a party to or the subject of an FAA legal enforcement action that, if decided against the Company or any Company Party, could result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 137 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 137 Certificate. To the knowledge of the Company, no investigation of any actual or alleged violation of any FAA regulations is currently being conducted by the FAA that could ultimately result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 137 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 137 Certificate.

(c) Part 145 Certificate is current, valid, and in good standing. Neither the Company nor any Company Party is a party to or the subject of an FAA legal enforcement action that, if decided against the Company or any Company Party, could result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 145 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 145 Certificate. To the knowledge of the Company, no investigation of any actual or alleged violation of any FAA regulations is currently being conducted by the FAA that could ultimately result in a modification, suspension or revocation of Part 145 Certificate; or a civil penalty being assessed against the holder of Part 145 Certificate.

 

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Section 5.29 Aircraft Matters.

(a) A list of all Aircraft Objects owned, leased and/or operated by all Company Parties is attached hereto as Schedule 5.29(a) of the Company Schedules; and the make, model, and serial number of each such Aircraft Object is set forth in Schedule 5.29(a) of the Company Schedules.

(b) With respect to each Aircraft Object owned by any Company Party, (i) a bill of sale in favor of such Company Party has been filed in the records of the FAA Civil Aviation Registry; (ii) to the extent such Aircraft Object qualifies for registration, a Contract of Sale in favor of such Company Party has been registered with the International Registry, and (iii) such Company Party holds good and marketable title to such Aircraft Object free and clear of any and all Liens except as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 5.29(b) of the Company Schedules, and Company will warrant and defend such title against all claims and demands whatsoever.

(c) With respect to each Aircraft Object leased by any Company Party, a summary of the terms of, and the identities of the parties to, such lease is set forth in Schedule 5.29(c) of the Company Schedules. Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.29(c) of the Company Schedules, (i) each lease identified in Schedule 5.29(c) of the Company Schedules is in full force and effect, (ii) no breach or default under any such lease has occurred and is continuing, and (iii) to the knowledge of each Company Party, no event which with the giving of notice or passing of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any such lease has occurred.

(d) Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.29(d) of the Company Schedules, (i) each Aircraft owned, leased and/or operated by any Company Party is duly registered with the FAA Civil Aviation Registry; (ii) an Aircraft Registration Certificate has been issued by the FAA Civil Aviation Registry for each such Aircraft; (iii) each such Aircraft Registration Certificate is current and valid; (iv) the expiration date for each Aircraft Registration Certificate is accurate stated on Schedule 5.29(d) of the Company Schedules; (v) on the Closing Date, each Aircraft Registration Certificate shall have not less than three (3) months remaining before the expiration date of such Aircraft Registration Certificate; and (vi) the Aircraft Registration Certificate issued for each such Aircraft is on-board the Aircraft for which such Aircraft Registration Certificate was issued.

(e) Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.29(e) of the Company Schedules, (i) the FAA has issued an Airworthiness Certificate for each Aircraft owned, leased and/or operated by any Company Party; (ii) each such Airworthiness Certificate is current and valid; (iii) the Airworthiness Certificate issued for each such Aircraft is on-board the Aircraft for which such Airworthiness Certificate was issued; (iv) each such Aircraft is airworthy, with all systems and installed equipment functioning normally and

 

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operating in a manner that is consistent with the manufacturer’s specifications; (v) each such Aircraft is current on all manufacturers’ recommended maintenance and inspection schedules and programs (including all calendar, cycle and hourly inspections), with no extensions or deferrals; and (vi) each such Aircraft is in compliance with all applicable FAA airworthiness directives and applicable mandatory or alert service bulletins, orders or other notifications.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER PARTIES

Except as set forth in the Purchaser Schedules to this Agreement (each of which qualifies (a) the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant if specified therein and (b) such other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representation, warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent) or in the SEC Reports filed or furnished by Purchaser prior to the date hereof (excluding (x) any disclosures in such SEC Reports under the headings “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements” or “Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and other disclosures that are predictive, cautionary or forward looking in nature and (y) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto), Purchaser Parties represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

Section 6.01 Corporate Organization. Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The copies of the organizational documents of Purchaser previously delivered by Purchaser to the Company are true, correct and complete and are in effect as of the date of this Agreement. Purchaser is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with all restrictions, covenants, terms and provisions set forth in its organizational documents. Purchaser is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified has not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 6.02 Subsidiaries. Each of the Merger Subs and New PubCo has been duly formed or organized, is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each of the Merger Subs and New PubCo was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has no assets, Liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and any Transaction Agreement to which it is a party, as applicable, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Transaction Agreements, as applicable.

 

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Section 6.03 Due Authorization.

(a) Each of the Purchaser Parties has all requisite corporate or entity power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement to which it is a party and, upon receipt of approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Matters by Purchaser Shareholders, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and such Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly, validly and unanimously authorized and approved by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of each of the Purchaser Parties. Except for approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters by Purchaser Shareholders, no other corporate or equivalent proceeding on the part of Purchaser is necessary to authorize this Agreement or such Transaction Agreements or Purchaser’s performance hereunder or thereunder. This Agreement has been, and each Transaction Agreement to which any of the Purchaser Parties will be parties will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by the applicable Purchaser Parties and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other Party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes, and each such Transaction Agreement to which any of the Purchaser Parties will be parties will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the applicable Purchaser Parties, enforceable against such Purchaser Parties in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(b) Assuming a quorum is present at the Special Meeting, as adjourned or postponed, the only votes of any of Purchaser’s shares necessary in connection with the entry into this Agreement by Purchaser, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Closing, are as set forth on Schedule 6.03(b) of the Purchaser Schedules. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.03(b), each Purchaser Shareholder is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and is entitled to one vote per share. No “fair price”, “moratorium”, “control share acquisition” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation applicable to Purchaser is applicable to any of the Transactions.

(c) At a meeting duly called and held, the board of directors of Purchaser has unanimously: (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best interests of Purchaser; (ii) determined that the fair market value of the Company is equal to at least 80% of the amount held in the Trust Account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) as of the date hereof; (iii) approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as a Business Combination; and (iv) made the Purchaser Board Recommendation.

Section 6.04 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any Transaction Agreement to which Purchaser is a party by Purchaser and, upon receipt of approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Matters by the Purchaser Shareholders, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Transaction Agreement do not and will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of the Purchaser Organizational Documents or any organizational documents of any Subsidiaries of Purchaser, (b) assuming receipt of all consents as required as set forth in Section 6.06, conflict with or result in any violation of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Purchaser, any Subsidiaries of Purchaser or any of their respective properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the acceleration or trigger of any

 

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payment, posting of collateral (or right to require the posting of collateral), time of payment, vesting or increase in the amount of any compensation or benefit payable pursuant to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which Purchaser or any Subsidiaries of Purchaser is a party or by which any of their respective assets or properties may be bound or affected, or (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Purchaser or any Subsidiaries of Purchaser, except (in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d) above) for such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to enter into and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement to which Purchaser is a party;.

Section 6.05 Litigation and Proceedings. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened, Actions and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, there are no pending or threatened investigations, in each case, against Purchaser, or otherwise affecting Purchaser or its assets, including any condemnation or similar proceedings, which, if determined adversely, could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement to which Purchaser is a party, as applicable. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no unsatisfied judgment or any open injunction binding upon Purchaser which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement to which Purchaser is a party, as applicable.

Section 6.06 Governmental Authorities; Consents. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company Parties contained in this Agreement, no Governmental Filing is required on the part of Purchaser with respect to the execution or delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser or any Transaction Agreement to which Purchaser is a party, as applicable, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for (i) applicable requirements of the HSR Act and any other applicable Antitrust Laws, (ii) Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and (iii) the Nasdaq.

Section 6.07 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Purchaser and each Merger Sub is, and has since its formation been, in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and the conduct of its business except for such noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions, and the Purchaser and the Merger Subs have not received written notice alleging any violation of applicable Law in any material respect by the Purchaser or the Merger Subs. To the knowledge of Purchaser, Purchaser is not under investigation with respect to any material violation of any Law by any Governmental Authority.

Section 6.08 Financial Ability; Trust Account.

(a) As of the date hereof, there is at least $345,330,530 invested in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, acting as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated January 26, 2021, by and between Purchaser and the Trustee on file with the SEC Reports of Purchaser as of the date of this Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the

 

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Trust Account may be released except in accordance with the Trust Agreement, Purchaser Organizational Documents and Purchaser’s final prospectus dated January 25, 2021. Amounts in the Trust Account are invested in United States Government securities or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Purchaser has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in material default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the date hereof, there are no claims or proceedings pending with respect to the Trust Account. Since January 25, 2021, Purchaser has not released any money from the Trust Account (other than interest income earned on the principal held in the Trust Account as permitted by the Trust Agreement). As of the Effective Time, the obligations of Purchaser to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to the Purchaser Organizational Documents shall terminate, and, as of the Effective Time, Purchaser shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to the Purchaser Organizational Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Purchaser by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. To Purchaser’s knowledge, as of the date hereof, following the Effective Time, no shareholder of Purchaser shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such shareholder shall have elected to tender its Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares for redemption pursuant to the Purchaser Shareholder Redemption or otherwise in accordance with the Purchaser Organizational Documents, including in connection with an Extension or dissolution or winding up of Purchaser. The Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, the Trustee, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Trust Agreement has not been terminated, repudiated, rescinded, amended or supplemented or modified, in any respect, and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, no such termination, repudiation, rescission, amendment, supplement or modification is contemplated. There are no side letters and there are no Contracts, arrangements or understandings, whether written or oral, with the Trustee or any other Person that would (i) cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SEC Reports to be inaccurate or (ii) entitle any Person (other than shareholders of Purchaser who shall have elected to redeem their Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Purchaser Shareholder Redemption or the underwriters of Purchaser’s initial public offering in respect of their Deferred Discount (as defined in the Trust Agreement)) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account.

(b) As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained herein and the compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with their respective obligations hereunder, Purchaser has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to Purchaser on the Closing Date.

(c) As of the date hereof, Purchaser does not have, or have any present intention, agreement, arrangement or understanding to enter into or incur, any obligations with respect to or under any Indebtedness (except as set forth in this Agreement).

 

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Section 6.09 Brokers Fees. Except for fees described on Schedule 6.09 of the Purchaser Schedules, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee, underwriting fee, deferred underwriting fee, commission or other similar payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, including the Sponsor.

Section 6.10 SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley Act; Undisclosed Liabilities.

(a) Purchaser has filed in a timely manner all required registration statements, reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 25, 2021 (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing and including all exhibits thereto, the “SEC Reports”). None of the SEC Reports, as of their respective dates (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The audited financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements (including, in each case, the notes and schedules thereto) included in the SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to unaudited statements as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and fairly present (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements included therein, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of complete footnotes) in all material respects the financial position of Purchaser as of the respective dates thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods then ended. Purchaser has not had any material off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the SEC Reports.

(b) Purchaser has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Purchaser is made known to Purchaser’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. To Purchaser’s knowledge, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Purchaser’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Purchaser’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act.

(c) Purchaser has established and maintained a system of internal controls. To Purchaser’s knowledge, such internal controls are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Purchaser’s financial reporting and the preparation of Purchaser’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

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

 

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(e) Schedule 6.10(e) contains a true and correct list of all Indebtedness of Purchaser as the date hereof, including the outstanding balance with respect thereto as of the date hereof.

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

(g) To the knowledge of Purchaser, as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding SEC comments from the SEC with respect to the SEC Reports. To the knowledge of Purchaser, none of the SEC Reports filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof.

Section 6.11 Business Activities.

(a) Since its incorporation, Purchaser has not conducted any business activities other than activities directed toward the accomplishment of a Business Combination. Except as set forth in the Purchaser Organizational Documents, there is no agreement, commitment, or Governmental Order binding upon Purchaser or to which Purchaser is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business practice of Purchaser or any acquisition of property by Purchaser or the conduct of business by Purchaser as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) Purchaser does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity. Except for this Agreement and the Transactions, neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has any interests, rights, obligations or Liabilities with respect to, or is party to, bound by or has its assets or property subject to, in each case whether directly or indirectly, any Contract or transaction which is, or could reasonably be interpreted as constituting, a Business Combination.

(c) There is no material liability, debt or obligation against Purchaser or its Subsidiaries that is required to be disclosed in accordance with GAAP in the audited financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements (including, in each case, the notes and schedules thereto) included in the SEC Reports, except for Liabilities and obligations (x)(i) reflected or reserved for on Purchaser’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2022 or disclosed in the notes thereto (other than any such Liabilities not

 

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reflected, reserved or disclosed as are not and would not be, in the aggregate, material to Purchaser Parties, taken as a whole), (x)(ii) that have arisen since the date of Purchaser’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2022 in the ordinary course of the operation of business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries (other than any such Liabilities as are not and would not be, in the aggregate, material to Purchaser Parties, taken as a whole), or (y) any loan from the Sponsor or an affiliate thereof or certain of Purchaser’s officers and directors to finance Purchaser’s transaction costs in connection with the Transactions or other expenses unrelated to the Transactions.

(d) Except for this Agreement and the agreements expressly contemplated hereby or as set forth on Schedule 6.11(d) of the Purchaser Schedules, Purchaser is not, and at no time has been, party to any Contract with any other Person that would require payments by Purchaser in excess of $10,000 monthly, $500,000 in the aggregate with respect to any individual Contract or more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all other Contracts (other than this Agreement and the agreements expressly contemplated hereby, the Sponsor Agreement and Contracts set forth on Schedule 6.11(d) of the Purchaser Schedules.

Section 6.12 Taxes.

(a) All material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by Purchaser have been filed within the applicable time limits, taking into account any valid extensions obtained in the ordinary course of business, and those Tax Returns were, and remain, true, correct, and complete in all material respects.

(b) All material Taxes due and owing by Purchaser have been paid within applicable time limits, and since the date of Purchaser’s consolidated balance sheet for the three months ended March 31, 2022, Purchaser has not incurred any material Tax liability outside the ordinary course of business.

(c) Purchaser has (i) withheld material Taxes required to have been withheld by it in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or any other third party, (ii) remitted, or will remit on a timely basis, and within applicable time limits, such amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (iii) complied in all material respects with applicable Law with respect to Tax withholding.

(d) Purchaser has not engaged in any Action with respect to Taxes. Purchaser has not received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a dispute, assessment, or claim with respect to Taxes, other than disputes or claims that have since been resolved, and to the knowledge of Purchaser, no such claims have been communicated in writing. No written claim has been made, and to the knowledge of Purchaser, no oral claim has been made, by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where Purchaser does not file a Tax Return that Purchaser is or may be subject to Taxes by that jurisdiction in respect of Taxes that would be the subject of such Tax Return, which claim has not been resolved.

 

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(e) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, Taxes of Purchaser and no written request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending.

(f) During the two-year period ending on the date hereof, Purchaser has not constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code).

(g) Purchaser has not been a party to any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(h) There are no Liens with respect to Taxes on any of the assets of Purchaser, other than Permitted Liens.

(i) Purchaser does not have liability for the Taxes of any Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), (ii) as a transferee or successor or (iii) by Contract (except, in each case, for Liabilities pursuant to commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

(j) Purchaser is not a party to, or bound by, or has any obligation to any Governmental Authority or other Person under any Tax allocation, Tax sharing or Tax indemnification agreement (except, in each case, for any such agreements that are commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

(k) Purchaser has not taken, permitted or agreed to take any action, and does not intend to or plan to take any action, or has any knowledge of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment (with the exception of any actions specifically contemplated by this Agreement).

Section 6.13 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists of 551,000,000 shares, including (i) 500,000,000 Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) 50,000,000 Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (“Purchaser Preferred Stock”), of which (A) 34,500,000 Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (B) 8,625,000 Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and (C) no shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. As of immediately prior to and at the Closing, the aggregate number of Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares and Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor shall equal in the aggregate 8,550,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares. Purchaser has issued (x) Founder Warrants that entitle the Sponsor to purchase 9,400,000 Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $11.50 per share on the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable warrant agreement and (y) Purchaser Public Warrants that entitle the holders of such Purchaser Public Warrants to purchase 17,250,000 Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares

 

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at an exercise price of $11.50 per share on the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable warrant agreement. All of the issued and outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares and Purchaser Warrants (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law, (iii) were not issued in breach or violation of any preemptive rights or Contract and (iv) are fully vested and not otherwise subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports with respect to certain Purchaser Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor. Except for this Agreement and the Purchaser Warrants, as of the date hereof, there are (i) no subscriptions, calls, options, warrants, rights or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Purchaser Ordinary Shares or the equity interests of Purchaser, or any other Contracts to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser is bound obligating Purchaser to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, other equity interests in or debt securities of, Purchaser, and (ii) no equity equivalents, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock ownership interests or similar rights in Purchaser. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Purchaser Organizational Documents or in the Sponsor Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Purchaser to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities or equity interests of Purchaser. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Purchaser having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matter for which Purchaser’s shareholders may vote. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, Purchaser is not a party to any shareholders agreement, voting agreement or registration rights agreement relating to Purchaser Ordinary Shares or any other equity interests of Purchaser. Purchaser does not own any capital stock or any other equity interests in any other Person or has any right, option, warrant, conversion right, stock appreciation right, redemption right, repurchase right, agreement, arrangement or commitment of any character under which a Person is or may become obligated to issue or sell, or give any right to subscribe for or acquire, or in any way dispose of, any shares of the capital stock or other equity interests, or any securities or obligations exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into any shares of the capital stock or other equity interests, of such Person.

(b) No Person and no syndicate or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of a Person owns directly or indirectly beneficial ownership (as defined in the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of securities of Purchaser representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the issued and outstanding securities of Purchaser.

Section 6.14 NASDAQ Listing. The issued and outstanding units of Purchaser, each such unit comprised of one share of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and one-half of one Purchaser Warrant, are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “JCICU”. The issued and outstanding Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “JCIC”. The issued and outstanding Purchaser Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “JCICW”. Purchaser is in compliance with the rules of NASDAQ and there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser by NASDAQ or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares

 

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or Purchaser Warrants or terminate the listing of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares or Purchaser Warrants on NASDAQ. None of Purchaser or its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares or Purchaser Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement. Purchaser has not received any notice from NASDAQ or the SEC regarding the revocation of such listing or otherwise regarding the delisting of the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares from NASDAQ or the SEC.

Section 6.15 Sponsor Agreement. Purchaser has delivered to the Company a true, correct and complete copy of the Sponsor Agreement. The Sponsor Agreement is in full force and effect and has not been withdrawn or terminated, or otherwise amended, modified or waived, in any respect, and no withdrawal, termination, amendment or modification is contemplated by Purchaser. The Sponsor Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser and, to the knowledge of Purchaser, each other party thereto and neither the execution or delivery by any party thereto, nor the performance of any party’s obligations under, the Sponsor Agreement violates any provision of, or results in the breach of or default under, or requires filing, registration or qualification under, any applicable Law. No event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of Purchaser under any material term or condition of the Sponsor Agreement.

Section 6.16 Agreements. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.16 of the Purchaser Schedules, and other than the private placement of securities in connection with Purchaser’s initial public offering, Purchaser is not a party to any transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding with any (i) present or former shareholder, executive officer or director of Purchaser, (ii) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of the capital stock or equity interests of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (iii) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing, an “Purchaser Affiliate Agreement”). Purchaser has made available to the Company true, correct and complete copies of each Contract or other relevant documentation (including any amendments or modifications thereto) available with respect to any Purchaser Affiliate Agreement.

Section 6.17 Title to Property. Purchaser does not (a) own or lease any real or personal property or (b) is not a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or other material interest therein. Subject to the restrictions on use of the Trust Account set forth in the Trust Agreement, Purchaser owns good and marketable title to, or holds a valid leasehold interest in, or a valid license to use, all of the assets used by Purchaser in the operation of its business and which are material to Purchaser, in each case, free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens).

Section 6.18 Investment Company Act. Purchaser is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended so long as it consummates a business combination prior to January 25, 2023. Purchaser is an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

Section 6.19 Interest in Competitors. Purchaser does not own any interest in any entity or Person that derives revenues from any lines of products, services or business within any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ lines of products, services or business.

 

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Section 6.20 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Purchaser specifically in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement will, (a) when the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement are first filed, (b) on the effective date of the Registration Statement, (c) on the date when the Proxy Statement is mailed to the Purchaser’s shareholders and (d) at the time of the Purchaser’s Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

Section 6.21 Absence of Changes. As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 6.21, there has been no event, occurrence or change since December 31, 2021, which would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions.

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BLOCKER

Except as set forth in the Blocker Schedules to this Agreement (each of which qualifies (a) the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant if specified therein and (b) such other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representation, warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent on its face), Blocker represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:

Section 7.01 Organization of Blocker. Blocker has been duly organized, is valid existing and in good standing under the Laws of its incorporation or organization, and has the requisite power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties, rights and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The copies of the organizational documents of Blocker, as in effect on the date hereof, that were previously made available by Blocker to Purchaser (i) are true, correct and complete and (ii) are in full force and effect. Blocker is not in violation of any of the provisions of their respective organizational documents. Blocker was formed solely to hold an interest in the Company, and has not undertaken any activities other than those incidental to ownership of an interest in the Company.

Section 7.02 Due Authorization. Blocker has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and (subject to the approvals described in Section 7.05) to perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized by all necessary limited partnership action or other similar action, and no other proceeding on the part of Blocker is necessary to authorize this Agreement. Blocker has obtained each necessary or required vote, consent and approvals from its limited partners or similar investors in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and such authorizations remain in full force and effect as of the Closing. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Blocker and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Blocker, enforceable against Blocker in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

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Section 7.03 No Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 7.03, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Agreement to which Blocker is a party by Blocker, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under the organizational documents of Blocker, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default by Blocker under, or require any filing, registration or qualification under, any applicable Law, (c) trigger any material rights of third parties under any of the provisions of any organizational document of Blocker or resolutions adopted by Blocker’s general partner or limited partners, (d) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any Governmental Order to which Blocker or any of the assets or businesses owned, used or operated by Blocker are subject, (e) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties, rights or assets of Blocker, (f) constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, termination, acceleration, modification, cancellation or creation of a Lien against Blocker or any of its assets or (g) result in a violation or revocation of any license, permit or approval from any Governmental Authority or other Person, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably be expected to be material to the Blocker.

Section 7.04 Litigation and Proceedings. Except for Actions under any Tax Law (as to which certain representations and warranties are made pursuant to Section 7.07), there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Blocker, threatened in writing material Actions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any investigations or inquiries initiated, pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority, or other proceedings at law or in equity) against Blocker or any of its properties, rights or assets. There is no Governmental Order imposed upon or, to the knowledge of Blocker, threatened in writing Actions against Blocker or any of its properties, rights or assets. There is no unsatisfied judgment or any open injunction binding upon Blocker.

Section 7.05 Governmental Authorities; Consents4.2 . No Governmental Filing is required on the part of Blocker with respect to Blockers execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for any actions, consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations, designations, declarations, filings, or notice, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions.

Section 7.06 Capitalization, Assets and Liabilities4.3 .

(a) As of the date hereof, Blocker has two (2) classes of partnership interests authorized and outstanding. As of immediately prior to the Closing, all of the general partnership interests of Blocker will be owned beneficially and of record by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates – NQ L.L.C. and all of the limited partnership interests of Blocker will be owned beneficially and of record by BTO Grannus Holdings C L.P. All outstanding equity interests of Blocker are duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the organizational documents of Blocker. There are no options, warrants, rights or convertible or exchangeable securities, obligating Blocker to issue, deliver or sell additional securities of Blocker (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Blocker’s securities).

 

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(b) As of the Closing, Blocker will not have any material assets or any material liabilities.

Section 7.07 Taxes.

(a) All material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by Blocker have been filed within the applicable time limits, taking into account any valid extensions obtained in the ordinary course of business, and those Tax Returns were, and remain, true, correct, and complete in all material respects.

(b) All material Taxes due and owing by Blocker have been paid within applicable time limits other than Taxes which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP and, since December 31, 2020, Blocker has not incurred any material Tax liability, other than Tax liability arising from Blocker’s investment directly or indirectly in the Company or in the ordinary course of business.

(c) Blocker has (i) withheld all material amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld by it in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or any other third party, (ii) remitted, or will remit on a timely basis and within applicable time limits, such amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority, and (iii) complied in all material respects with applicable Law with respect to Tax withholding.

(d) Blocker is not engaged in any Action with respect to Taxes. Blocker has not received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a dispute, assessment, or claim with respect to Taxes, other than disputes or claims that have since been resolved, and to the knowledge of Blocker, no such claims have been communicated in writing. No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where Blocker does not file a Tax Return that such entity is or may be subject to Taxes by that jurisdiction in respect of Taxes that would be the subject of such Tax Return, which claim has not been resolved.

(e) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, Taxes of Blocker and no written request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending.

(f) During the two-year period ending on the date hereof, Blocker has not constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code).

(g) Blocker has not been a party to any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(h) There are no Liens with respect to Taxes on any of the assets of Blocker, other than Permitted Liens.

 

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(i) Blocker does not have any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than Blocker) (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor or (iii) by Contract (except, in each case, for Liabilities pursuant to commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

(j) Blocker is not a party to, not bound by, and does not have any obligation to any Governmental Authority or other Person (other than Blocker) under any Tax allocation, Tax sharing or Tax indemnification agreement (except, in each case, for any such agreements that are commercial contracts not primarily relating to Taxes).

(k) Blocker has never taken, permitted or agreed to take any action, and Blocker does not intend to or plan to take any action, or have any knowledge of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment (with the exception of any actions specifically contemplated by this Agreement, and limited, in the case of the Second Merger, to matters relating to qualification under Section 351 of the Code).

(l) Blocker will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (A) change in method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or similar provision of Law), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (B) “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or similar provision of Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (C) intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or similar provision Law); (D) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (E) advance payments, prepaid or deferred amounts received on or prior to the Closing Date.

(m) Neither Blocker nor any of its Affiliates has (A) obtained a Paycheck Protection Program Loan pursuant to Section 1102 of the CARES Act, (B) applied for loan forgiveness pursuant to Section 1106 of the CARES Act, (C) deferred payment of the employer portion of FICA and Medicare Tax pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act, or (D) claimed the employee retention credit pursuant to Section 2301 of the CARES Act.

(n) Blocker is, and has always been resident only in its jurisdiction of incorporation for Tax purposes and is not and has not been, treated as having a permanent establishment, branch or taxable presence for Tax purposes in any jurisdiction other than in its jurisdiction of incorporation. Blocker is not an entity described in Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code.

(o) Blocker has made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the income Tax Returns filed by Blocker since its formation.

 

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(p) Blocker is, and has all times since its formation been, properly treated as a C corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

(q) Blocker has complied with all applicable transfer pricing rules described in Section 482 of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law.

For purposes of this Section 7.07, any reference to Blocker shall be deemed to include any Person that merged with, was liquidated or converted into or is otherwise a predecessor to for Tax purposes, Blocker.

ARTICLE VIII

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 8.01 Conduct of Business. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (the “Interim Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements, set forth on Schedule 8.01 of the Company Schedules or consented to by Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), use its commercially reasonable efforts to operate its business in the ordinary course of business, including complying with and maintaining all material Permits necessary for the lawful conduct of its business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements, as set forth on Schedule 8.01 of the Company Schedules, as consented to by Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), or as required by Law, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, during the Interim Period, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement:

(a) change or amend the certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(b) (i) issue, deliver, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or place any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any shares of capital stock or any other equity or voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) issue or grant any options, warrants, restricted stock units, performance stock units or other rights to purchase or obtain any shares of capital stock or any other equity, equity-based or voting securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) make, declare, set aside, establish a record date for or pay any dividend or distribution other than any dividends or distributions from any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company either to the Company or any other wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

(c) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease, license, abandon, allow to lapse or expire, subject to or grant any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on, or otherwise dispose of, any material assets, rights or properties (including Intellectual Property) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (i) granting non-exclusive licenses to its customers in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the sale of goods and services to its customers, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of IT Systems deemed by the Company in its reasonable business judgment to be obsolete or no longer be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each such case (i), (ii) and (iii), in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(d) disclose any material Trade Secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a valid and enforceable written Contract restricting the disclosure and use thereof);

(e) (i) cancel or compromise any claim or Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) settle any pending or threatened Action, (A) if such settlement would require payment by the Company in an amount greater than $1,000,000, individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate, (B) to the extent such settlement includes an agreement to accept or concede injunctive relief, specific performance, or provides for any restrictive covenants on the business or activities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) to the extent such settlement involves a Governmental Authority or alleged criminal wrongdoing;

(f) waive, release, compromise, settle or satisfy any pending or threatened material claim (which shall include, but not be limited to, any pending or threatened Action) or compromise or settle any liability, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or where such waiver, release, compromise, settlement or satisfaction involves only monetary damages not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate;

(g) directly or indirectly acquire, by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by purchasing all of or a substantial equity interest in, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity or Person or division thereof;

(h) materially amend, or modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of any Material Contract or amend, waive, modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s rights thereunder;

(i) enter into, materially amend or terminate any material Leases;

(j) make any loans or advance any money or other property to any Person except for (A) advances in the ordinary course of business to the Company Employees for expenses and (B) prepayments and deposits paid to suppliers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(k) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(l) adjust, split, combine, subdivide, recapitalize, reclassify or otherwise effect any change in respect of any shares of capital stock or other equity interests or securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(m) make any change in its customary accounting principles, procedures or policies, or methods of accounting materially affecting the reported consolidated assets, Liabilities or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than as may be required by applicable Law, GAAP or regulatory guidelines;

(n) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement);

(o) make, revoke or change any material Tax election, adopt or change any material accounting method with respect to Taxes, file any amended material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material Tax liability, enter into any material closing agreement with respect to any Tax, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, prepare or file any material Tax Returns in a manner which is inconsistent with past practices (unless otherwise required by applicable Law), consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment; or change its residence for any Tax purposes;

(p) change its residence for any Tax purposes;

(q) directly or indirectly, incur, or modify in any material respect the terms of, any Indebtedness (other than (i) Indebtedness under any Company Financing Agreement or capital leases entered into in the ordinary course of business or (ii) Indebtedness that is repaid at Closing);

(r) grant or pay, commit to grant or pay, or fund any equity or equity-related award or profit sharing award or other similar payment or benefit, in each case, to any current or former employee, director, manager, partner, consultant of, or individual service provider to, the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(s) voluntarily fail to maintain in full force and effect or renew when due material insurance policies covering the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective properties, assets and businesses in a form and amount consistent with past practices;

(t) enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction with any Person that, to the knowledge of the Company, is an Affiliate of the Company (excluding ordinary course payments of annual compensation, provision of benefits or reimbursement of expenses in respect of members or equityholders who are the Company Employees);

(u) enter into any agreement that materially restricts the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to engage or compete in any material line of business or in any geographic territory or enter into a new material line of business;

 

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(v) change, amend or terminate any of the Services Agreement Amendments; or

(w) enter into any agreement, or otherwise become obligated, to do any action prohibited under this Section 8.01.

Section 8.02 Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the Company’s or any its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information which (x) relates to interactions with prospective buyers of the Company or its Subsidiaries received prior to the date hereof or the negotiation of this Agreement or the Transactions, (y) is prohibited from being disclosed by applicable Law or (z) based on advice of legal counsel of the Company could reasonably be expected to result in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure (provided that, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to take actions to permit disclosure without loss of such privilege), the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Purchaser and its Representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period, during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries and so long as reasonably feasible or permissible under applicable Law, to their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, as Purchaser and its Representatives may reasonably request solely for purposes of consummating the Transactions. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements, at the Purchaser’s sole expense, for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply. Any request pursuant to this Section 8.02 shall be made in a time and manner so as not to delay the Closing. All information obtained by Purchaser and its Representatives under this Agreement shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement prior to the Closing. In no event shall Purchaser or its Representatives be permitted to conduct any sampling, testing or other intrusive indoor or outdoor investigation of soil, subsurface strata, surface water, groundwater, sediments, ambient air, indoor air or building materials at or in connection with the Leased Real Property.

Section 8.03 No Claim Against the Trust Account. The Company acknowledges that it has read Purchaser’s final prospectus, dated January 25, 2021 and other SEC Reports, Purchaser Organizational Documents, and the Trust Agreement and understands that Purchaser has established the Trust Account described therein for the benefit of Purchaser’s public shareholders and that disbursements from the Trust Account are available only in the limited circumstances set forth in the Trust Agreement. The Company and Blocker each further acknowledges that, if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or, in the event of termination of this Agreement, another business combination, are not consummated by January 25, 2023 or such later date as approved by the shareholders of Purchaser to complete a business combination, Purchaser will be obligated to return to its shareholders the amounts being held in the Trust Account. Accordingly, the Company and Blocker each hereby waives any past, present or future claim of any kind against, and any right to access, the Trust Account or to collect from the Trust Account any monies that may be owed to them by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates for any reason whatsoever, and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account at any time for any reason whatsoever, including for a breach of this Agreement by Purchaser or any negotiations, agreements or understandings with Purchaser (whether in the past, present or future); provided, that nothing herein shall serve to limit

 

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or prohibit the Company’s or the Company’s equityholders’ right to pursue a claim against Purchaser or any of its Affiliates for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account (including from and after the consummation of a business combination other than as contemplated by this Agreement) or pursuant to Section 14.13 for specific performance or other injunctive relief. This Section 8.03 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.

Section 8.04 Proxy Solicitation; Other Actions.

(a) The Company agrees to provide the following in connection with the initial filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC: (i) audited financial statements, including consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, in each case, prepared in accordance with GAAP and Regulation S-X and audited in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB and (ii) unaudited financial statements, including consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at and for the three-months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, in each case, prepared in accordance with GAAP and Regulation S-X. The Company shall be reasonably available to, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall use reasonable best efforts to make their officers and employees available to, in each case, during normal business hours and upon reasonable advanced notice, and shall cooperate with Purchaser and its counsel in connection with (i) the drafting of the Registration Statement and (ii) responding in a timely manner to comments on the Registration Statement from the SEC or any correspondence related thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall prepare (with the assistance and cooperation of Purchaser as reasonably requested by the Company) for inclusion in the Registration Statement pro forma financial statements that comply with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the rules and regulations of the SEC (as interpreted by the staff of the SEC).

(b) From and after the date on which the Registration Statement is mailed to Purchaser’s and the Company’s shareholders, the Company will give Purchaser prompt written notice of any action taken or not taken by the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any development regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries, in any such case which is known by the Company, that would cause the Registration Statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, if any such action shall be taken or fail to be taken or such development shall otherwise occur, Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate fully to cause an amendment or supplement to be made promptly to the Registration Statement, such that the Registration Statement no longer contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, further, however, that no information received by Purchaser pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the party who disclosed such information, and no such information shall be deemed to change, supplement or amend the Company Schedules.

 

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(c) From and after the date on which the Registration Statement is mailed to Purchaser’s and the Company’s shareholders, Purchaser will give the Company prompt written notice of any action taken or not taken by Purchaser or its Subsidiaries or of any development regarding Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, in any such case which is known by Purchaser, that would cause the Registration Statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, if any such action shall be taken or fail to be taken or such development shall otherwise occur, Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate fully to cause an amendment or supplement to be made promptly to the Registration Statement, such that the Registration Statement no longer contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, further, however, that no information received by the Company pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the party who disclosed such information, and no such information shall be deemed to change, supplement or amend the Company Schedules.

Section 8.05 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Prior to the Closing Date (but subject to the limitations of Section 8.01), the Company may take all actions necessary to adopt the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit L and New PubCo shall take all actions necessary to adopt the Omnibus Incentive plan, subject to approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Matters. If adopted by the Company, the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall provide for the reservation of a number of Company Common Shares that, when multiplied by the Per Share Common Stock Consideration is estimated to equal no more than 15% of the fully diluted shares of New Pubco Common Stock as of immediately after the Closing. If the Company has adopted the Omnibus Incentive Plan, at the Closing, subject to approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Matters, New Pubco shall take all actions necessary to assume the Omnibus Incentive Plan and any grants or awards issued pursuant thereto, including any amendments to the Omnibus Incentive Plan required to provide that the actual number of shares of New Pubco Common Stock reserved for issuance under the as-assumed Omnibus Incentive Plan (including any grants or awards assumed pursuant to this Section 8.05), will be sufficient to cover all shares authorized under the Omnibus Incentive Plan but in any event not more than 15% of the fully diluted shares of New Pubco Common Stock (measured as of the Closing Date).

Section 8.06 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Prior to the Closing Date, New PubCo shall take all actions necessary to adopt the 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit M. The ESPP shall provide for the reservation of 1% of the fully diluted shares of New Pubco Common Stock (measured as of the Closing Date), subject to annual increases pursuant to an evergreen provision which will provide for an automatic increase of 1% of the fully diluted shares of capital stock of New Pubco.

 

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Section 8.07 Indemnification and Insurance.

(a) From and after the First Effective Time, each of New PubCo and the Company agree that (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law) each of them shall indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director, manager and officer of New PubCo, the Company and Purchaser and each of their respective Subsidiaries against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or Liabilities incurred in connection with any Action, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the First Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the First Effective Time, to the fullest extent that the Company, New PubCo, Purchaser or their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, would have been permitted under applicable Law and their respective certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such Person (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law). Without limiting the foregoing, New PubCo and the Company shall cause New PubCo and each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain for a period of not less than six years from the First Effective Time provisions in its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents concerning the indemnification and exoneration (including provisions relating to expense advancement) of officers and directors/managers that are no less favorable to those Persons than the provisions of such certificates of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) not amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions in any respect that would adversely affect the rights of those Persons thereunder, in each case, except as required by Law.

(b) For a period of six years from the First Effective Time, New PubCo and the Company shall maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering those Persons who are currently covered by Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies (true, correct and complete copies of which have been heretofore made available to the Company or its agents or representatives) on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage, except that in no event shall New PubCo, the Company or its Subsidiaries be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of 300% of the aggregate annual premium payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for such insurance policy for the year ended December 31, 2021; provided, however, that (i) the Company may cause coverage to be extended under the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance by obtaining a six-year “tail” policy containing terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage with respect to claims existing or occurring at or prior to the First Effective Time (the “D&O Tail”) and (ii) if any claim is asserted or made within such six-year period, any insurance required to be maintained under this Section 8.07 shall be continued in respect of such claim until the final disposition thereof.

(c) Purchaser and the Company hereby acknowledge (on behalf of themselves and their respective Subsidiaries) that the indemnified Persons under this Section 8.07 may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by current stockholders, members, or other Affiliates of such shareholders or members (“Indemnitee Affiliates”) separate from the indemnification obligations of Purchaser, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries hereunder. The Parties hereby agree (i) New PubCo, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries are the indemnitors of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the indemnified Persons under this Section 8.07 are primary and any obligation of any Indemnitee Affiliate to advance expenses or to provide indemnification

 

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for the same expenses or Liabilities incurred by the indemnified Persons under this Section 8.07 are secondary), (ii) that New PubCo, the Company and their Subsidiaries shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the indemnified Persons under this Section 8.07 and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and required by Purchaser’s, New PubCo’s, the Company’s and their respective Subsidiaries’ governing documents or any director or officer indemnification agreements, without regard to any rights the indemnified Persons under this Section 8.07 may have against any Indemnitee Affiliate, and (iii) that the Parties (on behalf of themselves and their respective Subsidiaries) irrevocably waive, relinquish and release the Indemnitee Affiliates from any and all claims against the Indemnitee Affiliates for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof.

(d) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 8.07 shall survive the consummation of the Mergers indefinitely and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on New PubCo, the Company, the Surviving Companies and all successors and assigns of the Company and the Surviving Companies. In the event that New PubCo, the Company, the Surviving Companies or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving company or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of New PubCo, the Company or the Surviving Companies, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 8.07.

Section 8.08 Aircraft Registration Certificate. In the event the Aircraft Registration Certificate for any Aircraft expires or is scheduled to expire at any time between the date of this Agreement and the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date, the Company shall submit to the FAA Civil Aviation Registry a properly completed application for renewal of the registration of such Aircraft no later than the date that is five (5) months prior to the expiration date printed on such Aircraft Registration.

Section 8.09 Mountain Air. Prior to the Closing, all issued and outstanding equity interests of Mountain Air shall be transferred to the Company or its Subsidiaries on terms set forth on Exhibit K hereto and otherwise on an as-is, where-is, basis, to be documented in a form mutually acceptable to Purchaser and the Company, acting reasonably and in good faith.

Section 8.10 Third Party Consents. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall obtain any consents and approvals that are or may be required in connection with the Transactions, including those set forth on Schedule 8.10 of the Company Schedules. The Company shall keep Purchaser reasonably informed with respect to the status of such consents and approvals and no payments shall be made in connection therewith without the prior written consent of Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 8.11 Helena FSDO. Within five (5) business days following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall contact the Helena Flight Standards District Office (the “Helena FSDO”) to schedule a meeting, to occur prior to the Closing, among the Company, Purchaser and Helena FSDO staff members to discuss (i) the Transactions, (ii) the continuing validity of the Part 135 Certificate, the Part 137 Certificate and the Part 145 Certificate and (iii) the Company’s compliance therewith.    The Company agrees to waive any claims of confidentiality and to allow full disclosure by Helena FSDO personnel to Purchaser’s representatives.

 

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Section 8.12 International Registry Contracts of Sale. As soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, and in any event not later than the Closing, the Company shall, to the extent such Aircraft Object qualifies for registration, cause a Contract of Sale in favor of a Company Party to be registered with the International Registry for each Aircraft Object listed in Schedule 5.29(b) and shall deliver to Purchaser an updated International Registry Search Certificate for each such Aircraft Object reflecting such registration.

Section 8.13 International Registry International Interests. As soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, and in any event not later than the Closing, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all International Interests listed in Schedule 8.13 of the Company Schedules to be removed so as to cause the title of each Aircraft Object to be free and clear of any and all International Interests (excluding Contracts of Sale) as of Closing, and shall deliver to Purchaser an updated International Registry Search Certificate for each such Aircraft Object indicating that there are no registered and unreleased International Interests (excluding Contracts of Sale) of record for such Aircraft Object.

Section 8.14 Blocker Restructuring. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the Company hereby approves and consents to the Blocker Restructuring and (b) the Company shall cooperate with Blocker, the BTO Entities and their respective Affiliates to structure and effect the Blocker Restructuring as may reasonably be requested by Blocker, the BTO Entities and their respective Affiliates from time to time.

ARTICLE IX

COVENANTS OF PURCHASER

Section 9.01 Conduct of Purchaser During the Interim Period.

(a) During the Interim Period, except as set forth on Schedule 9.01 of the Purchaser Schedules or as contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), Purchaser shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement:

(i) change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or the Purchaser Organizational Documents;

(ii) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distribution in respect of any outstanding capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Purchaser; (B) split, combine or reclassify any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Purchaser; or (C) other than in connection with Purchaser Shareholder Redemption or as otherwise required by Purchaser’s Organizational Documents in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Purchaser;

 

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(iii) make, change or revoke any material tax election, adopt or change any material accounting method with respect to Taxes, file any amended material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material Tax liability, enter into any material closing agreement with respect to any Tax, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, prepare or file any material Tax Returns in a manner which is inconsistent with past practices (unless otherwise required by applicable Law) or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment;

(iv) enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction or Contract with an Affiliate of Purchaser (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) any Director or Officer of Purchaser or anyone related by blood, marriage or adoption to any such person and (y) any Person with whom any Director or Officer of Purchaser has a direct or indirect legal or contractual relationship or beneficial ownership interest of 5% or greater) or any other Purchaser Affiliate Agreement;

(v) waive, release, compromise, settle or satisfy any pending or threatened material claim (which shall include, but not be limited to, any pending or threatened Action) or compromise or settle any liability;

(vi) adopt or amend any Purchaser employee benefit plan (or any plan, policy or arrangement that would be a Purchaser employee benefit plan if so adopted), or enter into any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement, pay any special bonus or special remuneration to any director, officer, employee or contractor, or increase the salaries or wage rates of its directors, officers, employees or independent contractors other than in the ordinary course consistent with past practices;

(vii) acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or Person or division thereof or otherwise acquire any assets;

(viii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, division transaction, consolidation or recapitalization;

(ix) incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any Indebtedness;

(x) (A) offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, or authorize or propose to offer, issue, deliver, grant or sell, any capital stock of, other equity interests, equity equivalents, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock ownership interests or similar rights in, Purchaser (including any Purchaser Preferred Stock) or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such capital stock or equity interests or (B) amend, modify or waive any of the terms or rights set forth in, any Purchaser Warrant or the Warrant Agreement, including any amendment, modification or reduction of the warrant price set forth therein; or

 

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(xi) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take, whether in writing or otherwise, any of, the foregoing actions.

(b) During the Interim Period, Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to comply with, and continue performing under, as applicable, Purchaser Organizational Documents, the Trust Agreement and all other agreements or Contracts to which Purchaser or its Subsidiaries may be a party.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.01, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Purchaser from extending one or more times, in accordance with the Purchaser Organizational Documents, the deadline by which it must complete its Business Combination (an “Extension”), and no consent of any other Party shall be required in connection therewith; provided, that Purchaser shall, upon the written request of the Company, use commercially reasonable efforts to seek an Extension of not earlier than March 27, 2023, so long as the consummation of the Transactions following such date would not be permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of any final, non-appealable Governmental Order or any Law.

Section 9.02 [Reserved].

Section 9.03 Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished to Purchaser or its Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in Purchaser’s or its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information which in the opinion of legal counsel of Purchaser would result in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure, or the disclosure of which would violate any provision of applicable Law, Purchaser shall afford to the Company, its Affiliates and their respective Representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period, during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, to their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, and shall use its and their commercially reasonable efforts to furnish such Representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of Purchaser that are in the possession of Purchaser, in each case as the Company and its Representatives may reasonably request solely for purposes of consummating the Transactions. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply. All information obtained by the Company, its Affiliates and their respective Representatives under this Agreement shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement prior to the Effective Time.

Section 9.04 New PubCo NASDAQ Listing. From the date hereof through the Closing, Purchaser shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure Purchaser remains listed as a public company on, and for Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and Purchaser Warrants to be listed on, NASDAQ. New PubCo will use reasonable best efforts to obtain, and Purchaser and the Company will use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with New PubCo to obtain, a listing of New PubCo Common Stock and New PubCo Warrants to be listed on NASDAQ, effective as of the Closing.

 

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Section 9.05 Purchaser Public Filings. From the date hereof through the Closing, Purchaser will keep current and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable Securities Laws.

Section 9.06 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, Purchaser shall take all commercially reasonable steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any acquisition or disposition of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares or any derivative thereof that occurs or is deemed to occur by reason of or pursuant to the Transactions by each Person who is or will be or may be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Purchaser to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including by taking steps in accordance with the No-Action Letter, dated January 12, 1999, issued by the SEC regarding such matters.

Section 9.07 Qualification as an Emerging Growth Company. Purchaser shall, at all times during the period from the date hereof until the Closing: (a) take all actions reasonably necessary to continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”) and (b) not take any action that would cause Purchaser to not qualify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

Section 9.08 Stockholder Litigation. In the event that any litigation related to this Agreement, any Transaction Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby is brought, or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened in writing, against Purchaser or the board of directors of Purchaser by any of the Purchaser Shareholders prior to the Closing, Purchaser shall promptly notify the Company of any such litigation and keep the Company reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Purchaser shall provide the Company the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any such litigation, shall give due consideration to the Company’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle any such litigation without prior written consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 9.09 Blocker Restructuring. Each of Purchaser and New PubCo hereby (a) approves and consents to the Blocker Restructuring (except to the extent the Blocker Restructuring prevents the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment) and (b) shall cooperate with Blocker, the BTO Entities and their respective Affiliates to structure and effect the Blocker Restructuring as may reasonably be requested by Blocker, the BTO Entities and their respective Affiliates from time to time, at the sole expense of Blocker.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS OF BLOCKER

Section 10.01 Conduct of Business. During the Interim Period, except as set forth on Schedule 10.01 of the Blocker Schedules or as contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to by Purchaser in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), Blocker shall not, except for actions reasonably required to be taken (or omitted from being taken) in connection with the Blocker Restructuring or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement:

 

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(a) change or amend the certificate of formation, limited partnership agreement, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of Blocker, except as otherwise required by Law;

(b) directly or indirectly acquire, by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by purchasing all of or a substantial equity interest in, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity or Person or division thereof;

(c) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of Blocker (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement);

(d) make, revoke or change any material Tax election, adopt or change any material accounting method with respect to Taxes, file any amended material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material Tax liability, enter into any material closing agreement with respect to any Tax, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, prepare or file any material Tax Returns in a manner which is inconsistent with past practices (unless otherwise required by applicable Law), consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment; or change its residence for any Tax purposes; or

(e) enter into any agreement, or otherwise become obligated, to do any action prohibited under this Section 10.01.

Section 10.02 Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished Blocker or any of its Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the Blocker’s or any its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information which (x) relates to interactions with prospective buyers of Blocker or its Subsidiaries received prior to the date hereof or the negotiation of this Agreement or the Transactions, (y) is prohibited from being disclosed by applicable Law or (z) based on advice of legal counsel of Blocker could reasonably be expected to result in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure, Blocker shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Purchaser and its Representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period, during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of Blocker and its Subsidiaries and so long as reasonably feasible or permissible under applicable Law, to their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of Blocker and its Subsidiaries, in each case, as Purchaser and its Representatives may reasonably request solely for purposes of consummating the Transactions. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply. Any request pursuant to this Section 8.02 shall be made in a time and manner so as not to delay the Closing.

 

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ARTICLE XI

JOINT COVENANTS

Section 11.01 Regulatory Approvals.

(a) Each of the parties hereto shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do, or cause to be done as promptly as practicable, all things necessary, proper and advisable under applicable Laws, to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the Transactions, including providing any notices to any Person required in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, and obtaining any licenses, consents, waivers, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and Governmental Orders necessary to consummate the Transactions; provided, that in no event shall any party be required to pay any material fee, penalty or other consideration to obtain any license, Permit, consent, approval, authorization, qualification or waiver required under any Contract for the consummation of the Transactions (other than fees or expenses payable to the SEC in connection with the Transactions, including the Registration Statement, filing fees payable pursuant to the HSR Act or other Antitrust Laws, and any other ordinary course filing fees in connection with Governmental Filings required to consummate the Transactions). Subject to appropriate confidentiality protections and applicable Antitrust Laws, each party hereto shall furnish to the other parties such necessary information and reasonable assistance as such other party may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing.

(b) Each of the parties hereto shall cooperate with one another and use their reasonable best efforts to prepare all necessary documentation (including furnishing all information (i) required under any applicable Antitrust Laws or other applicable Laws or (ii) requested by a Governmental Authority pursuant to applicable Antitrust Laws to effect promptly all necessary filings with any Governmental Authority and to obtain all necessary, proper or advisable actions or nonactions, approvals consents, waivers, exemptions and approvals of any Governmental Authority necessary to consummate the Transactions. Each party hereto shall provide to the other parties copies of all substantive correspondence between it (or its advisors) and any Governmental Authority relating to the Transactions or any of the matters described in this Section 11.01. Each of the parties hereto shall promptly inform the other of any substantive oral communication with, and provide copies of any substantive written communications with, any Governmental Authority regarding any such filings or any such transaction, unless prohibited by reasonable request of any Governmental Authority. No party hereto shall independently participate in any substantive meeting or substantive conference call with any Governmental Authority in respect of any such filings, investigation or other inquiry without giving the other party prior notice of the substantive meeting or substantive conference call and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, the opportunity to attend or participate. In the event a party is prohibited from participating in or attending any meeting or substantive conference call, the participating party shall keep the other party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. To the extent permissible under applicable Law, the parties hereto will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another so as to mutually agree on any strategies and decisions in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations,

 

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memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or submitted by or on behalf of any party hereto relating to proceedings under Antitrust Laws or other applicable Laws. Any documents or other materials provided pursuant to this Section 11.01(b) may be redacted or withheld as necessary to address reasonable privilege or confidentiality concerns, and to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company or other competitively sensitive material or personally-identifiable information or other sensitive personal or financial information, and the parties may, as each deems advisable, reasonably designate any material provided under this Section 11.01 as “outside counsel only material.” Such “outside counsel only materials” and the information contained therein shall be given only to legal counsel of the recipient and will not be disclosed by such legal counsel to employees, officers, or directors of the recipient without the advance written consent of the party providing such materials. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party shall be obligated to share with the other party documents responsive to items 4(c) and 4(d) on the Notification and Report Form for Certain Mergers and Acquisitions under the HSR Act. Without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to this Section 11.01, each party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to provide or cause to be provided (including, with respect to filings pursuant to the HSR Act, by its “Ultimate Parent Entities”, as that term is defined in the HSR Act as promptly as reasonably practicable and advisable to any Governmental Authority information and documents relating to such party as requested by such Governmental Authority or necessary, proper or advisable to permit consummation of the Transactions, including filing any notification and report form and related material required under the HSR Act and any other filing or notice that may be required with any other Governmental Authority as promptly as reasonably practicable and advisable after the date hereof (and, in the case of filings under the HSR Act, no later than 10 Business Days after the date hereof), and thereafter to respond as promptly as reasonably practicable and advisable to any request for additional information or documentary material relating to such party that may be made (including under the HSR Act and any similar Antitrust Law). Purchaser shall supply as promptly as practicable and advisable any additional information and documentary material relating to Purchaser that may be requested by any Governmental Authority.

(c) If any objections are asserted with respect to the Transactions under any applicable Law or if any Action is instituted by any Governmental Authority or any private party challenging any of the Transactions as violative of any applicable Law, each of the parties hereto shall cooperate with one another in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to: (i) oppose or defend against any action to prevent or enjoin consummation of this Agreement (and the Transactions), and (ii) take such action as reasonably necessary to overturn any regulatory action by any Governmental Authority to prevent or enjoin consummation of this Agreement (and the Transactions), including by defending any Action brought by any Governmental Authority in order to avoid entry of, or to have vacated, overturned or terminated, including by appeal if necessary, in order to resolve any such objections or challenge as such Governmental Authority or private party may have to any of the Transactions under such applicable Law so as to permit the consummation of the Transactions in their entity; provided, however, that any decision by the parties hereto to litigate in connection with such matters must be mutually agreed by the parties hereto.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser shall take any and all actions necessary to obtain any authorization, consent or approval of a Governmental Authority (including in connection with any Governmental Filings) necessary or advisable so as to enable the consummation of the Transactions to occur as expeditiously as possible (and in any event, no later than the Termination Date) and to resolve, avoid or eliminate any impediments or objections, if any, that may be asserted with respect to the Transactions under any Law, or to otherwise oppose, avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any order, decree, judgment, preliminary or permanent injunction that would otherwise have the effect of preventing, prohibiting, restricting, or delaying the consummation of the Transactions, including: (i) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture, licensing or disposition of, or holding separate of, businesses, product lines, rights or assets of Purchaser (including entering into customary ancillary agreements relating to any such sale, divestiture, licensing or disposition of such businesses, product lines, rights or assets) and (ii) otherwise taking or committing to take actions that after the Closing Date would limit Purchaser’s or its controlled Affiliates’ freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to retain or control, one or more of the businesses, product lines, rights or assets of Purchaser, in each case as may be required in order to enable the consummation of the Transactions to occur as expeditiously as possible (and in any event no later than the Termination Date.

(e) From the date of this Agreement until Closing, Purchaser shall not acquire or agree to acquire, by merging with or into or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or any equity in, or by any other manner, any assets or Person, if the execution and delivery of a definitive agreement relating to, or the consummation of, such acquisition could in any material respect (individually or in the aggregate): (i) impose any delay in obtaining, or increase the risk of not obtaining, consents of a Governmental Authority necessary to consummate the Transactions or the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period, (ii) increase the risk of a Governmental Authority seeking or entering a Governmental Order prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) increase the risk of not being able to remove any such Governmental Order on appeal or otherwise, or (iv) otherwise prevent or delay the consummation of the Transactions.

(f) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, each of the Company and Purchaser shall pay, or cause to be paid, 50% of all filing fees payable by any Party pursuant to Antitrust Laws in connection with the Transactions.

Section 11.02 Support of Transaction.

(a) Without limiting any covenant contained in Article VIII or Article IX, including the obligations of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the notifications, filings, reaffirmations and applications described in Section 11.01, which obligations shall control to the extent of any conflict with the succeeding provisions of this Section 11.02, Purchaser and the Company shall each, and shall each cause their respective Subsidiaries to: (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that any of Purchaser, the Company, or their respective Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Transactions and (b) use commercially reasonable

 

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efforts to take such other action as may reasonably be necessary or as another Party may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of the other Party set forth in Article XII or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions as soon as practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Purchaser, the Company, or any of their Subsidiaries be obligated to bear any material expense or pay any material fee or grant any material concession in connection with obtaining any consents, authorizations or approvals pursuant to the terms of any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise required in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.

(b) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to secure and deliver to Purchaser the Written Consent, duly executed by the applicable requisite holders of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company, within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution of this Agreement.

Section 11.03 Preparation of Registration Statement; Purchaser Special Meeting.

(a) Registration Statement.

(i) As promptly as practicable following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) Purchaser (with the assistance and cooperation of the Company as reasonably requested by Purchaser) shall use reasonable best efforts to prepare, and cause New PubCo to file with the SEC, the Registration Statement in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the New PubCo Warrants and the shares of New PubCo Common Stock to be issued under this Agreement to Purchaser Shareholders and holders of Company Shares that did not execute the Written Consent, (ii) Purchaser shall consult with the other Parties as to the content of the Registration Statement, to the extent commercially reasonable, allow the other Parties reasonable time to review and comment on the Registration Statement in advance of its filing with the SEC, and consider incorporation of any reasonable comments made by the other Parties to the Registration Statement, and (iii) once the Registration Statement has been declared effective, Purchaser shall promptly file with the SEC the Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting with respect to, among other things: (A) providing Purchaser’s shareholders with the opportunity to redeem Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares by tendering such shares for redemption not later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the date that is at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date of the Special Meeting (the “Purchaser Shareholder Redemption”); and (B) soliciting proxies from holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to vote at the Special Meeting, as adjourned or postponed, in favor of: (1) the adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Plan of Merger and the Transactions; (2) the amendment and restatement of the memorandum and articles of association of Purchaser in the form attached as Exhibit I hereto; (3) on an advisory basis only, the material differences between Purchaser’s existing Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the New PubCo Charter; (4) the approval and assumption of the Omnibus Incentive Plan and any grants or awards issued thereunder and the approval of the ESPP; (5) any other proposals that the SEC (or staff member thereof) may indicate are necessary in its

 

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comments to the Proxy Statement or correspondence related thereto; (6) any other proposals the Parties agree are necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions; and (7) adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Purchaser Shareholder Matters”). Each of Purchaser and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Transactions. Each of Purchaser and the Company shall furnish all information concerning it as may reasonably be requested by the other party in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement. Promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, Purchaser and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated and mailed to the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement to be disseminated to the holders of Company Shares, as applicable, in each case pursuant to applicable Law and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Purchaser Organizational Documents.

(ii) Each of Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), any response to comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed in response thereto. If Purchaser or the Company becomes aware that any information contained in the Registration Statement shall have become false or misleading in any material respect or that the Registration Statement is required to be amended in order to comply with applicable Law, then (x) such party shall promptly inform the other parties and (y) Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate fully and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement. Purchaser shall provide the other Parties with copies of any written comments, and shall inform such other Parties of any oral comments, that New PubCo or Purchaser receives from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement promptly after the receipt of such comments and shall give the other Parties a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any proposed written or oral responses to such comments prior to responding to the SEC or its staff.

(iii) Purchaser shall use reasonable best efforts to, as promptly as practicable (and in any event, within seven (7) Business Days after the SEC Clearance Date), (i) establish the record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting in accordance with the applicable Laws of the Cayman Islands for a date no later than 35 days following the SEC Clearance Date (subject to Section 11.03(b)), and (ii) cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares in compliance with applicable Law.

 

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(b) Purchaser Special Meeting; Modification in Recommendation.

(i) Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all actions necessary (in its discretion or at the request of the Company) to obtain the approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters at the Special Meeting, as adjourned or postponed, including by soliciting proxies as promptly as practicable in accordance with applicable Law for the purpose of seeking the approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters. Purchaser shall include Purchaser Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement.

(ii) The board of directors of Purchaser shall not withdraw, amend, qualify or modify the Purchaser Board Recommendation (any such withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification being, a “Modification in Recommendation”); provided, that the board of directors of Purchaser may make a Modification in Recommendation if it determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that a failure to make a Modification in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations to Purchaser under applicable Law; provided, further, that: (i) Purchaser shall have delivered written notice to the Company of its intention to make a Modification in Recommendation at least five (5) Business Days prior to the taking of such action by Purchaser, (ii) during such period and prior to making a Modification in Recommendation, if requested by the Company, Purchaser shall have negotiated in good faith with the Company regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the Company to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the board of directors of Purchaser to reaffirm the Purchaser Board Recommendation and not make such Modification in Recommendation and (iii) if the Company requested negotiations in accordance with clause (ii), Purchaser may make a Modification in Recommendation only if the board of directors of Purchaser, after considering in good faith any revisions or adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement that the Company shall have, prior to the expiration of the five (5) Business Day period, offered in writing to Purchaser, continues to determine in good faith that failure to make a Modification in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to Purchaser under applicable Law. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) Purchaser’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation and (y) Purchaser agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting and submit for approval the Purchaser Shareholder Matters and (z) provided that there has been no Modification in Recommendation, Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all actions necessary to obtain the approval of the Purchaser Shareholders with respect thereto at the Special Meeting, including as such Special Meeting may be adjourned or postponed in accordance with this Agreement, including by soliciting proxies in accordance with applicable Law for the purpose of seeking the approval of the Purchaser Shareholders.

 

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(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Purchaser shall be entitled to (and, in the case of the following clauses (A) and (C), at the request of the Company, shall) postpone or adjourn the Special Meeting for a period of no longer than 20 days (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law): (A) to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement that the board of directors of Purchaser has determined in good faith is required by applicable Law is disclosed to Purchaser’s shareholders and for such supplement or amendment to be promptly disseminated to Purchaser’s shareholders prior to the Special Meeting; (B) if, as of the time for which the Special Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy Statement), there are insufficient Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business to be conducted at the Special Meeting; or (C) in order to solicit additional proxies from shareholders for purposes of obtaining approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters; provided, that in the event of any such postponement or adjournment, the Special Meeting shall be reconvened as promptly as practicable following such time as the matters described in such clauses have been resolved.

Section 11.04 Exclusivity.

(a) During the Interim Period, the Company shall not take, nor shall it permit any of its Affiliates or Representatives to take, whether directly or indirectly, any action to solicit, initiate or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or encourage, or provide information to, any Person (other than Purchaser and/or any of its Affiliates or Representatives) concerning any purchase of all or a material portion of the Company’s equity securities or the issuance and sale of any securities of, or membership interests in, the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than any purchases of equity securities by the Company from employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries) or any merger or sale of substantial assets involving the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than immaterial assets or assets sold in the ordinary course of business or transactions permitted by Section 8.01(c) (each such acquisition transaction, but excluding the Transactions, an “Acquisition Transaction”). The Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, an Acquisition Transaction. The Company shall notify Purchaser of any submissions, proposals or offers made with respect to an Acquisition Transaction and provide copies of any such submissions, proposals, or offers to Purchaser, as soon as practicable following the Company’s awareness thereof (but no later than two (2) Business Days following the Company’s receipt thereof).

(b) During the Interim Period, Purchaser shall not take, nor shall it permit any of its Affiliates or Representatives to take, whether directly or indirectly, any action to solicit, initiate, continue or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or encourage, respond, provide information to or commence due diligence with respect to, any Person (other than the Company, its shareholders and/or any of their Affiliates or Representatives), concerning, relating to or which is intended or is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest, written or oral relating to any Business Combination (a “Business Combination Proposal”) other than with the Company, its shareholders and their respective Affiliates and Representatives. Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Business Combination Proposal.

 

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Section 11.05 Tax Matters.

(a) New PubCo shall pay all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added or other similar Taxes incurred in connection with the Transactions (collectively, the “Transfer Taxes”) and file all necessary Tax Returns with respect to all 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.

(b) For U.S. federal income Tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state or local income tax that follows U.S. federal income Tax treatment), each of the Parties intends that (i) the Third Merger, together with the First Merger and the Second Merger, will qualify as a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code, (ii) the First Merger will qualify either as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or, together with the Second Merger and the Third Merger, a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code (or both), and (iii) the Second Merger will qualify either as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or, together with the First Merger and the Third Merger, a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code (or both) (clauses (i) through (iii), together the “Intended Tax Treatment”). This Agreement is hereby adopted as and shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g) with respect to the Mergers.

(c) Purchaser, the Company, Blocker and their respective Subsidiaries intend for the Transactions to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment and will not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Return or during the course of any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, except as otherwise required by a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. Each of the Parties agrees to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the Intended Tax Treatment by any Governmental Authority.

(d) No Party shall take or cause to be taken any action, or fail to take or cause to be taken any action, which action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from so qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

(e) The Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to execute and deliver (i) officer’s certificates, in customary form, in a timely manner upon request by the other Party and (ii) any other representations reasonably requested by counsel to Purchaser or counsel to the Company, on the one hand, and the Company’s Subsidiaries, on the other hand (individually and collectively, the “Seller Group”), as applicable, for purposes of rendering opinions regarding the Intended Tax Treatment and other tax matters in connection with

 

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the Transactions (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Tax Officer’s Certificates”), at such time or times as may be reasonably requested by counsel to Purchaser or counsel to the Seller Group, including in connection with the Closing and any filing with the SEC. Any opinion to be delivered by counsel to the Seller Group shall be limited to addressing (a) qualification of the Transactions as an exchange governed by Section 351 of the Code and/or (b) the accuracy of any tax disclosure statements addressed directly to holders of equity securities of the Company (or any other matters the SEC specifically requests that the Seller Group provide an opinion with respect to). For the avoidance of doubt, any tax opinions to be delivered by counsel to Purchaser or counsel to the Seller Group shall not be a condition to Closing under this Agreement.

Section 11.06 Confidentiality; Publicity.

(a) Purchaser acknowledges that the information being provided to it in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall apply to all information furnished thereunder or hereunder and any other activities contemplated thereby.

(b) None of Purchaser, the Company, Blocker or any of their respective Affiliates shall make any public announcement or issue any public communication regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any matter related to the foregoing, without first obtaining the prior consent of the Company, Blocker, or Purchaser, as applicable (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except if such announcement or other communication is required by applicable Law or legal process (including pursuant to the Securities Law or the rules of any national securities exchange), in which case Purchaser, the Company or Blocker, as applicable, shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent with respect to such announcement or communication with the other Party, prior to announcement or issuance; provided, however, that, subject to this Section 11.06, each Party and its Affiliates may make announcements regarding the status and terms (including price terms) of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to their respective directors, officers, employees, direct and indirect current or prospective limited partners and investors or otherwise in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, in each case, so long as such recipients are obligated to keep such information confidential without the consent of any other Party; and provided, further, that subject to Section 8.02 and this Section 11.06, the foregoing shall not prohibit any Party from communicating with third parties to the extent necessary for the purpose of seeking any third party consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Party may make statements that are consistent with previous public releases made by such Party in compliance with this Section 11.06(b).

Section 11.07 Post-Closing Cooperation; Further Assurances. Following the Closing, each Party shall, at the request of any other Party, execute such further documents, and perform such further acts, as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to give full effect to the allocation of rights, benefits, obligations and Liabilities contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 11.08 Stockholder Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement. At or prior to the Closing, each of the parties thereto shall execute and deliver to the other Parties the Stockholder Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable.

Section 11.09 Board of Directors. Each of the Company, Blocker and Purchaser shall take, or cause to be taken, the actions set forth in this Section 11.09 prior to the Closing:

(a) The Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser shall (i) cause each individual serving and not continuing as a member of the board of directors of the Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser to resign from such position, effective upon the Effective Time, and (ii) elect or otherwise cause the individuals designated on Schedule 11.09 of the Company Schedules to comprise the entire board of directors of each of the Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser, effective upon the Effective Time; provided, that the board of directors as so constituted shall comply with applicable rules concerning director independence required by the SEC and the rules and listing standards of NASDAQ and any other Laws or requirements of a Governmental Authority applicable to members of the board of directors of the Company.

(b) The Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser shall (i) cause each individual serving and not continuing as an officer of the Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser to resign from such position, effective upon the Effective Time, and (ii) appoint or otherwise cause to be appointed each individual serving as an officer of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time as a corresponding officer of the Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser, effective upon the Effective Time.

(c) Each of the Company, Blocker, New PubCo and Purchaser shall cause such individuals to, and such Persons shall, comply and cooperate with and satisfy all requests and requirements made by any Governmental Authority in connection with the foregoing, including by furnishing all requested information, providing reasonable assistance in connection with the preparation of any required applications, notices and registrations and requests and otherwise facilitating access to and making individuals available with respect to any discussions or hearings. In the event an individual designated in accordance with Section 11.09(a) does not satisfy any requirement of a Governmental Authority to serve as a director, then (x) there shall be no obligation to appoint such individual pursuant to Section 11.09(a) and (y) the Company, Blocker, New PubCo or Purchaser, as applicable, shall be entitled to designate a replacement director in lieu of such person; provided, further, that in no event shall Closing be delayed or postponed in connection with or as a result of the foregoing.

Section 11.10 Foreign Stock Record. New PubCo hereby confirms and agrees that (a) all New PubCo Common Stock held by all BTO Entities will be deemed to be first in time registered on New PubCo’s foreign stock record for purposes of Article V of the New PubCo Bylaws and Article X of the New PubCo Charter, (b) New PubCo shall take all actions reasonably necessary to (i) cause all New PubCo Common Stock held by any BTO Entities to be registered first in time

 

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on New PubCo’s foreign stock record under Article V of the New PubCo Bylaws and Article X of the New PubCo Charter prior to registering any New PubCo Common Stock held by any other Person on New PubCo’s foreign stock record and (ii) until requested in writing by any BTO Entity to be removed from New PubCo’s foreign stock record, ensure that all New PubCo Common Stock held by any BTO Entities remain registered first in time on New PubCo’s foreign stock record under Article V of the New PubCo Bylaws and Article X of the New PubCo Charter, and (c) take all actions to ensure that the voting rights of New PubCo Common Stock held by the BTO Entities will not be suspended under Article V of the New PubCo Bylaws and Article X of the New PubCo Charter.

ARTICLE XII

CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

Section 12.01 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of the Parties to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived (if legally permitted) in writing by all of such Parties:

(a) HSR Act; Other Competition Filings. Any consent, approval or clearance with respect to, or terminations or expiration of any applicable waiting period(s) (and any extension thereof, or any timing agreements, understandings or commitments obtained by request or other action of the FTC and/or the DOJ, as applicable) imposed under the HSR Act in respect of the Transactions shall have been obtained, shall have been received or shall have been expired or terminated, as the case may be.

(b) Regulatory Approvals. All required consents and approvals from the Regulatory Consent Authorities set forth on Schedule 12.01(b) of the Company Schedules shall have been obtained.

(c) No Prohibition. There shall not be in force any Governmental Order or Law enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Transactions.

(d) Net Tangible Assets. Purchaser shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) remaining after Purchaser Shareholder Redemption.

(e) Shareholder Approval. The approval of Purchaser Shareholder Matters and the Written Consent of the Company shall have been obtained.

(f) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC which remains in effect with respect to the Registration Statement, and no proceeding seeking such a stop order shall have been threatened or initiated by the SEC which remains pending.

(g) NASDAQ. The (i) shares of New PubCo Common Stock and (ii) New PubCo Warrants to be issued in respect of Purchaser Public Warrants, in each case, in connection with the Transactions, shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof.

 

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Section 12.02 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser Parties. The obligations of Purchaser Parties to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Purchaser:

(a) Representations and Warranties.

(i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company Parties, as applicable, contained in Section 5.01 (Organization of the Company), Section 5.03 (Due Authorization), and Section 5.24 (Brokers’ Fees) (collectively, the “Specified Representations”) shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date).

(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 5.23(a) (No Material Adverse Effect) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date.

(iii) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company Parties contained in Article V (other than the Specified Representations and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 5.06 (Current Capitalization) and Section 5.23(a) (Absence of Changes)) shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in each case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, has not had a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 5.06 (Current Capitalization) shall be true and correct other than with respect to de minimis inaccuracies, as of the Closing Date, as though then made.

(v) Each of the representations and warranties of the Blocker contained in Section 7.01 (Organization of Blocker) and Section 7.02 (Due Authorization) (collectively, the “Specified Blocker Representations”) shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date).

 

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(vi) Each of the representations and warranties of Blocker contained in Article VII (other than the Specified Blocker Representations and the representations and warranties of Blocker contained in Section 7.06 (Capitalization, Assets and Liabilities)) shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in each case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the consummation of the Transactions or the ability of Blocker to consummate the Transactions as contemplated by this Agreement.

(vii) The representations and warranties of Blocker contained in Section 7.06 (Capitalization, Assets and Liabilities) shall be true and correct other than with respect to de minimis inaccuracies, as of the Closing Date, as though then made.

(b) Agreements and Covenants. The covenants and agreements of (i) each Company Party in this Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects, and (ii) Blocker in this Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects.

(c) Company Officers Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to Purchaser a certificate signed by an officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 12.02(a)(i) through Section 12.02(a)(iv) and Section 12.02(b)(i) have been fulfilled.

(d) Blocker Officer’s Certificate. Blocker shall have delivered to Purchaser a certificate signed by an officer of Blocker, dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 12.02(a)(v) through Section 12.02(a)(vii) and Section 12.02(b)(ii) have been fulfilled.

(e) No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Company FIRPTA Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to New PubCo a duly executed statement dated as of the Closing Date, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T(d)(2), certifying that fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company do not consist of “United States real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code or that ninety percent (90%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company do not consist of “United States real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code plus “cash or cash equivalents” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T(d)(1).

(g) Blocker FIRPTA Certificates. Blocker shall have delivered to New PubCo dated as of the Closing Date a certificate issued pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), including the required notice to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, stating that an interest in Blocker is not a “United States real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code.

 

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Section 12.03 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Company Parties and Blocker. The obligation of the Company Parties and Blocker to consummate or cause to be consummated the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Company.

(a) Representations and Warranties.

(i) Each of the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in Article VI (other than the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in Section 6.13 (Capitalization)) shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “material adverse effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in each case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse impact on Purchaser or prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(ii) The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in Section 6.13 (Capitalization) shall be true and correct other than with respect to de minimis inaccuracies, as of the Closing Date, as though then made.

(b) Agreements and Covenants. The covenants and agreements of Purchaser in this Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects.

(c) Officers Certificate. Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a certificate signed by an officer of Purchaser, dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 12.03(a) and Section 12.03(b) have been fulfilled.

(d) Sponsor Agreement. Each of the covenants of each of the parties to the Sponsor Agreement required under the Sponsor Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects.

(e) Registration Rights Agreement and Stockholder Agreement. New PubCo shall have delivered to the Company executed copies of the Registration Rights Agreement and Stockholder Agreement.

Section 12.04 Frustration of Conditions. Neither Purchaser Parties nor any of the Company Parties nor Blocker may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article XII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such Party’s failure to act in good faith or to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions of the other Party to be satisfied, as required by Section 11.02.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

Section 13.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned:

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

(b) prior to the Closing, by written notice to the Company from Purchaser if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 12.02(a) or Section 12.02(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Company Breach”), except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company through the exercise of its commercially reasonable efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date Purchaser provides written notice of such violation or breach and the Termination Date) after receipt by the Company of notice from Purchaser of such breach, but only as long as the Company continues to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cure such Terminating Company Breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period, or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before January 26, 2023 (the “Termination Date”) (provided, that if Purchaser obtains the approval of its stockholders for an Extension, Purchaser or the Company shall have the right by providing written notice thereof to the other Party to extend the Termination Date for an additional period equal to the shortest of (a) two (2) additional months, (b) the period ending on the last date for Purchaser to consummate its Business Combination pursuant to such Extension, (c) such period as mutually agreed by Purchaser and the Company as the earliest practicable date for consummation of the Transactions and (d) the period ending on the date on which the consummation of the Mergers is permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable Governmental Order or a statute, rule or regulation); provided, that, the right to terminate this Agreement under subsection (i) or (ii) shall not be available if Purchaser’s failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the primary cause of, or primarily resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date;

(c) prior to the Closing, by written notice to Purchaser from the Company if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 12.03(a) or Section 12.03(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Purchaser Breach”), except that, if any such Terminating Purchaser Breach is curable by Purchaser through the exercise of its commercially reasonable efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date the Company provides written notice of such violation or breach and the Termination Date) after receipt by Purchaser of notice from the Company of such breach, but only as long as Purchaser continues to exercise such commercially reasonable efforts to cure such Terminating Purchaser Breach (the “Purchaser Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Purchaser Breach is

 

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not cured within Purchaser Cure Period, (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before the Termination Date, or (iii) the consummation of the Mergers is permanently enjoined or prohibited by the terms of a final, non-appealable Governmental Order or a statute, rule or regulation; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under subsection (i) or (ii) shall not be available if the Company’s failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the primary cause of, or primarily resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date;

(d) by written notice to Purchaser from the Company if the Purchaser Shareholder Matters are not approved by the Purchaser Shareholders at the Special Meeting (subject to any adjournment, postponement or recess of the meeting);

(e) by written notice from Purchaser to the Company if the Company fails to deliver to Purchaser the Written Consent within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution of this Agreement in accordance with Section 11.02(b); or

(f) by written notice from the Company to Purchaser if there has been a Modification in Recommendation pursuant to Section 11.03(b).

Section 13.02 Effect of Termination. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 13.02 or Section 14.13, in the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 13.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any Party or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, stockholders, or equityholders other than liability of any Party for any fraud or Willful Breach of this Agreement by such Party occurring prior to such termination. The term “Willful Breach” means a Party’s material breach of any of its representations or warranties as set forth in this Agreement, or such Party’s material breach of any of its covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement, which material breach constitutes, or is a consequence of, a purposeful act or failure to act by such Party with the knowledge that the taking of such act or failure to take such act would cause a material breach of this Agreement. The provisions of Section 8.03 (No Claim Against the Trust Account), Section 11.06 (Confidentiality; Publicity), this Section 13.02 (Effect of Termination) and Article XIV (collectively, the “Surviving Provisions”) and the Confidentiality Agreement, and any other Section or Article of this Agreement referenced in the Surviving Provisions which are required to survive in order to give appropriate effect to the Surviving Provisions, shall in each case survive any termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 14.01 Waiver. Any Party may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its board of directors or equivalent governing body, or officers thereunto duly authorized, waive any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement or agree to an amendment or modification to this Agreement in the manner contemplated by Section 14.10 and by an agreement in writing executed in the same manner (but not necessarily by the same Persons) as this Agreement.

 

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Section 14.02 Notices. All notices and other communications among the Parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

 

  (a)

If to Purchaser, any of the Merger Subs or, prior to the Closing, New PubCo:

Jack Creek Investment Corp

386 Park Avenue South, FL 20

New York, NY 10016

Attn: Tariq Khan; Lauren Ores

E-mail: tkhan@kshcapital.com; lores@kshcapital.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attn: Jaclyn L. Cohen; Michael E. Lubowitz

E-mail: jackie.cohen@weil.com; michael.lubowitz@weil.com

 

  (b)

If to any of the Company Parties, any of the Surviving Companies or, after the Closing, New PubCo:

c/o Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings

90 Aviation Lane

Belgrade, MT 59714

Attn: James Muchmore

E-mail: james@bridgeraerospace.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Sidley Austin LLP

787 7th Ave

New York, NY 10019

Attn: Geoffrey Levin; Joshua DuClos

E-mail: glevin@sidley.com; jduclos@sidley.com

 

  (c)

If to Blocker:

c/o Blackstone Inc.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Attn: Tactical Opportunities

Email: TacOppsOperations@Blackstone.com

 

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

1999 Avenue of the Stars, 6th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: David Antheil

E-mail: dantheil@akingump.com

or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing.

Section 14.03 Assignment. No Party shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other Parties; provided, that the Company may delegate the performance of its obligations or assign its rights hereunder in part or in whole to any Affiliate of the Company or the Company, as applicable, so long as the Company remains fully responsible for the performance of the delegated obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 14.03 shall be null and void, ab initio.

Section 14.04 Rights of Third Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the Parties, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing (a) in the event the Closing occurs, the present and former officers and directors of the Company and Purchaser (and their successors, heirs and representatives) and each of their respective Indemnitee Affiliates are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 8.07 and (b) the past, present and future directors, officers, employees, incorporators, members, partners, stockholders, equityholders, Affiliates, agents, attorneys, advisors and representatives of the Parties, and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing (and their successors, heirs and representatives), are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 14.14 and Section 14.15.

Section 14.05 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, each Party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions herein contemplated if the Transactions are not consummated, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided that if the Closing occurs, New PubCo and its subsidiaries shall bear and pay, at or promptly after Closing, the Company Transaction Expenses and all of the other transaction expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Transaction Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including but not limited to, fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, consultants, advisors, investment bankers and financial advisors of each of Purchaser and the Company.

Section 14.06 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.

 

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Section 14.07 Captions; Counterparts. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 14.08 Schedules and Exhibits. The Schedules and Exhibits referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to Schedules and Exhibits shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a Party in the Schedules with reference to any section or schedule of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to all other sections or schedules to which such disclosure may apply solely to the extent the relevance of such disclosure is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure in such Schedule. Certain information set forth in the Schedules is included solely for informational purposes.

Section 14.09 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement), the other Transaction Agreements and that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of February 8, 2022, by and between the Company and Purchaser (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”), constitute the entire agreement among the Parties relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exist between the Parties except as expressly set forth or referenced in this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement.

Section 14.10 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed by all Parties and which makes reference to this Agreement. The approval of this Agreement by the equityholders of any of the Parties shall not restrict the ability of the board of directors (or other body performing similar functions) of any of the Parties to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 13.01 or to cause such Party to enter into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to this Section 14.10.

Section 14.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The Parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the Parties.

Section 14.12 Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. Any Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in federal and state courts located in the State of Delaware, and each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and

 

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agrees not to bring any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any Party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other Party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action brought pursuant to this Section 14.12. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 14.13 Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that the Parties do not perform their obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or any Transaction Agreement in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof and thereof, without proof of damages, prior to the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 13.01, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement, and (ii) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without that right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement. Each Party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at Law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any Transaction Agreement in accordance with this Section 14.13 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that any the Company Party may, without breach of this Agreement, with respect to any Transaction Agreement to which such the Company Party is a party, institute or pursue an Action directly against the counterparty(ies) to such Transaction Agreement seeking, or seek or obtain a court order against the counterparty(ies) to such Transaction Agreement for, injunctive relief, specific performance, or other equitable relief with respect to such Transaction Agreement.

Section 14.14 Non-Recourse. Subject in all respect to the last sentence, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may only be brought against, the entities that are expressly named as Parties and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such Party. Except to the extent a Party hereto (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such Party in this Agreement), no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, equityholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any Party shall have any Liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of any of the Company Parties, Blocker or Purchaser Parties under this Agreement of or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 14.14 shall limit, amend or waive any rights of any party to any Transaction Agreement.

 

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Section 14.15 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. 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 instead 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 at or after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring at or after the Closing (including, for the avoidance of doubt Section 11.05(b)) and (b) this Article XIV.

Section 14.16 Acknowledgements.

(a) Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its respective Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives) that: (i) it has conducted its own independent investigation of the financial condition, results of operations, assets, liabilities, properties and projected operations of the other Parties (and their respective Subsidiaries) and has been afforded satisfactory access to the books and records, facilities and personnel of the other Parties (and their respective Subsidiaries) for purposes of conducting such investigation; (ii) the Company Representations constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company Parties; (iii) Purchaser Representations constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Purchaser Parties; (iv) Blocker Representations constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Blocker; (v) except for the Company Representations by the Company Parties, Purchaser Representations by Purchaser Parties and Blocker Representations by Blocker, none of the Parties or any other Person makes, or has made, any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to any Party (or any Party’s Subsidiaries), including any implied warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the such Party or its Subsidiaries or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all other representations and warranties of any kind or nature expressed or implied (including (x) regarding the completeness or accuracy of, or any omission to state or to disclose, any information, including in the estimates, projections or forecasts or any other information, document or material provided to or made available to any Party or their respective Affiliates or Representatives in certain “data rooms,” management presentations or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions, including meetings, calls or correspondence with management of any Party (or any Party’s Subsidiaries), and (y) any relating to the future or historical business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, assets or liabilities of any Party (or its Subsidiaries), or the quality, quantity or condition of any Party’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets) are specifically disclaimed by all Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and all other Persons (including the Representatives and Affiliates of any Party or its Subsidiaries); and (vi) each Party and its respective Affiliates are not relying on any representations and warranties in connection with the Transactions except the Company Representations by the Company Parties, the

 

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Purchaser Representations by Purchaser and the Blocker Representations by Blocker. The foregoing does not limit any rights of any Party pursuant to any other Transaction Agreement against any other Party pursuant to such Transaction Agreement to which it is a party or an express third party beneficiary thereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, Purchaser understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to and except for the Company Representations by the Company Parties or as provided in any certificate delivered in accordance with Section 12.02(c), with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.

(b) Effective upon Closing, each of the Parties waives, on its own behalf and on behalf of its respective Affiliates and Representatives, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, any and all rights, Actions and causes of action it may have against any other Party or their respective Subsidiaries and any of their respective current or former Affiliates or Representatives relating to the operation of any Party or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, the Schedules, or the Exhibits to this Agreement, whether arising under or based upon any federal, state, local or foreign statute, Law, ordinance, rule or regulation or otherwise. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that it will not assert, institute or maintain any Action, suit, investigation, or proceeding of any kind whatsoever, including a counterclaim, cross-claim, or defense, regardless of the legal or equitable theory under which such liability or obligation may be sought to be imposed, that makes any claim contrary to the agreements and covenants set forth in this Section 14.16. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Section 14.16(b) shall preclude any Party from seeking any remedy for actual and intentional fraud by a Party solely and exclusively with respect to the making of any representation or warranty by it in Article V, Article VI or Article VII (as applicable). Each Party shall have the right to enforce this Section 14.16 on behalf of any Person that would be benefitted or protected by this Section 14.16 if they were a party hereto. The foregoing agreements, acknowledgements, disclaimers and waivers are irrevocable. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 14.16 shall limit, modify, restrict or operate as a waiver with respect to, any rights any Party may have under any written agreement entered into in connection with the transactions that are contemplated by this Agreement, including any other Transaction Agreement.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be duly executed as of the date hereof.

 

JACK CREEK INVESTMENT CORP.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

Chief Executive Officer

WILDFIRE NEW PUBCO, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

President

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB I, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

President

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB II, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

President

WILDFIRE MERGER SUB III, LLC
MEMBER:
WILDFIRE NEW PUBCO, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

President

WILDFIRE GP SUB IV, LLC
MEMBER:
WILDFIRE NEW PUBCO, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert F. Savage

Name:  

Robert F. Savage

Title:  

President

BTOF (GRANNUS FEEDER) – NQ L.P.
By: Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates – NQ L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Christopher J. James

Name:  

Christopher J. James

Title:  

Authorized Person


BRIDGER AEROSPACE GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Timothy Sheehy

Name:  

Timothy Sheehy

Title:  

Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NEW PUBCO CHARTER

 


EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

WILDFIRE NEW PUBCO, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Wildfire New PubCo, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

A. The Corporation’s original certificate of incorporation was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on [•], 2022.

B. This amended and restated certificate of incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”), restates and amends the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and has been duly approved by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.

C. The text of the certificate of incorporation of this Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

4.1. Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [•] shares, consisting of [•] shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and [•] shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”), of which [•] shares of Preferred Stock shall be designated as the “Series A Preferred Stock” and shall have the rights, powers, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions set forth in Section 4.5


below. Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.5(d)(i), the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be increased (to the extent of the Corporation’s authorized and unissued Preferred Stock) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board and the filing of a certificate of increase with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

4.2. Increase or Decrease in Authorized Capital Stock. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), voting together as a single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the class or classes the number of authorized shares of which are being increased or decreased, unless a vote by any holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock is required by the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4 of this amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (as further amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof and including, without limitation, the terms of any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, this “Certificate of Incorporation”).

4.3. Common Stock.

(a) The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote. There shall be no cumulative voting with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, if any, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms, number of shares, powers, designations, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including, without limitation, voting rights), or to qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the DGCL.

(b) Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.

 

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(c) In the event of any Insolvency Event with respect to the Corporation or dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock in respect thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

4.4. Preferred Stock.

(a) The Board is expressly authorized to issue from time to time shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series pursuant to a resolution or resolutions providing for such issue duly adopted by the Board. The Board is further authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to fix by resolution or resolutions and to set forth in a certification of designation filed pursuant to the DGCL the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including, without limitation, sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of any such series, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, or any of the foregoing.

(b) The Board is further authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, stated in this Certificate of Incorporation or the resolution of the Board originally fixing the number of shares of such series. If the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock is so decreased, then the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

4.5. Series A Preferred Stock.

(a) Definitions. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, references to:

(i) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly (including through one or more intermediaries), controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person. The term “control” means (a) the beneficial ownership of securities, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, representing a majority of the voting power of any Person or (b) the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of any Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have correlative meanings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and other controlled Affiliates shall not be considered Affiliates of any Series A Preferred Stockholder, or any of such Person’s Affiliates (except the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and other controlled Affiliates shall be Affiliates of each other) and (ii) none of the Series A Preferred Stockholders shall be considered Affiliates of any portfolio company in which a Series A Preferred Stockholder or any of its investment fund Affiliates, Affiliated manager, or other investment Affiliates, as applicable, have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa). The term “Affiliated” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing.

 

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(ii) “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on which banks are authorized by law to be closed in New York, New York.

(iii) “Closing Date” means [•].1

(iv) “Conversion Price” shall mean an amount equal to: (x) with respect to any Series A Preferred Stockholder’s exercise of conversion rights pursuant to Section 4.5(c) within 30 days following the Closing Date, $9.00 and (y) with respect to any Series A Preferred Stockholder’s exercise of conversion rights pursuant to Section 4.5(c) more than 30 days following the Closing Date, $11.00, in each case of clauses (x) and (y) subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.5(c)(iii).

(v) “Conversion Securities” means (i) shares of Common Stock or (ii) such other series of shares or units of common equity interests of the Corporation, any direct or indirect parent thereof (a “Parent Entity”), or any Subsidiary thereof into which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible pursuant to Section 4.5(c).

(vi) “Dividend Payment Date” means (i) June 30 and December 31 of each fiscal year, commencing on [December 31, 2022] [June 30, 2023]2 and (ii) the Series A Preferred Maturity Date; provided that, if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, the Dividend Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

(vii) “Dividend Period” means the period commencing on and including a Dividend Payment Date that ends on, but does not include, the next Dividend Payment Date. The initial Dividend Period will commence on and include the Closing Date.

(viii) “Equity Securities” means any (x) capital stock of, or other equity interests in, any Person, (y) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests in any Person, or (z) options, warrants or other rights to acquire the securities described in clauses (x) and (y), whether fixed or contingent, matured or unmatured, contractual, legal, equitable or otherwise.

(ix) “Event of Default” means any (a) a failure by the Corporation to pay amounts with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock as and when due pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds legally available for the payment thereof or such payment is then permitted by applicable law or any instrument or agreement to which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is a party), (b) with respect to any Series A Preferred Stockholder, the failure by the Corporation to comply with such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s Conversion Rights set forth in Section 4.5(c)(i)(1) (in each case whether or not permitted by applicable law or any agreement or instrument binding upon the Corporation), (c) the

 

1 

Note to Draft: To be the date of the closing of the Transactions.

2 

Note to Draft: To be the first date after the Closing Date.

 

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failure by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with any other agreement or obligation pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, Section 4.5(d)) for 30 days after written notice thereof from the Required Series A Preferred Holders (provided that any failure of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries to provide notice within the period prescribed pursuant to Section 4(g) of the occurrence of any Event of Default (or any event or condition which would, upon notice, lapse of time or both, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default) shall constitute an immediate Event of Default), (e) any acceleration (or failure to pay at final stated maturity) of Indebtedness of (i) the Corporation in excess of $5,000,000 or (ii) any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $21,000,000 (in each case, excluding any acceleration of Indebtedness as a result of an aircraft casualty event), (f) the occurrence of any Insolvency Event or (g) any voluntary or involuntary de-listing of the Corporation’s common equity interests or the common equity interests of any Parent Entity that has issued Conversion Securities pursuant to Section 4.5(c) from the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market (unless such de-listing is accompanied by a substantially simultaneous listing on another of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market).

(x) “Excess Hold Redemption Price” means a price equal to the sum of (x) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (y) an amount equal to any accrued Series A Preferred Interest Amount on such share of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, from (and including) the Closing Date or the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the applicable Excess Hold Redemption Date to, but excluding, such Excess Hold Redemption Date.

(xi) “Fair Value” means, with respect to any assets or securities, the fair value for such assets or securities as between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction occurring on the date of valuation, taking into account all relevant factors determinative of value, as reasonably determined by the Board.

(xii) “Fundamental Change” means (i) the direct or indirect sale, lease, division, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as each such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Corporation or one or more of its Subsidiaries and other than a pledge or grant of a security interest to one or more bona fide lenders (provided, that the enforcement of such pledge or security interest shall be considered in determining whether a Fundamental Change has occurred), (ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (other than any “person” or “group” described in clause (iii) below) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation or any Parent Entity, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like or (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that, in the aggregate, the Permitted Holders, a “group” controlled by any of the Permitted Holders or any entity controlled by

 

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one or more Permitted Holders formed for the purpose of owning Equity Securities of the Corporation or a Parent Entity is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than sixty one percent (61.0%) of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation or any Parent Entity, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like.

(xiii) “Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (a) (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property, goods or services, (ii) all other obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person for the repayment of borrowed money in the form of surety bonds, letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances whether or not matured, and (iii) all net payment obligations under hedges and other derivative contracts and similar financial instruments, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) all capital lease obligations of such Person, (d) all indebtedness referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above secured by (or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien upon or in property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness (and thus such indebtedness is not an obligation of such Person) and (e) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any indebtedness referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above of another Person.

(xiv) “Initial Series A Preferred Issue Price” means $[•], subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any dividend, split, combination or other similar recapitalization which may be made after the date hereof.

(xv) “Insolvency Event” means (a) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Corporation or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a material part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, examiner, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Corporation or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or unstayed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or (b) the Corporation or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, court protection, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (a) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, examiner, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Corporation or any Material Subsidiary or for a material part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding or (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

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(xvi) “JPMCF” means JPMorgan Chase Funding Inc. and each of its successors or any of their respective Affiliates.

(xvii) “Make-Whole Amount” means with respect to any share of Series A Preferred Stock on any Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination, the present value at such Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination of 100% of the Series A Preferred Interest Amount that would accrue in respect of such share of Series A Preferred Stock from the date of such redemption through April 25, 2027, discounted to the date of redemption on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate determined with respect to such Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination plus 50 basis points, and assuming for purposes hereof that (1) such Series A Preferred Interest Amount is paid (i) in cash in full if the Corporation shall have paid currently in full in cash all Series A Preferred Interest Amount on and as of the two Dividend Payment Dates immediately preceding such Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination or (ii) by adding such amount to the Series A Preferred Interest Amount if subclause (i) shall not apply and (2) the Series A Preferred Dividend Rate for the period from the date of such redemption through April 25, 2027 is equal to the Series A Preferred Dividend Rate in effect as of the date of such redemption (including any default rate increase if then in effect pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Series A Preferred Interest Amount” at the date of such redemption or other applicable date of determination).

(xviii) “Material Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Corporation that, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Corporation most recently ended for which financial statements of the Corporation are available, had revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 25% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and (b) any group comprising Subsidiaries that each would not have been a Material Subsidiary under clause (a) but that, taken together, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Corporation most recently ended for which financial statements of the Corporation are available, had revenues or total assets for such quarter in excess of 25% of the consolidated revenues or total assets, as applicable, of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries for such quarter.

(xix) “Permitted Holders” means Bridger Element LLC, McAndrew Rudisill, Tim Sheehy and Matthew Sheehy and each of their respective Affiliates.

(xx) “Person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association, or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

(xxi) “Required Series A Preferred Holders” means, as of any date of determination, one or more Series A Preferred Stockholders holding shares of Series A Preferred Stock representing not less than fifty-five percent (55.0%) of the Series A Preferred Stated Value of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock; provided that at any time during which there are two or more unaffiliated Series A Preferred Stockholders, the Required Series A Preferred Holders must include at least two unaffiliated Series A Preferred Stockholder.

 

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(xxii) “Required Series A Preferred Super Majority” means, as of any date of determination, one or more Series A Preferred Stockholders holding shares of Series A Preferred Stock representing not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Series A Preferred Stated Value of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

(xxiii) “Sale of the Corporation” means (a) a transaction or series of related transactions in which a “person” or a “group” (as each such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) acquires Voting Securities of the Corporation representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation (excluding from this clause (a) any Business Combination (as defined below)), (b) any direct or indirect acquisition of the Corporation by means of merger, consolidation, business combination, exchange or contribution of equity, or other form of entity reorganization in one or a series of related transactions with or into another entity (a “Business Combination”) in which the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock are exchanged for cash, securities or other consideration and, immediately following such transaction, a “person” or a “group” (as each such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) that is not a holder of Equity Securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction owns directly or indirectly Equity Securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the surviving entity or its direct or indirect parent holding entity, or (c) a direct or indirect sale, transfer or other disposition (other than a pledge or grant of a security interest to one or more bona fide lenders) of greater than seventy-five percent (75%) of the consolidated assets of the Corporation (other than to a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Corporation).

(xxiv) “Series A Preferred Interest Amount” means, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, an amount accruing daily, computed on the basis of a 365 day year, on such share of Series A Preferred Stock at a rate (such rate, as may be increased pursuant to the penultimate sentence of this definition, the “Series A Preferred Dividend Rate”) equal to3 (i) 7.00% per annum on the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock for the period from (and including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) April 25, 2028, (ii) 9.00% per annum on the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock for the period from (and including) April 25, 2028 to (but excluding) April 25, 2029, and (iii) thereafter, 11.00% per annum on the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock. Series A Preferred Interest Amount shall be paid in cash; provided that at the Corporation’s election in its sole discretion (which election shall be deemed made by the Corporation if no Series A Preferred Interest Amount is paid in cash on the applicable Dividend Payment Date) for each Dividend Period for which Series A Preferred Interest Amount is not paid in cash, the Series A Preferred Interest Amount for such share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be paid by increasing the Series A Preferred Stated Value

 

3 

Note to Draft: Initial dividend rate to be updated to 9% in the event the Closing Date occurs on or after April 25, 2023.

 

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for such share of Series A Preferred Stock (in lieu of being paid in cash). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then until such Event of Default is cured or waived by the Required Series A Preferred Holders (or, with respect to an Event of Default relating to a default in respect of a Series A Preferred Stockholder’s exercise of its put right pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(iv), or a Series A Preferred Stockholder’s exercise of its Conversion Rights set forth in Section 4.5(c)(i)(1), by each applicable Series A Preferred Stockholder affected thereby) then until such violation is cured or waived by a Required Series A Preferred Super Majority, then the applicable Series A Preferred Dividend Rate shall be subject to an increase of 2.00% per annum; provided, however, in no event shall the Series A Preferred Dividend Rate increase by more than 2.00% per annum. The Series A Preferred Interest Amount (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence) will accrue as set forth herein regardless of whether Series A Preferred Interest Amount has been declared by the Board and whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds legally available for the payment thereof or such payment is then permitted by applicable law or any instrument or agreement to which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

(xxv) “Series A Preferred Liquidation Preference” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (x) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock plus (y) an amount equal to any accrued Series A Preferred Interest Amount on such share of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, from (and including) the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the applicable date of determination to, but excluding, such applicable date of determination.

(xxvi) “Series A Preferred Maturity Date” means April 25, 2032.

(xxvii) “Series A Preferred Redemption Price” means, with respect to any share of Series A Preferred Stock at any date on which such share of Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed (other than pursuant to an Excess Hold Redemption), (i) in the case of any redemption pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(i)(y), a price equal to the sum of (x) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (y) an amount equal to any accrued Series A Preferred Interest Amount on such share of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, from (and including) the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination to, but excluding, such Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination, plus (z) the Make-Whole Amount with respect to such share of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) on or after April 25, 2027, a price equal to the sum of (x) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus (y) an amount equal to any accrued Series A Preferred Interest Amount on such share of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, from (and including) the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination to, but excluding, such Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination.

 

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(xxviii) “Series A Preferred Stated Value” means, with respect to a share of Series A Preferred Stock, the sum of (x) the Initial Series A Preferred Issue Price of such share of Series A Preferred Stock plus (y) any accrued and unpaid Series A Preferred Interest Amount thereon as of the end of the immediately preceding semi-annual Dividend Period.

(xxix) “Series A Preferred Stockholder” means a holder of Series A Preferred Stock.

(xxx) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which (a) a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or other members of the applicable governing body thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if no such governing body exists at such entity, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests of the entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing member or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

(xxxi) “Treasury Rate” means, as of any date of determination, the weekly average rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percentage point (for the most recently completed week for which such information is available as of the date that is two Business Days prior to the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination) of the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 as of the applicable day during such week (or, if such statistical release is no longer published or the relevant information does not appear thereon, any publicly available source for similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination to April 25, 2027; provided that if the period from the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination to April 25, 2027 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which such yield is given, the Treasury Rate will be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination to April 25, 2027 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. In each case, the Corporation or its agent shall obtain the Treasury Rate.

 

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(xxxii) “Voting Security” means (a) shares of Common Stock and (b) any shares of Preferred Stock that are permitted by their terms to vote together with the Common Stock or to vote as a separate class or series with respect to the election of the Corporation’s directors.

(b) Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock

(i) Series A Preferred Optional Redemption. At any time and from time to time (x) on or after April 25, 2027 or (y) in connection with the consummation of a Fundamental Change but prior to April 25, 2027, the Corporation shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to redeem, subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 4.5(b)(i), all or any portion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (a “Series A Preferred Optional Redemption”), for an amount in cash equal to the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price; provided that no such Series A Preferred Optional Redemption shall be permitted pursuant to clause (y) in connection with a Fundamental Change of the type described in clause (iii) of the definition thereof, without the consent of the Required Series A Preferred Super Majority. For the avoidance of doubt, no share of Series A Preferred Stock that is converted into Conversion Securities prior to the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Date (including any shares of Series A Preferred Stock as to which Conversion Rights are exercised following the delivery of a Series A Preferred Redemption Notice but prior to the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Date) shall be subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 4.5(b)(i).

(ii) Excess Hold Redemption. In addition, except to the extent otherwise agreed in writing between the Corporation and JPMCF, the Corporation shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to redeem, subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 4.5(b)(ii), all or any portion of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by JPMCF at such time with an aggregate Initial Series A Preferred Issue Price in excess of $[•] (an “Excess Hold Redemption”), for an amount in cash equal to the applicable Excess Hold Redemption Price; provided that an Excess Hold Redemption must be funded with cash proceeds of a capital raising transaction consummated subsequent to April 25, 2022. For the avoidance of doubt, no share of Series A Preferred Stock that is converted into Conversion Securities prior to the applicable Excess Hold Redemption Date (including any share of Series A Preferred Stock as to which Conversion Rights are exercised following the delivery of an Excess Hold Redemption Notice but prior to the applicable Excess Hold Redemption Date) shall be subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 4.5(b)(ii). Any election by the Corporation to effect an Excess Hold Redemption shall be irrevocable and shall be made by delivering an Excess Hold Redemption Notice in accordance with Section 4.5(b)(iii)(2).

(iii) Procedures for Optional Redemption and Excess Hold Redemption.

(1) Series A Preferred Optional Redemption. At least ten (10) Business Days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date on which the Corporation intends to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(i) (except in connection with a redemption that is subject to one or more conditions precedent established by the Corporation, in which case such

 

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redemption date may extend until all such conditions are satisfied), (such date, the “Series A Preferred Redemption Date”), a written notice of such redemption (a “Series A Preferred Redemption Notice”) shall be given to each Series A Preferred Stockholder to such Person’s address appearing in the books of the Corporation. The Series A Preferred Redemption Notice shall state: (w) the Series A Preferred Redemption Date, (x) the Series A Preferred Redemption Price, (y) if such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, each such condition and, if applicable, state that, in the Corporation’s discretion, the Series A Preferred Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded if any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the Series A Preferred Redemption Date (or by the Series A Preferred Redemption Date as so delayed) and (z) instructions with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are to be surrendered for redemption. Each Series A Preferred Stockholder subject to a Series A Preferred Redemption Notice shall surrender to the Corporation the certificate or certificates (if any) representing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, duly endorsed, in the manner and at the place designated in the Series A Preferred Redemption Notice and, on such Series A Preferred Redemption Date, the Series A Preferred Redemption Price shall be payable by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Series A Preferred Stockholder to an account designated by such Series A Preferred Stockholder prior to the Series A Preferred Redemption Date, and each surrendered certificate (if any) shall be canceled and retired. In the event that at any time fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(i), the selection of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be made pro rata in proportion to the Series A Preferred Stated Value of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each Series A Preferred Stockholder.

(2) Series A Excess Hold Redemption. If, at any time and from time to time, the Corporation intends to redeem Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(ii) a written notice of such redemption (an “Excess Hold Redemption Notice”) shall be given to JPMCF at JPMCF’s address appearing in the books of the Corporation no later than March 15, 2023. The Excess Hold Redemption Notice shall state: (w) the date of such Excess Hold Redemption, which in any event shall be not more than ten (10) Business Days following the Corporation’s delivery of the Excess Hold Redemption Notice (the “Excess Hold Redemption Date”), (x) the Excess Hold Redemption Price, (y) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock subject to such Excess Hold Redemption and (z) instructions with respect to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are to be surrendered for redemption. JPMCF shall surrender to the Corporation the certificate or certificates (if any) representing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, duly endorsed, in the manner and at the place designated in the Excess Hold Redemption Notice and, on such Excess Hold Redemption Date, the Excess Hold Redemption Price shall be payable by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by JPMCF, prior to the applicable Excess Hold Redemption Date, and each surrendered certificate (if any) shall be canceled and retired.

 

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(iv) Series A Preferred Stockholder Redemption.

(1) A Series A Preferred Stockholder may elect to have the Corporation fully redeem all of such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s outstanding Series A Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of (and substantially concurrently with) the consummation of a Fundamental Change (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Sale of the Corporation), for an amount in cash equal to the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price (determined by reference to the date upon which such Fundamental Change occurs). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the redemption referenced in this clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1) shall not be required in any transaction if the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are purchased at the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price (determined by reference to the date upon which such transaction is consummated) in connection with (and no later than the time of consummation of) such transaction.

(2) If applicable law does not permit the Corporation to consummate any required redemption described in clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1) above, the Corporation shall not consummate the applicable transaction unless (x) at the closing thereof all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are purchased from the Series A Preferred Stockholders (whether by the Corporation, an Affiliate thereof or a third party) for an amount in cash equal to the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price (determined by reference to the date upon which such Fundamental Change occurs) or (y) the Corporation has given a ROFR Notice with respect to such transaction and otherwise complied with Section 4.5(e) hereof.

(3) In the event that a Series A Preferred Stockholder elects to have the Corporation redeem all of such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1) above, such Series A Preferred Stockholder shall deliver a written notice of such election (a “Put Notice”) to the Corporation specifying that such Series A Preferred Stockholder elects to have its shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to such clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1). The Corporation shall complete any redemption pursuant to clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1) within 20 Business Days of receipt of such Put Notice (or if later, the date of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Change) at the place specified in such Put Notice. At the closing of such redemption, (x) each electing Series A Preferred Stockholder shall surrender to the Corporation the certificate or certificates (if any) representing its shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, duly endorsed, in the manner and at the place designated by the Corporation in writing to such Series A Preferred Stockholder and (y) the Series A Preferred Redemption Price (determined by reference to the date upon which the applicable Fundamental Change occurs) shall be payable by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the electing Series A Preferred Stockholder to an account designated by such electing Series A Preferred Stockholder.

 

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(4) Except as set forth in clause 4.5(b)(iv)(1), the Series A Preferred Stockholders will have no right to require the Corporation to redeem any shares of Series A Preferred Stock prior to April 25, 2027.

(v) Series A Preferred Mandatory Redemption at Maturity. On the Series A Preferred Maturity Date, the Corporation shall redeem and purchase all (but not less than all) outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock for an amount, in cash, equal to the applicable Series A Preferred Liquidation Preference.

(vi) Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in no event shall failure to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock on any date specified in Section 4.5(b)(iv) impose a limitation on the Corporation from completing a Fundamental Change or Sale of the Corporation; provided that the failure of the Corporation to redeem in full in cash the applicable shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a Series A Preferred Redemption Date or other applicable date of determination (including the Series A Preferred Maturity Date) by reason of the operation of this clause 4.5(b)(vi) shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (a) of the definition thereof or the effectiveness of the rights and privileges of the Series A Preferred Stockholders that result from such Event of Default.

(vii) Termination of Rights. Upon the delivery by or on behalf of the Corporation of all consideration payable in respect of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 4.5(b), all rights with respect to the redeemed shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall terminate.

(viii) Interest Accruing on the Series A Preferred Stock. On and after a redemption date, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment in full of the Series A Preferred Redemption Price, Series A Preferred Interest Amount on the redeemed shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall cease to accrue and accumulate on such date, and all rights of the Series A Preferred Stockholders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are redeemed shall terminate with respect thereto on such date, other than the right to receive the Series A Preferred Redemption Price.

(c) Conversion of Series A Preferred Stock.

(i) Conversion Rights. The Series A Preferred Stockholders shall have conversion rights as follows (the “Conversion Rights”):

(1) Conversion Right. At any time, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of, and without payment of additional consideration by, the Series A Preferred Stockholder thereof into such number of fully paid and non-assessable Conversion Securities as is determined by dividing (x) the sum of (A) the Series A Preferred Stated Value of such share of Series A Preferred Stock plus (B) an amount equal to any accrued Series A Preferred

 

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Interest Amount on such share of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, from (and including) the most recent Dividend Payment Date prior to the Conversion Time to, but excluding, the Conversion Time by (y) the applicable Conversion Price for such share of Series A Preferred Stock. The Conversion Price, and the rate at which Series A Preferred Stock may be converted into Conversion Securities, shall be subject to adjustment as provided in this Section 4.5(c).

(2) Termination of Conversion Rights. In the event of delivery of a Series A Preferred Redemption Notice in respect of any share of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(iii)(1), the Conversion Rights of the Series A Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price is not fully paid on such Series A Preferred Redemption Date, in which case the Conversion Rights for such share of Series A Preferred Stock shall continue until such Series A Preferred Redemption Price is paid in full.

(3) Fractional Shares. No fractional Conversion Securities shall be issued upon conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock and in lieu of any fractional Conversion Securities to which a Series A Preferred Stockholder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the applicable Conversion Price. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock converting into Conversion Securities and the aggregate number of Conversion Securities issuable upon such conversion. Any share of Series A Preferred Stock so converted shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued as shares of such class, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for any action by stockholders of the Corporation) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock accordingly.

(ii) Mechanisms of Conversion.

(1) Notice of Conversion. In order for a Series A Preferred Stockholder to voluntarily convert a share of Series A Preferred Stock into Conversion Securities, such Series A Preferred Stockholder shall provide written notice to the Corporation’s transfer agent (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) that such Series A Preferred Stockholder elects to convert all or any number of such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock and, if applicable, any event on which such conversion is contingent. Such notice shall state such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s name or the names of the nominees in which such Series A Preferred Stockholder wishes the Conversion Securities to be issued. The close of business on the date of receipt by the transfer agent (or by the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) of such notice shall be the time of conversion (the “Conversion Time”), and the Conversion Securities issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall

 

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be deemed to be outstanding of record as of such date. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after the Conversion Time, (i) issue and deliver to such Series A Preferred Stockholder, or to his, her or its nominees, evidence of the issuance of Conversion Securities upon such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof and (ii) pay in cash such amount as provided in Section 4.5(c)(i)(3).

(2) Reservation of Conversion Securities. The Corporation shall, at all times that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued membership interests, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, such number of its duly authorized Conversion Securities as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued Conversion Securities shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Conversion Securities to such number of Conversion Securities as shall be sufficient for such purposes.

(3) Effect of Conversion. All shares of Series A Preferred Stock which shall have been surrendered for conversion as herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall immediately cease and terminate at the Conversion Time, except only the right of the Series A Preferred Stockholders thereof to receive Conversion Securities in exchange therefor.

(4) No Further Adjustment. Upon any such conversion, no adjustment to the Conversion Price shall be made for any declared but unpaid Series A Preferred Interest Amount on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion or on the Conversion Securities delivered upon conversion.

(5) Taxes. The Corporation shall pay any and all issue, transfer and other similar taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of Conversion Securities or the transfer of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, upon conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4.5(c); provided that such taxes shall not include any income tax under federal or state tax laws if the conversion is treated as a taxable exchange by or for the Series A Preferred Stockholders.

(iii) Adjustments.

(1) Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time effect a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect immediately before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased so that the number of Conversion Securities issuable on conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall

 

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be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased so that the number of Conversion Securities issuable on conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Any adjustment under this clause 4.5(c)(iii)(1) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(2) Adjustment for Certain Dividends. In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend payable on the shares of Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Conversion Price in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the applicable Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:

 

  (a)

the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and

 

  (b)

the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend. Notwithstanding the foregoing (x) if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Conversion Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and thereafter the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this clause (b) as of the time of actual payment of such dividends; and (y) no such adjustment shall be made if the Series A Preferred Stockholders simultaneously receive a dividend of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of Conversion Securities as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Conversion Securities on the date of such event.

 

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(3) Adjustments for Other Dividends. In the event the Corporation at any time shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend payable in Equity Securities of the Corporation (other than a dividend of Conversion Securities in respect of outstanding Conversion Securities) or in other property (including cash), then and in each such event the Series A Preferred Stockholders shall receive, simultaneously with the dividend to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend of such Equity Securities or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such Equity Securities or other property as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Conversion Securities on the date of such event.

(4) Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, etc. If there shall occur any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger involving the Corporation in which the shares of Common Stock (but not the shares of Series A Preferred Stock) are converted into or exchanged for securities of a series of shares or units of common equity interests of the Corporation, a Parent Entity, or a Subsidiary (as applicable), cash or other property of the Corporation, a Parent Entity, or a Subsidiary (as applicable) (other than a transaction covered by Section 4.5(c)(iii)(1), Section 4.5(c)(iii)(2) or Section 4.5(c)(iii)(3)), then, following any such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible in lieu of the shares of Common Stock into which it was convertible prior to such event into the kind and amount of securities of the Corporation, a Parent Entity, or a Subsidiary (as applicable), cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of one share of Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section 4.5(c) with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Series A Preferred Stockholders, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section 4.5(c) (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any securities or other property thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

(5) Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4.5(c), the Corporation at its expense shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each Series A Preferred Stockholder a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property into which a share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible) and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, as

 

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promptly as reasonably practicable after the written request at any time of any Series A Preferred Stockholder (but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter), furnish or cause to be furnished to such Series A Preferred Stockholder a certificate setting forth (i) the Conversion Price then in effect, (ii) the series or class of Conversion Securities and (iii) number of Conversion Securities and the amount, if any, of other securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

(d) Matters Requiring Approval of Certain Series A Preferred Stockholders. The terms of this Certificate of Incorporation and the terms of the organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Corporation notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, without the prior written consent or approval (which may be in the form of an email) of the Required Series A Preferred Holders, for so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding:

(i) Equity Issuances. Create, authorize or issue (by reclassification or otherwise) any Equity Securities of the Corporation, including any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other security convertible into or exchangeable for any Equity Security of the Corporation, having rights, preferences or privileges ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock or pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock.

(ii) Amendments. Subject to Section 4.5(d)(vii) below, amend, modify, restate, repeal or make any other change (by amendment, merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise) to any provision of the Corporation’s or any Subsidiary’s organizational documents (including this Certificate of Incorporation) in a manner which adversely alters or changes the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock; provided that any issuance of securities junior to the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be adverse to the Series A Preferred Stock.

(iii) Dividends. Prior to payment in full in cash of the Series A Preferred Liquidation Preference on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, effect any dividend or distribution to or redemption of Equity Securities (other than the shares of Series A Preferred Stock).

(iv) Series A Preferred Terms. Subject to Section 4.5(d)(vii) below, amend, modify or waive the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock.

(v) Merger or Consolidation. (1) Merge or consolidate with any Person (other than a merger or consolidation of one of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries with another of its Subsidiaries) or (2) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries or otherwise consummate a Fundamental Change, in each case, unless such event constitutes a Fundamental Change and either (1) the Series A Preferred Stockholders are afforded at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice of the consummation thereof and the Series A Preferred Stockholders shall receive in full in cash the applicable Series A Preferred Redemption Price due on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that remain outstanding as of the consummation of such transaction substantially concurrently with the consummation of such transaction or (2) (w) at least

 

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90% of the consideration received or to be received by a holder of Common Stock, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in connection with such Fundamental Change consists of shares of common stock of a U.S. corporation (the “Public Company”) that are (or are to be) listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Global Market (or any of their successors), (x) the Series A Preferred Stockholders receive, in exchange for their shares of Series A Preferred Stock, an equivalent amount of a new class of preferred stock of the Public Company having rights, privileges, ranking and economic terms substantially identical to those of the Series A Preferred Stock, (y) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no “person” or “group” (as defined in the definition of “Fundamental Change”) shall beneficially own stock of the Public Company having a majority of the ordinary voting power of all stock of the Public Company and (z) as a result of such transaction or transactions the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall, at the option of the Series A Preferred Stockholders (and subject to the anti-dilution adjustments set forth in Section 4.5(c) applicable to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock), become convertible into the consideration that such shares of Series A Preferred Stock would have received had they been converted into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to such Fundamental Change or (3) the Corporation has provided a ROFR Notice in accordance with Section 4.5(e) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Section 4.5(e) applicable thereto.

(vi) Liquidation. Consent to a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries unless, with respect to the Corporation, the Corporation shall have delivered to the Series A Preferred Stockholders not less than 10 Business Days’ prior written notice of such transaction.

(vii) Notwithstanding the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation (including clauses (i) through (vi) above), without the prior written consent or approval (which may be in the form of an email) of a Required Series A Preferred Super Majority, no amendment, waiver or modification of this Certificate of Incorporation shall (i) decrease the Series A Preferred Dividend Rate, (ii) reduce the Series A Preferred Redemption Price or otherwise modify the definition of such term, (iii) modify the definition of “Conversion Price,” “Initial Series A Preferred Issue Price,” “Series A Preferred Interest Amount,” “Series A Preferred Liquidation Preference,” “Series A Preferred Maturity Date,” “Series A Preferred Stated Value” or the components of any of the foregoing, (iv) modify Section 4.5(b)(i), Section 4.5(b)(ii), Section 4.5(b)(iii), Section 4.5(b)(iv), Section 4.5(b)(v), Section 4.5(b)(vi), Section 4.5(c), Section 4.5(d) and Section 4.5(f), (v) make any change to the provisions relating to voting percentages that include the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the definition of “Required Series A Preferred Holders”) or (vi) amend, modify or waive Section 4.5(g) in a manner which adversely alters or changes the rights, preferences, privileges or obligations of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock or the Series A Preferred Stockholders. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein but subject to the definition of “Series A Preferred Interest Amount” and other than in the event of a Fundamental Change of a type specified in and permitted by Section 4.5(d)(v) above, the Corporation shall not redeem or otherwise make any dividend or payment on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock other than in cash without the prior written consent or approval (which may be in the form of an email) of each affected Series A Preferred Stockholder.

 

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(e) Right of First Refusal.

(i) Prior to the consummation of a Fundamental Change transaction with respect to which the Required Series A Preferred Holders have exercised redemption rights pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(iv)(1) or the consent of the Required Series A Preferred Holders is otherwise required pursuant to Section 4.5(d)(v), the Corporation shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deliver to the Series A Preferred Stockholders (each, in such capacity, a “ROFR Holder”) a written notice (the “ROFR Notice”) setting forth in reasonable detail material terms and conditions of such Fundamental Change transaction, including the total consideration to be received, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation and/or its stockholders in respect thereof (the “ROFR Consideration”); provided that if all or any portion of the ROFR Consideration consists of consideration other than cash (the “Non-Cash Consideration”), the ROFR Notice shall specify the Fair Value of the Non-Cash Consideration. The ROFR Notice shall constitute the Corporation’s offer to the ROFR Holders to engage in a transaction on terms that are the same as those for such Fundamental Change transaction as set forth in the ROFR Notice, which offer shall be irrevocable until the end of the ROFR Notice Period.

(ii) Within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of such ROFR Notice (the “ROFR Notice Period”), any ROFR Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation (“ROFR”), to elect to engage in a transaction on terms that are the same as those for such Fundamental Change transaction as specified in such ROFR Notice by delivering to the Corporation a written notice of its election (the “ROFR Reply”) to engage in such transaction on terms that are the same as those for such Fundamental Change transaction as specified in such ROFR Notice (the “Alternative Transaction”); provided that if all or any portion of the ROFR Consideration consists of Non-Cash Consideration, all or such portion of ROFR Consideration that consists of Non-Cash Consideration shall be replaced with cash consideration equal to the Fair Value of the Non-Cash Consideration that is specified in such ROFR Notice. Any ROFR Reply shall be irrevocable and binding upon delivery by the applicable ROFR Holder. If a ROFR Holder does not deliver a ROFR Reply during the ROFR Notice Period with respect to such Fundamental Change transaction (a “Non-Subscribing ROFR Holder”), then such Non-Subscribing ROFR Holder shall be deemed to have waived its ROFR with respect to such Fundamental Change transaction or Alternative Transaction under this Section 4.5(e).

(iii) If, after complying with the foregoing, the ROFR Holders have waived their ROFR with respect to such Fundamental Change transaction under this Section 4.5(e), the Corporation shall be free to consummate such Fundamental Change transaction on the terms specified in such ROFR Notice without any further obligation to the ROFR Holders under this Section 4.5(e) within the one hundred twenty (120) day period immediately following the expiration of the ROFR Notice Period (which period may be extended for a reasonable time not to exceed sixty (60) days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any governmental approvals (the “Waived ROFR

 

21


Transfer Period”). If such Fundamental Change transaction is not consummated within the Waived ROFR Transfer Period, the rights of the Series A Preferred Stockholders pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(iv)(2) and Section 4.5(d)(v) shall be deemed to be revived and any subsequent Fundamental Change transaction shall be subject to the terms thereof.

(iv) If one or more ROFR Holders delivers a ROFR Reply, such ROFR Holders shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate such Alternative Transaction on terms that are the same as those for such Fundamental Change transaction as specified in such ROFR Notice, including, without limitation, entering into agreements and delivering certificates and instruments and consents as may be necessary or appropriate. At the closing of such Alternative Transaction pursuant to this Section 4.5(e), the Corporation shall take such actions, execute such instruments and documents and make such deliveries as shall be necessary to cause the consummation of such Alternative Transaction against receipt of the ROFR Consideration from the ROFR Holder via wire transfer of immediately available funds. To the extent more than one Series A Preferred Stockholder delivers a ROFR Reply, each such Series A Preferred Stockholder shall pay its pro rata share (calculated as a fraction the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such Series A Preferred Stockholder on the date of purchase and the denominator of which is the number of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by all Series A Preferred Stockholders on the date of purchase) of the applicable ROFR Consideration and directly or indirectly acquire a pro rata portion of the Equity Securities or other assets (which in the case of assets other than Equity Securities shall represent an undivided economic and voting interest in such assets proportionate to such Series A Preferred Stockholder’s pro rata share of the purchase price therefor). The consummation of such Alternative Transaction on the terms specified in the ROFR Reply delivered pursuant to this Section 4.5(e) shall be deemed to be approved the Required Series A Preferred Holders for purposes of Section 4.5(d) but shall otherwise be subject to customary closing conditions (other than any condition requiring the ROFR Holder(s) to have obtained committed financing to consummate such transaction).

(v) If the ROFR Holders deliver a ROFR Reply and such Alternative Transaction is not consummated within the thirty (30) day period immediately following the expiration of the ROFR Notice Period (which period may be extended for a reasonable time not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any governmental approvals) (the “Alternative Transaction Period”), the ROFR Holders shall be deemed to have waived their ROFR and the provisions of Section 4.5(e)(iii) above shall apply as if the last date of the Alternative Transaction Period was the expiration of the ROFR Notice Period.

(f) Dividends.

(i) Preferred Interest Payments. Dividends on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable to all Series A Preferred Stockholders in an amount equal to the Series A Preferred Interest Amount, in each case, whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds legally available for the payment thereof or such payment is then permitted by applicable law or any instrument or agreement to which the Corporation or

 

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any of its Subsidiaries is a party. All cash distributions (including, without limitation, any distributions in connection with any Insolvency Event) of the Series A Preferred Interest Amount are prior to and in preference over any distribution on any shares of Common Stock and shall be declared and fully paid before any distributions (other than, as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, payment of customary regular cash dividends on the shares of Common Stock with the consent of the Required Series A Preferred Holders) are made on any shares of Common Stock (it being understood and agreed that that the Series A Preferred Interest Amount payable on each Dividend Payment Date may be paid by increasing the Series A Preferred Stated Value for such share of Series A Preferred Stock in lieu of payment in cash; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no distribution on any shares of Common Stock shall be made on any shares of Common Stock until all such capitalized Series A Preferred Interest Amount is paid in cash in full (except as set forth in the immediately preceding parenthetical)). Dividends shall be payable to the Series A Preferred Stockholders as they appear on the records of the Corporation on the record date for such distributions, which, to the extent the Board determines to declare distributions in respect of any Dividend Period, shall be the date that is 15 days prior to the applicable Dividend Payment Date. All such payments of Series A Preferred Interest Amount shall be payable as set forth in the definition thereof. Series A Preferred Interest Amount will accrue as set forth herein regardless of whether such Series A Preferred Interest Amount has been declared by the Board and whether or not there are any profits, surplus or other funds legally available for the payment thereof or such payment is then permitted by applicable law or any instrument or agreement to which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

(ii) All payments or dividends by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any shares, including, without limitation, any payment or dividend in connection with any Insolvency Event, must be allocated among the stockholders of the Corporation and distributed in the following priorities:

(1) First, one hundred percent (100%) to the Series A Preferred Stockholders, pro rata in proportion to the Series A Preferred Stated Value of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock until the Series a Preferred Stockholders have received cumulative dividends (exclusive of prior dividends in respect of Series A Preferred Interest Amount, whether paid in cash or added to the Series A Preferred Value) equal to the aggregate Series A Preferred Liquidation Preference then applicable for all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and

(2) Thereafter, one hundred percent (100%) to the holders of shares of Common Stock, pro rata in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held.

(g) Miscellaneous. The Corporation shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly (which in no case shall be more than 30 days) after a responsible officer of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries has obtained knowledge thereof, provide notice to each Series A Preferred Stockholder of the occurrence of any Event of Default (or any event or condition which would, upon notice, lapse of time or both, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default).

 

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ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

5.1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

5.2. Number of Directors; Election; Term.

(a) Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, if any, the number of directors that shall constitute the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board and which initially shall be, upon filing of this Certificate of Incorporation, set at nine (9) directors.

(b) Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to such classes. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V; the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V; and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V. At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V, each of the successors elected to replace the directors of a class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned by the Board among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, provided that no decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2, and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, each director shall serve until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

(d) Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, the “Bylaws”) shall so provide.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Article V, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the certificate of designation for such series of Preferred Stock, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of this Article V, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues; (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to such provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such series of stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

5.3. Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, a director may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

5.4. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors may be filled only by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, at any meeting of the Board and not by the stockholders. A person so elected by the Board to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such person shall have been assigned by the Board and until such person’s successor shall be duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

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ARTICLE VII

STOCKHOLDERS

7.1. No Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

7.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to call a special meeting of the holders of such series, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Corporation or the Board, and the ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of the stockholders is hereby specifically denied.

7.3. Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

8.1. Limitation of Personal Liability. No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. For purposes of this Section 8.1, “officer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time.

8.2. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereafter in effect, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. A director’s right to indemnification conferred by this Section 8.2 shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided that such director presents to the Corporation a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such director is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article VIII or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for proceedings to enforce any director’s or officer’s rights to indemnification or any director’s rights to advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer, or advance expenses of any director, (or such director’s or officer’s heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

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8.3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred in Section 8.2 of this Certificate of Incorporation shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

8.4. Insurance. To the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any current or former director or officer of the Corporation against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII or otherwise.

8.5. Persons Other Than Directors and Officers. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, or to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than those persons described in the first sentence of Section 8.2 of this Certificate of Incorporation or to advance expenses to persons other than directors of the Corporation.

8.6. Effect of Modifications. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision contained in this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors or officers) and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any current or former director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE IX

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

9.1. DGCL Section 203 Opt-Out. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

9.2. Business Combination Exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

(a) prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

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(b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

(c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation that is not owned by the interested stockholder, or

(d) the stockholder became an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divested itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceased to be an interested stockholder and (ii) was not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership.

9.3. Definitions. For purposes of this Article IX, references to:

(a) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

(b) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation, Section 9.2 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority- owned Subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

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(iii) any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such Subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such Subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such Subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of any such Subsidiary that is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

(v) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned Subsidiary.

(c) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article IX, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(d) “Existing Holder Direct Transferee” means any person (and its Affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering), directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Holder or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which such Existing Holder is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

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(e) “Existing Holder Indirect Transferee” means any person (and its Affiliates) who acquires (other than in a registered public offering), directly in one or more related transactions from any Existing Holder Direct Transferee or any other Existing Holder Indirect Transferee, beneficial ownership of 15% or more in the aggregate of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(f) “Existing Holders” means the BTO Investors, BofA, JCIC Sponsor LLC, JPMCF and the Permitted Holders, together with their respective Affiliates and Subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries).

(g) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned Subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, (ii) is an Affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder or (iii) the Affiliates and associates of any such person described in clauses (i) and (ii); provided, however, that “interested stockholder” shall not include (A) any Existing Holder, any Existing Holder Direct Transferee, Existing Holder Indirect Transferee or any of their respective Affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, to which any such person is a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided, in the case of this clause (B), that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of (x) further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person or (y) an acquisition of a de minimis number of such additional shares. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation that may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

(h) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or associates:

(i) beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) such stock, directly or indirectly; or

(ii) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of

 

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stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

(i) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

(j) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference in this Article IX to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such voting stock.

ARTICLE X

LIMITATIONS OF OWNERSHIP BY NON-CITIZENS

10.1. Equity Securities. All Equity Securities of the Corporation shall be subject to the limitations set forth in this Article X.

10.2. Non-Citizen Voting and Ownership Limitations. In no event shall persons or entities who fail to qualify as a “citizen of the United States,” (as the term is defined in Section 40102(a)(15) of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code, as the same may be amended from time to time, in any similar legislation of the United States enacted in substitution or replacement thereof, and as interpreted by the Department of Transportation, its predecessors and successors, from time to time), including any agent, trustee or representative of such persons or entities (each, a “Non-Citizen”), be entitled to own (beneficially or of record) and/or control more than (x) 24.9% of the aggregate votes of all outstanding Voting Securities of the Corporation (the “Voting Limitation Percentage”) or (y) 49.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding Equity Securities of the Corporation (the “Outstanding Share Limitation Percentage” and together with the Voting Limitation Percentage, the “Non-Citizen Cap Amounts”), in each case as more specifically set forth in the Bylaws.

10.3. Enforcement of Non-Citizen Cap Amounts. Except as otherwise set forth in the Bylaws, the restrictions imposed by the Non-Citizen Cap Amounts shall be applied to each Non-Citizen in reverse chronological order based upon the date of registration (or attempted registration in the case of the Outstanding Share Limitation Percentage) on the separate stock record maintained by the Corporation or any transfer agent (on behalf of the Corporation) for the

 

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registration of Equity Securities of the Corporation held by the Non-Citizens (“Foreign Stock Record”) or the stock transfer records of the Corporation. At no time shall the shares of the Equity Securities of the Corporation held by the Non-Citizens be voted, unless such shares are registered on the Foreign Stock Record. In the event that Non-Citizens shall own (beneficially or of record) or have voting control over Equity Securities of the Corporation, the voting rights of such persons shall be subject to automatic suspension to the extent required to ensure that the Corporation is in compliance with applicable provisions of law and regulations relating to ownership or control of a United States air carrier. In the event that any transfer of Equity Securities of the Corporation to a Non-Citizen would result in Non-Citizens owning (beneficially or of record) more than the Non-Citizen Cap Amounts, such transfer shall be void and of no effect and shall not be recorded in the books and records of the Corporation. The Bylaws shall contain provisions to implement this Section 10.3, including, without limitation, provisions restricting or prohibiting the transfer of Equity Securities of the Corporation to Non-Citizens. Any determination as to ownership, control or citizenship made by the Board shall be conclusive and binding as between the Corporation and any stockholder.

10.4. Legend for Equity Securities. Each certificate or other representative document for Equity Securities of the Corporation (including each such certificate or representative document for Equity Securities of the Corporation issued upon any permitted transfer of Equity Securities) shall contain a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE [TYPE OF EQUITY SECURITIES] REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE/REPRESENTATIVE DOCUMENT] ARE SUBJECT TO VOTING RESTRICTIONS WITH RESPECT TO [SHARES/WARRANTS, ETC.] HELD BY PERSONS OR ENTITIES THAT FAIL TO QUALIFY AS “CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES” AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED BY RELEVANT LEGISLATION. SUCH VOTING RESTRICTIONS ARE CONTAINED IN THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME. A COMPLETE AND CORRECT COPY OF SUCH RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION SHALL BE FURNISHED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF SUCH SHARES OF [TYPE OF EQUITY SECURITIES] UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.”

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1. Corporate Opportunities.

(a) For purposes of this Section 11.1, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(i) “BofA” means Banc of America Strategic Investments Corporation and each of its successors or any of their Affiliates.

 

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(ii) “BTO Investors” means the [BTO Grannus Holdings C L.P., Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates – NQ L.L.C., BTO Grannus Holdings III – NQ LLC, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund – FD L.P., and Blackstone Family Tactical Opportunities Investment Partnership III – NQ – ESC L.P.]4 and each of their successors or any of their Affiliates.

(iii) “Covered Person” means (A) any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an officer, director, employee or managing director of any of the Existing Investors and (B) the Existing Investors.

(iv) “Existing Investors” means the BTO Investors, BofA, JCIC Sponsor LLC and JPMCF, together with their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries).

(v) “Specified Corporate Opportunity” means any business opportunity, potential transaction, interest or other matter that is offered or presented to any Covered Person other than any business opportunity, potential transaction, interest or other matter that is offered or presented to such Covered Person solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as an officer, director or stockholder of the Corporation.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 122(17) of the DGCL), the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries in, or being offered any opportunity to participate in, any Specified Corporate Opportunity, even if such Specified Corporate Opportunity is one that the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if offered or presented the opportunity to do so. No Covered Person shall have any duty to offer or communicate information regarding any Specified Corporate Opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary duty, as a director, officer, controlling stockholder or otherwise, solely by reason of the fact that such Covered Person (i) pursues or acquires such Specified Corporate Opportunity for its own account or the account of any of the Existing Investors, (ii) directs such Specified Corporate Opportunity to another person or entity or (iii) fails to present such Specified Corporate Opportunity, or information regarding such Specified Corporate Opportunity, to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.1(b) shall not apply to any business opportunity, potential transaction, interest or other matter that is offered or presented to any Covered Person solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as an officer, director or stockholder of the Corporation.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.1.

(d) The provisions of this Section 11.1 shall have no further force or effect at such time as the Existing Investors shall first cease to beneficially own, in the aggregate, at least 10% (ten percent)) of the Corporation’s then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that such termination shall not terminate the effect of the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.1 with respect to any Specified Corporate Opportunity that first arose prior to such termination.

 

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Note to Draft: Subject to continuing BTO review/comment.

 

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11.2. Forum for Certain Actions.

(a) Forum. Unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware or (v) any other action asserting an “internal corporate claim,” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over all indispensable parties named as defendants. Subject to the preceding provisions and unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the federal district courts of the United States of America, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(b) Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of subparagraph (a) of this Section 11.2 is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce subparagraph (a) of this Section 11.2 (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

(c) Enforceability. If any provision of this Section 11.2 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 11.2, and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

(d) Notice and Consent. For the avoidance of doubt, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.2.

 

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11.3. Amendment. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders of the Corporation by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Section 11.3. In addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, and in addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII or this Article XI (including, without limitation, any such Article as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alternation, repeal or adoption of any other Article).

11.4. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this [•] day of [•], 2022.

 

 
By:    
Its:    


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF NEW PUBCO BYLAWS

 


EXHIBIT B

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

BRIDGER AEROSPACE GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)

ARTICLE I

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”). The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”).

Section 1.2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with these amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof, these “Bylaws”) shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.3. Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (including, without limitation, the terms of any certificate of designation with respect to any series of preferred stock), as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board. The ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting. The Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously called by any of them.

Section 1.4. Notice. Whenever stockholders of the Corporation are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice of any meeting shall be given either personally, by mail or by electronic transmission (as defined below) (if permitted under the circumstances by the DGCL) not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, by or at the direction of the Chairperson of the


Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. If notice is given by means of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the DGCL. Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice at such meeting, except where the stockholder attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, and does so object, at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. For the purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

Section 1.5. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be adjourned or recessed from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, by holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, though less than a quorum, or by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned or recessed meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned or recessed meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment or recess is taken. At the adjourned or recessed meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.4 of these Bylaws shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If, after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 1.6. Quorum. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person, present by means of remote communication, if any, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person, present by means of remote communication, if any, or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such vote. If a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, either the chairperson of the meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 1.5 of these Bylaws, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 1.7. Voting.

(a) Matters Other Than Election of Directors. Any matter brought before any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock present in person, present by means of remote communication, if any, or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on such matter, voting as a single class, unless the matter is one upon which, by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter. Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, every stockholder having the right to vote shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 1.10 of these Bylaws. The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

(b) Election of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, election of directors at all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be elected shall be by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present.

Section 1.8. Voting of Stock of Certain Holders. Shares of stock of the Corporation standing in the name of another corporation or entity, domestic or foreign, and entitled to vote may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws or other internal regulations of such corporation or entity may prescribe or, in the absence of such provision, as the Board or comparable body of such corporation or entity may determine. Shares of stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an incompetent or a debtor in a case under Title 11, United States Code, and entitled to vote may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator, debtor-in-possession or trustee, as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into the name of the official or other person so voting. A stockholder whose shares of stock of the Corporation are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares, unless on the transfer records of the Corporation such stockholder has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the pledgee, or the pledgee’s proxy, may vote such shares.

Section 1.9. Treasury Stock. Shares of stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of which are held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and shall not be counted in the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. Nothing in this Section 1.9 shall limit the right of the Corporation to vote shares of stock of the Corporation held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

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Section 1.10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) before or at the time of the meeting. No such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.

Section 1.11. No Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock permitting the holders of such series of preferred stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and, as specified by the Certificate of Incorporation, the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is specifically denied.

Section 1.12. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make or have prepared and made, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

Section 1.13. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for

 

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determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, but the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13 at the adjourned meeting.

Section 1.14. Organization and Conduct of Meetings. The Chairperson of the Board shall act as chairperson of meetings of stockholders of the Corporation. The Board may designate any other director or officer of the Corporation to act as chairperson of any meeting in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board, and the Board may further provide for determining who shall act as chairperson of any meeting of stockholders in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board and such designee. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board, the chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting. The chairperson of a stockholder meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting, and, if the chairperson should so determine, the chairperson shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter of business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Except to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.15. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, by resolution, shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by applicable law.

 

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Section 1.16. Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations.

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) with respect to such annual meeting given by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (ii) otherwise properly brought before such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.16 through the date of such annual meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.16. For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations, or to propose any other business (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)), at an annual meeting of stockholders.

(b) Timing of Notice for Annual Meetings. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 1.16(a)(iii) above, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary, and, in the case of business other than nominations, such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, such notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the ninetieth (90th) day, or earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which first anniversary date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders (or special meeting in lieu thereof) held after the shares of the Corporation’s common stock are first publicly traded (the “First Annual Meeting”), be deemed to be [•], 2023); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days prior to, or more than sixty (60) days after, the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than in connection with the First Annual Meeting), to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be so received not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and (ii) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined below) of the date of the meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the adjournment, recess, postponement or rescheduling of an annual meeting (or the public disclosure thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as described above.

(c) Form of Notice. To be in proper written form, the notice of any stockholder of record giving notice under this Section 1.16 (each, a “Noticing Party”) must set forth:

(i) as to each person whom such Noticing Party proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), if any:

(A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such Proposed Nominee;

 

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(B) the principal occupation and employment of such Proposed Nominee;

(C) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such Proposed Nominee, completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the Secretary prior to submitting notice and which the Secretary shall provide to such Noticing Party within ten (10) days after receiving such request);

(D) a written representation and agreement completed by such Proposed Nominee in the form required by the Corporation (which form such Noticing Party shall request in writing from the Secretary prior to submitting notice and which the Secretary shall provide to such Noticing Party within ten (10) days after receiving such request) providing that such Proposed Nominee: (I) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (II) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director or nominee that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; (III) will, if elected as a director of the Corporation, comply with all applicable rules of any securities exchanges upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies and all other guidelines and policies of the Corporation generally applicable to directors (which other guidelines and policies will be provided to such Proposed Nominee within five (5) business days after the Secretary receives any written request therefor from such Proposed Nominee), and all applicable fiduciary duties under state law; (IV) consents to being named as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the meeting; (V) intends to serve a full term as a director of the Corporation, if elected; and (VI) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and that do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

(E) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposed Nominee or any of such Proposed Nominee’s affiliates or

 

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associates (each as defined below), on the one hand, and any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K as if such Noticing Party and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

(F) a description of any business or personal interests that could place such Proposed Nominee in a potential conflict of interest with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and

(G) all other information relating to such Proposed Nominee or such Proposed Nominee’s associates that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election or otherwise required pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Proxy Rules”);

(ii) as to any other business that such Noticing Party proposes to bring before the meeting:

(A) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting;

(B) the text of the proposal or business (including the complete text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment); and

(C) all other information relating to such business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such proposed business by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to the Proxy Rules; and

(iii) as to such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person:

(A) the name and address of such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person (including, as applicable, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records);

(B) the class, series and number of shares of each class or series of capital stock (if any) of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record (specifying the type of ownership) by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person (including any rights to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future); the date or dates on which such shares or securities were acquired; and the investment intent of such acquisition;

 

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(C) the name of each nominee holder for, and number of, any securities of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and any pledge by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any of such securities;

(D) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, hedging transactions, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, repurchase agreements or arrangements, borrowed or loaned shares and so-called “stock borrowing” agreements or arrangements) that have been entered into by, or on behalf of, such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the price of any securities of the Corporation, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation and without regard to whether such agreement, arrangement or understanding is required to be reported on a Schedule 13D, 13F or 13G in accordance with the Exchange Act (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”);

(E) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Corporation securities where such Noticing Party or such Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

(F) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings, written or oral, (I) between or among such Noticing Party and any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (II) between or among such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (naming each such person or entity), including, without limitation, (x) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly, has a right to vote any security of the Corporation (other than any revocable proxy given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), (y) any understanding, written or oral, that such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person may have reached with any

 

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stockholder of the Corporation (including the name of such stockholder) with respect to how such stockholder will vote such stockholder’s shares in the Corporation at any meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders or take other action in support of any Proposed Nominee or other business, or other action to be taken, by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person and (z) any other agreements that would be required to be disclosed by such Noticing Party, any Stockholder Associated Person or any other person or entity pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of a Schedule 13D pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to such Noticing Party, such Stockholder Associated Person or such other person or entity);

(G) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;

(H) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person is (I) a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (II) the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity;

(I) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person;

(J) any direct or indirect interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, without limitation, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);

(K) a description of any material interest of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person in the business proposed by such Noticing Party, if any, or the election of any Proposed Nominee;

(L) a representation that (I) neither such Noticing Party nor any Stockholder Associated Person has breached any contract or other agreement, arrangement or understanding with the Corporation except as disclosed to the Corporation pursuant hereto and (II) such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied, and will comply, with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.16;

 

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(M) a complete an accurate description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of the Corporation’s securities or any Derivative Instruments, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household;

(N) a description of the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual;

(O) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) under the Exchange Act or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) under the Exchange Act if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act by such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, (regardless of whether such person or entity is actually required to file a Schedule 13D);

(P) a certification regarding whether such Noticing Party and each Stockholder Associated Person has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such person’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and such person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, if such person is or has been a stockholder of the Corporation; and

(Q) all other information relating to such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person, or such Noticing Party’s or any Stockholder Associated Person’s associates, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of the business proposed by such Noticing Party, if any, or for the election of any Proposed Nominee in a contested election or otherwise pursuant to the Proxy Rules;

provided, however, that the disclosures in the foregoing subclauses (A) through (Q) shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Noticing Party solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

(iv) a representation that such Noticing Party intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such business before the meeting or nominate any Proposed Nominees, as applicable, and an acknowledgment that, if such Noticing Party (or a Qualified Representative (as defined below) of such Noticing Party) does not appear to present such business or Proposed Nominees, as applicable, at such meeting, the Corporation need not present such business or Proposed Nominees for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation;

 

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(v) a complete and accurate description of any pending or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, threatened legal proceeding in which such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or participant involving the Corporation or, to such Noticing Party’s knowledge, any current or former officer, director, affiliate or associate of the Corporation;

(vi) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by such Noticing Party to support the nomination(s) or other business proposal(s) submitted by such Noticing Party and, to the extent known, the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

(vii) a representation from such Noticing Party as to whether such Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group that intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to a number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such Noticing Party to be sufficient to approve or adopt the business to be proposed or elect the Proposed Nominees, as applicable, (B) to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees (as defined below) in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (C) to engage in a solicitation (within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l)) with respect to the nomination or other business, as applicable, and if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation.

(d) Additional Information. In addition to the information required pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.16, the Corporation may require any Noticing Party to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility or suitability of a Proposed Nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee, under the listing standards of each securities exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board in selecting nominees for election as a director and for determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, including those applicable to a director’s service on any of the committees of the Board, or the requirements of any other laws or regulations applicable to the Corporation. If requested by the Corporation, any supplemental information required under this paragraph shall be provided by a Noticing Party within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Corporation. In addition, the Board may require any Proposed Nominee to submit to interviews with the Board or any committee thereof, and such Proposed Nominee shall make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten (10) days following the date of any request therefor from the Board or any committee thereof.

 

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(e) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) (i) by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (ii) provided that one or more directors are to be elected at such meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.16(e) through the date of such special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at such special meeting and upon such election and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.16(e). In addition to any other applicable requirements, for director nominations to be properly brought before a special meeting by a stockholder pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii), such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary. To be timely, such notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the Close of Business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of the meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, recess, postponement or rescheduling of a special meeting (or the public disclosure thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, such notice shall include all information required pursuant to Section 1.16(c) above, and such stockholder and any Proposed Nominee shall comply with Section 1.16(d) above, as if such notice were being submitted in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders.

(f) General.

(i) No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless the person is nominated by a stockholder in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.16 or the person is nominated by the Board, and no business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation except business brought by a stockholder in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.16 or by the Board. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at a meeting may not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt, no stockholder shall be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in Section 1.16(b) and Section 1.16(e), as applicable. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of a meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws, and, if the chairperson of the meeting determines that any proposed nomination or business was not properly brought before the meeting, the chairperson shall declare to the meeting that such nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be transacted, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, in each case, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.16, unless otherwise required by law, if the Noticing Party (or a Qualified Representative of the Noticing Party) proposing a nominee for director or business to be conducted at a meeting does not

 

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appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present such nomination or propose such business, such proposed nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as applicable, and no vote shall be taken with respect to such nomination or proposed business, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

(ii) A Noticing Party shall update such Noticing Party’s notice provided under the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.16, if necessary, such that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (A) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting and (B) as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting (or any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof), and such update shall (I) be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (x) not later than the Close of Business five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such meeting (in the case of an update required to be made under clause (A)) and (y) not later than the Close of Business seven (7) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any postponement, rescheduling or adjournment thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been postponed, rescheduled or adjourned) (in the case of an update required to be made pursuant to clause (B)), (II) be made only to the extent that information has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission and (III) clearly identify the information that has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission. For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this Section 1.16(f)(ii) shall not be deemed to cure any deficiencies in a notice previously delivered pursuant to this Section 1.16 and shall not extend the time period for the delivery of notice pursuant to this Section 1.16. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written update within such period, the information as to which such written update relates may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.16.

(iii) If any information submitted pursuant to this Section 1.16 by any Noticing Party proposing individuals to nominate for election or reelection as a director or business for consideration at a stockholder meeting shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information shall be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.16. Any such Noticing Party shall notify the Secretary in writing at the principal executive offices of the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change in any information submitted pursuant to this Section 1.16 (including if any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in accordance with the representation made pursuant to Section 1.16(c)(vii)(B)) within two (2) business days after becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change, and any such notification shall (I) be made only to the extent that any information submitted pursuant to this Section 1.16 has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission and (II) clearly identify the information that has changed since such Noticing Party’s prior submission. Upon written request of the Secretary on behalf of the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof), any such Noticing Party shall provide, within seven (7) business days after delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, reasonably satisfactory to the Board, any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information

 

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submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 1.16 and (B) a written affirmation of any information submitted by such Noticing Party pursuant to this Section 1.16 as of an earlier date. If a Noticing Party fails to provide such written verification or affirmation within such period, the information as to which written verification or affirmation was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 1.16.

(iv) If (A) any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person subsequently either (x) notifies the Corporation that such Noticing Party or Stockholder Associated Person no longer intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (y) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14(a)(3) under the Exchange Act, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Proposed Nominees proposed by such Noticing Party. Upon request by the Corporation, if any Noticing Party or any Stockholder Associated Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act, such Noticing Party shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting date, reasonable evidence that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied.

(v) In addition to complying with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.16, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.16. Nothing in this Section 1.16 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (A) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) stockholders to request inclusion of nominees in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to the Proxy Rules or (C) the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

(vi) For purposes of these Bylaws, (A) “affiliate” and “associate” each shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act; (B) “beneficial owner” or “beneficially owned” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act; (C) “Close of Business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day; (D) “Corporations nominee(s)” shall mean any person(s) nominated by or at the direction of the Board; (E) “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; (F) a “Qualified Representative” of a Noticing Party means (I) a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Noticing Party or (II) a person authorized by a writing executed by such Noticing Party (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered by such Noticing Party to the Corporation prior to the making of any nomination or proposal at a stockholder meeting stating that such person is authorized to act for such Noticing Party as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the

 

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writing or electronic transmission, must be produced at the meeting of stockholders; and (G) “Stockholder Associated Person” shall mean, with respect to a Noticing Party, (I) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, under common control with such Noticing Party, (II) any member of the immediate family of such Noticing Party sharing the same household, (III) any person who is a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision at law)) with, or is otherwise known by such Noticing Party or other Stockholder Associated Person to be acting in concert with, such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the stock of the Corporation, (IV) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person (other than a stockholder that is a depositary), (V) any affiliate or associate of such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person, (VI) any participant (as defined in paragraphs 1.16(a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such Noticing Party or any other Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any proposed business or nominations, as applicable, and (VII) any Proposed Nominee.

ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

Section 2.1. Number. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to the election of directors, if any, the number of directors that shall constitute the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board and which initially shall be, upon filing of the Certificate of Incorporation, set at nine (9) directors. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in these Bylaws, at no time shall the number of Non-Citizens (as defined in Section 5.2 below) who hold office as a director exceed the limitations provided under Section 40102(a)(15) of Title 49 of the United States Code (which, as of the effective date of these Bylaws and for informational purposes only, is one-third (1/3) of the total number of directors then holding office).

Section 2.2. Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 2.3. Meetings. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board (if there be one), the Chief Executive Officer or the Board and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as he, she or it shall specify.

 

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Section 2.4. Notice. Notice of any meeting of the Board stating the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given to each director by mail posted not less than five (5) days before the date of the meeting, by nationally recognized overnight courier deposited not less than three (3) days before the date of the meeting or by email, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission delivered or sent not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. If mailed or sent by overnight courier, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when it is deposited in the United States mail with first class postage prepaid or deposited with the overnight courier. Notice by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed given when the notice is transmitted. Any director may waive notice of any meeting before or after the meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, and does so object, at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in any notice of such meeting unless so required by law. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all of the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 6.6 of these Bylaws.

Section 2.5. Chairperson of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors and may be the Chief Executive Officer. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 of these Bylaws, the Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board. The Chairperson of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board.

Section 2.6. Lead Director. The Board may include a Lead Director. The Lead Director shall be one of the directors who has been determined by the Board to be an “independent director” (any such director, an “Independent Director”). The Lead Director shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairperson of the Board is not present, preside over the executive sessions of the Independent Directors, serve as a liaison between the Chairperson of the Board and the Board and have such other responsibilities, and perform such duties, as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board. The Lead Director shall be elected by a majority of the Independent Directors.

Section 2.7. Organization. At each meeting of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, or, in the Chairperson’s absence, the Lead Director, or, in the Lead Director’s absence, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairperson. The Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board, an assistant secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting, and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all assistant secretaries, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 2.8. Resignations and Removals of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time, by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the occurrence of some other event, and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to the election of directors and to the rights of the BTO Stockholders (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of [•], 2022 (as the same may

 

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be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), by and among the Corporation, the BTO Stockholders and the other stockholders of the Corporation named therein) pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement with respect to the removal of any BTO Stockholder designee director, a director may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 2.9. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of directors constituting the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 2.10. Actions of the Board by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

Section 2.11. Telephonic Meetings. Members of the Board, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak with each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.12. Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation and, to the extent permitted by law, to have and exercise such authority as may be provided for in the resolutions creating such committee, as such resolutions may be amended from time to time. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board when required. A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of or to dissolve any such committee.

 

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Section 2.13. Compensation. The Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board or any committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for service as director or committee member, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Directors who are full-time employees of the Corporation shall not receive any compensation for their service as director.

Section 2.14. Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of the Corporation’s directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (a) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 3.1. General. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board, in its discretion, may also choose one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem appropriate. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 3.2. Election; Term. The Board shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the Board. Any officer may resign upon notice given in writing or electronic transmission to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the occurrence of some other event. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled in the manner prescribed in this Article III for the regular election to such office.

 

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Section 3.3. Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board, and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

Section 3.4. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board, have general supervision over the business of the Corporation and shall direct the affairs and policies of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer may also serve as Chairperson of the Board and may also serve as President, if so elected by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws or by the Board.

Section 3.5. President. The President shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The President shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chief Executive Officer, perform all duties of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws, the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. At all times, the President of the Corporation shall be a “citizen of the United States” as defined in Section 40102(a)(15) of Title 49 of the United States Code.

Section 3.6. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the principal financial officer of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by these Bylaws, the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.7. Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. The Executive Vice Presidents (if any), Senior Vice Presidents (if any) and such other Vice Presidents as shall have been chosen by the Board shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.8. Secretary. The Secretary shall give the requisite notice of meetings of stockholders and directors and shall record the proceedings of such meetings, shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and shall affix it or cause it to be affixed to such instruments as require the seal and attest it and, besides the Secretary’s powers and duties prescribed by law, shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to such officer by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 3.9. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be deposited in such banks as may be authorized by the Board or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board. The Treasurer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to such officer by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.10. Assistant Secretaries. Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall assist the Secretary in the discharge of the Secretary’s duties, shall have such powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to them by the Board and, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, shall perform the duties of the Secretary’s office, subject to the control of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.11. Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall assist the Treasurer in the discharge of the Treasurer’s duties, shall have such powers and perform such other duties as shall at any time be assigned to them by the Board and, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer’s office, subject to the control of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 3.12. Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board. The Board may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

Section 3.13. Limitation on Non-Citizens as Officers. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in these Bylaws, at no time shall the number of Non-Citizens (as defined in Section 5.2 below) who serve as officers of the Corporation exceed the limitations provided under Section 40102(a)(15) of Title 49 of the United States Code (which, as of the effective date of these Bylaws and for informational purposes only, is one-third (1/3) of the total number of officers then holding office).

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 4.1. Uncertificated Shares. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board, each class or series of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to the customary arrangements for issuing shares in such form. Shares shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by attorney upon presentment of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer in accordance with the customary procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form.

Section 4.2. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

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Section 4.3. Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

Section 4.4. Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board.

ARTICLE V

LIMITATIONS ON OWNERSHIP BY NON-CITIZENS

Section 5.1. Equity Securities. All (a) capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Corporation, (b) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests in the Corporation, or (c) options, warrants or other rights to acquire the securities described in clauses (a) and (b), whether fixed or contingent, matured or unmatured, contractual, legal, equitable or otherwise (collectively, “Equity Securities”) shall be subject to the limitations set forth in this Article V.

Section 5.2. Non-Citizen Voting and Ownership Limitations. It is the policy of the Corporation that, consistent with the requirements of Subtitle VII of Title 49 of the United States Code, as amended, or as the same may be amended from time to time (“Aviation Act”), that persons or entities who are not “citizens of the United States” (as defined in Section 40102(a)(15) of the Aviation Act, in any similar legislation of the United States enacted in substitution or replacement thereof, and as interpreted by the Department of Transportation, its predecessors and successors, from time to time), including any agent, trustee or representative of such persons or entities (each, a “Non-Citizen”), shall not be entitled to own (beneficially or of record) and/or control more than (a) 24.9% of the aggregate votes of all outstanding Voting Securities (as defined below) of the Corporation (the “Voting Limitation Percentage”) or (b) 49.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding Equity Securities of the Corporation (the “Outstanding Share Limitation Percentage”); provided, however, in no event shall Non-Citizens who are resident of a country that is not party to an “open skies” agreement with the United States (the “NOS Non-Citizens”) be entitled to own (beneficially or of record) and/or control more than 24.9% of the aggregate number of outstanding Equity Securities of the Corporation (the “NOS Limitation Percentage” and, together with the Outstanding Share Limitation Percentage, the “Absolute Cap Amount”). If Non-Citizens nevertheless at any time own and/or control more than the Voting Limitation Percentage, the voting rights of the Equity Securities in excess of the Voting Limitation Percentage shall be automatically suspended in accordance with Section 5.3 below. Further, if at any time a transfer or issuance of Equity Securities to a Non-Citizen would result in Non-Citizens owning more than the Outstanding Share Limitation Percentage, such transfer or issuance shall be void and of no effect, in accordance with Section 5.3 below. “Voting Securities” means (a) shares of common stock of the Corporation and (b) any shares of preferred stock of the Corporation that are permitted by their terms to vote together with the Corporation’s common stock or to vote as a separate class or series with respect to the election of the Corporation’s directors.

 

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Section 5.3. Foreign Stock Record.

(a) The Corporation or any transfer agent (on behalf of the Corporation) shall maintain a separate stock record, designated the “Foreign Stock Record” for the registration of Equity Securities held by Non-Citizens. It is the duty of each stockholder who is a Non-Citizen to register his, her or its Equity Securities on the Foreign Stock Record. The beneficial ownership of Equity Securities by Non-Citizens shall be determined in conformity with regulations prescribed by the Board. Only Equity Securities that have been issued and outstanding may be registered in the Foreign Stock Record. The Foreign Stock Record shall include (i) the name and nationality of each Non-Citizen owning Equity Securities, (ii) the number of Equity Securities owned by each such Non-Citizen and (iii) the date of registration of such Equity Securities in the Foreign Stock Record.

(b) In no event shall Equity Securities owned (beneficially or of record) by Non-Citizens representing more than the Voting Limitation Percentage be voted. In the event that Non-Citizens shall own (beneficially or of record) or have voting control over any Equity Securities, the voting rights of such persons shall be subject to automatic suspension to the extent required to ensure that the Corporation is in compliance with applicable provisions of law and regulations relating to ownership or control of a United States air carrier. Voting rights of Equity Securities owned (beneficially or of record) by Non-Citizens shall be suspended in reverse chronological order based upon the date of registration in the Foreign Stock Record.

(c) In the event any transfer of issuance of Equity Securities to a Non-Citizen would result in Non-Citizens owning (beneficially or of record) more than the Absolute Cap Amount, such transfer or issuance shall be void and of no effect and shall not be recorded in the Foreign Stock Record of the stock records of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation shall determine that the Equity Securities registered on the Foreign Stock Record or otherwise registered on the stock records of the Corporation and owned (beneficially or of record) by Non-Citizens, taken together (without duplication), exceed the Absolute Cap Amount, such number of Equity Securities shall be removed from the Foreign Stock Record and the stock records of the Corporation, as applicable, in reverse chronological order based on the date of registration in the Foreign Stock Record and the stock records of the Corporation, as applicable, and any transfer or issuance that resulted in such event shall be deemed void and of no effect, such that the Foreign Stock Record and the stock records of the Corporation, as applicable, reflect the ownership of Equity Securities without giving effect to any transfer or issuance that caused the Corporation to exceed the Absolute Cap Amount until the aggregate number of Equity Securities registered in the Foreign Stock Record or otherwise registered to Non-Citizens is equal to the Voting Limitation Percentage or the NOS Limitation Percentage, as applicable.

 

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Section 5.4. Registration of Equity Securities. Registry of the ownership of Equity Securities by Non-Citizens shall be effected by written notice to, and in the form specified from time to time by, the Secretary of the Corporation. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.3, the order in which such Equity Securities shall be registered on the Foreign Stock Record shall be chronological, based on the date the Corporation received notice to so register such Equity Securities; provided, that any Non-Citizen who purchases or otherwise acquires Equity Securities that are registered on the Foreign Stock Record and who registers such Equity Securities in its own name within 30 days of such acquisition will assume the position of the seller of such Equity Securities in the chronological order of Equity Securities registered on the Foreign Stock Record.

Section 5.5. Certification of Equity Securities.

(a) The Corporation may by notice in writing (which may be included in the form or proxy or ballot distributed by stockholders in connection with the annual meeting or any special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, or otherwise) require a person that is a holder of record of Equity Securities or that the Corporation knows to have, or has a reasonable cause to believe has beneficial ownership of Equity Securities to certify in such manner that as the Corporation shall deem appropriate (including by way of execution of any form of proxy or ballot of such person) that, to the knowledge of such person:

 

  (1)

all Equity Securities as to which such person has record ownership or beneficial ownership are owned and controlled only by citizens of the United States; or

 

  (2)

the number of Equity Securities of record or beneficially owned by such person that are owned and/or controlled by Non-Citizens is as set forth in such certificate.

(b) With respect to any Equity Securities identified in clause 5.5(a)(2) above, the Corporation may require such person to provide such further information as the Corporation may reasonably require in order to implement the provisions of this Article V.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1. Contracts. The Board may authorize any officer or officers or any agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument or other document in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 6.2. Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board may from time to time designate.

Section 6.3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the 31st day of December in each year or on such other day as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board.

Section 6.4. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

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Section 6.5. Offices. The Corporation shall maintain a registered office inside the State of Delaware and may also have other offices outside or inside the State of Delaware. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any applicable law) outside the State of Delaware at the principal executive offices of the Corporation or at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board.

Section 6.6. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or any regular or special meeting of the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting unless so required by law.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

Subject to Section 8.5 below, these Bylaws may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the Board or by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE VIII

EMERGENCY BYLAWS

Section 8.1. Emergency Bylaws. This Article VIII shall be operative during any emergency, disaster or catastrophe, as referred to in Section 110 of the DGCL or other similar emergency condition (including, without limitation, a pandemic), as a result of which a quorum of the Board or a committee thereof cannot readily be convened for action (each, an “Emergency”), notwithstanding any different or conflicting provision of the preceding Sections of these Bylaws or in the Certificate of Incorporation. To the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article VIII, the preceding Sections of these Bylaws and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall remain in effect during such Emergency, and upon termination of such Emergency, the provisions of this Article VIII shall cease to be operative unless and until another Emergency shall occur.

Section 8.2. Meetings; Notice. During any Emergency, a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be called by any member of the Board or such committee or the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of the place, date and time of the meeting shall be given by any available means of communication by the person calling the meeting to such of the directors or committee members and Designated Officers (as defined below) as, in the judgment of the person calling the meeting, it may be feasible to reach. Such notice shall be given at such time in advance of the meeting as, in the judgment of the person calling the meeting, circumstances permit.

 

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Section 8.3. Quorum. At any meeting of the Board called in accordance with Section 8.2 above, the presence or participation of one director shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and at any meeting of any committee of the Board called in accordance with Section 8.2 above, the presence or participation of one committee member shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that no directors are able to attend a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, then the Designated Officers in attendance shall serve as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, for the meeting, without any additional quorum requirement and will have full powers to act as directors, or committee members, as the case may be, of the Corporation.

Section 8.4. Liability. No officer, director or employee of the Corporation acting in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII shall be liable except for willful misconduct.

Section 8.5. Amendments. At any meeting called in accordance with Section 8.2 above, the Board, or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may modify, amend or add to the provisions of this Article VIII as it deems it to be in the best interests of the Corporation so as to make any provision that may be practical or necessary for the circumstances of the Emergency.

Section 8.6. Repeal or Change. The provisions of this Article VIII shall be subject to repeal or change by further action of the Board or by action of the stockholders, but no such repeal or change shall modify the provisions of Section 8.4 above with regard to action taken prior to the time of such repeal or change.

Section 8.7. Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, the term “Designated Officer” means an officer identified on a numbered list of officers of the Corporation who shall be deemed to be, in the order in which they appear on the list up until a quorum is obtained, directors of the Corporation, or members of a committee of the Board, as the case may be, for purposes of obtaining a quorum during an Emergency, if a quorum of directors or committee members, as the case may be, cannot otherwise be obtained during such Emergency, which officers have been designated by the Board from time to time but in any event prior to such time or times as an Emergency may have occurred.

* * *

Adopted as of: [•], 2022

 

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [•], 2022, is made and entered into by and among Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Wildfire New PubCo, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), JCIC Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), the undersigned parties listed under Existing Holders on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor and any person or entity deemed an “Existing Holder” , an “Existing Holder” and collectively the “Existing Holders”) and the undersigned parties listed under New Holders on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with any person or entity deemed a “New Holder1” who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “New Holder” and collectively the “New Holders”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Jack Creek Investment Corp. (“SPAC”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, and the Existing Holders are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 26, 2021 (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which SPAC granted the Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of SPAC;

WHEREAS, SPAC has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of August 3, 2022, by and among SPAC, the Company, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Wildfire Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Wildfire Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Wildfire Merger Sub III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Wildfire GP Sub IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and BTOF (Grannus Feeder) – NQ L.P., a Delaware limited partnership;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transactions”) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the New Holders will receive shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Company Stock”), upon the closing (the “Closing”) of the Transactions;

WHEREAS, SPAC and the Sponsor have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2020, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares of the SPAC (the “Founder Shares”), par value $0.0001 per share, and the Sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 75,000 Founder Shares to certain members of the board of directors of SPAC;

WHEREAS, SPAC, the Sponsor, the Company and the Existing Holders have entered into that certain Sponsor Agreement (the “Sponsor Agreement”), dated as of August 3, 2022, wherein the Sponsor and the Existing Holders agreed, in connection with the Closing, to surrender and forfeit to SPAC certain Founder Shares under certain circumstances and to subject the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor to certain vesting requirements, in accordance with the terms of the Sponsor Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed to assume the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants (as defined below), such that the right of the holders of the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of SPAC thereunder shall be substituted with the right of such holders to acquire the same number of shares of Company Stock;

 

1 

Note to Draft: “New Holders” to include all Company equityholders who execute Company Written Consent (including Blackstone Holders) and all executive officers, directors, and other 5% or greater equityholders of the Company (as determined as of immediately prior to Closing). Any Company equityholder who signs the Company Written Consent and who is not an executive officer, director or 5%+ equityholder of the Company (as determined as of immediately prior to Closing) will be a “New Holder,” but not subject to the New Holder Lock-Up Period.


WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.8 of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of SPAC and the Existing Holders of a majority-in-interest of the “Registrable Securities” (as such term was defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) at the time in question; and

WHEREAS, the Company, SPAC and all of the Existing Holders desire to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement in order to provide the Existing Holders and the New Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Board and the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) making such information public would materially interfere with a bona fide business, acquisition or divestiture or financing transaction of the Company or is reasonably likely to require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential.

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

Blackstone Entities” means (a) Blackstone Inc. or any Affiliate thereof, or (b) any entity, investment vehicle, account or fund that is directly or indirectly owned, managed or controlled by or under common control or ownership with Blackstone Inc. or any Affiliate thereof (including Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Advisors L.L.C.).

Blackstone Holders” shall mean [BTO Grannus Holdings C L.P., Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Associates – NQ L.L.C., BTO Grannus Holdings III – NQ LLC, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund – FD L.P., and Blackstone Family Tactical Opportunities Investment Partnership III – NQ – ESC L.P.]

Blackstone Holder Lock-Up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Company Stock held by the Blackstone Holders, the period from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of (A) six (6) months beginning on the date hereof; (B) the first date the closing price of the Company Stock exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the date hereof; and (C) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their Company Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

2


Block Trade” shall mean an offering and/or sale of Registrable Securities by any Holder in a non-marketed underwritten takedown offering taking the form of a bought deal or a block sale to a financial institution (including, without limitation, a same day trade, overnight trade or similar transaction).

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable law to close.

Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Commission Guidance” shall mean (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the Commission staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

Company Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Company Shelf Takedown Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

Effectiveness Deadline” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

Existing Holders” shall have the meaning in the Preamble.

Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the Company Stock issued upon conversion thereof and any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Company Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization.

Founder Shares Lock-Up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period from the date hereof until the earliest to occur of (A) one year after the date hereof; (B) the first date the closing price of the Company Stock exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the date hereof; and (C) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their Company Stock for cash, securities or other property.

Holders” shall mean the Existing Holders and the New Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2.

Holder Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.1.

 

3


Insider Letters” shall mean those certain letter agreements, dated as of January 26, 2021, by and between SPAC and each of SPAC’s officers and directors and the Sponsor.

Lock-Up Periods” shall mean the Blackstone Holder Lock-Up Period, Founder Shares Lock-Up Period, the New Holder Lock-Up Period and the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants Lock-Up Period.

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.4.

Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

New Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

New Holder Lock-Up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Company Stock held by the New Holders (other than the Blackstone Holders) or their respective Permitted Transferees, the period from the date hereof until the earliest to occur of (A) one year after the date hereof; (B) the first date the closing price of the Company Stock exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the date hereof; and (C) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their Company Stock for cash, securities or other property.

Permitted Transferees” shall mean a person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Blackstone Holder Lock-Up Period, Founder Shares Lock-Up Period, the New Holder Lock-Up Period and the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letters, the Sponsor Agreement, and Section 3.6.3 of this Agreement, and to any transferee thereafter.

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.4.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) shares of Company Stock issued upon the conversion of the Founder Shares in connection with the Transactions, (b) the warrants of the Company into which the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants are converted in connection with the Transactions (including the shares of Company Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of such warrants), (c) the shares of Company Stock issued upon the conversion of the shares of SPAC held by an Existing Holder in connection with the Transactions, (d) any shares of Company Stock or any other equity security of the Company held by a New Holder as of the date hereof (including shares of Company Stock or other equity security of the Company transferred to a Permitted Transferee of a New Holder), and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Company Stock described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; or (B) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (C) such securities are sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (“Rule 144”).

 

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Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Company Stock is then listed;

(B) Underwriter expenses (other than fees, commissions or discounts);

(C) expenses of any audits incident to or required by any such Registration;

(D) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

(E) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

(F) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

(G) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

(H) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration, the majority-in-interest of Holders participating in a Piggyback Registration or the majority-in-interest of Holders participating in a Shelf Underwritten Offering, as applicable.

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

Removed Shares” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.6.

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.6.1.

Rule 144” shall have the meaning given in the definition of “Registrable Security.”

Rule 415” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

“Shelf Takedown Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Shelf Underwritten Offering” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

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Sponsor Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Sponsor Private Placement Warrants shall mean (i) the warrants of SPAC purchased by the Sponsor pursuant to that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between SPAC and the Sponsor, dated as of January 21, 2021, and (ii) any equity securities of the Company (including any shares of Company Stock) issued upon conversion of any outstanding loan balance in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to SPAC by the Sponsor under that certain Promissory Note, dated as of February 16, 2022, between SPAC and Sponsor, as amended by Section 10 of the Sponsor Agreement.

Sponsor Private Placement Warrants Lock-Up Period” shall mean, with respect to the warrants of the Company substituted for Sponsor Private Placement Warrants in connection with the Transactions that are held by the initial purchasers of the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants or their respective Permitted Transferees, the period ending one year from the date hereof.

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATIONS

2.1 Shelf Registration.

2.1.1 Initial Registration. The Company shall promptly, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the date hereof, file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) (“Rule 415”) on the terms and conditions specified in this subsection 2.1.1 and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof, but in no event later than the earlier of (i) sixty (60) days following the filing deadline (or ninety (90) days after the filing deadline if the Registration Statement is reviewed by, and receives comments from, the Commission) and (ii) ten (10) Business Days after the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (the earlier of (i) and (ii), the “Effectiveness Deadline”). The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1 shall be a shelf registration statement on Form S-1 (a “Form S-1 Shelf”) or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of such Registrable Securities, covering such Registrable Securities, and shall contain a Prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement. A Registration Statement filed pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1 shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1 to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities. As soon as reasonably practicable following the effective date of a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1, but in any event within two (2) Business Days of such date, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. When effective, a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1 (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain any Misstatement.

2.1.2 Form S-3 Shelf. If the initial Registration Statement filed by the Company pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 is a Form S-1 Shelf, upon the Company becoming eligible to register the Registrable Securities for resale by the Holders on a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (a “Form S-3 Shelf”), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to amend such initial Registration Statement to a Form S-3 Shelf or file a Form S-3 Shelf in

 

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substitution of such initial Registration Statement and cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as promptly as practicable thereafter. If the Company files a Form S-3 Shelf and at any time thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file a Form S-1 Shelf as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement that is a Form S-3 Shelf and have the Form S-1 Shelf declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such Form S-1 Shelf to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

2.1.3 Shelf Takedown. At any time and from time to time following the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement required by subsection 2.1.1 or 2.1.2, any Holder or Holders (the “Shelf Demanding Holders”) may request to sell all or a portion of their Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to such shelf registration statement, including a Block Trade (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”), provided that such Holder(s) (a) reasonably expect aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $30,000,000 from such Shelf Underwritten Offering or (b) reasonably expects to sell all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder in such Shelf Underwritten Offering but in no event less than $10,000,000. All requests for a Shelf Underwritten Offering shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “Shelf Takedown Notice”). Each Shelf Takedown Notice shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Shelf Underwritten Offering and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Shelf Underwritten Offering. Except with respect to a Block Trade requested pursuant to Section 2.5, within five (5) Business Days after receipt of any Shelf Takedown Notice, the Company shall give written notice of such requested Shelf Underwritten Offering to all other Holders of Registrable Securities (the “Company Shelf Takedown Notice”) and, subject to reductions consistent with the Pro Rata calculations in Section 2.2.4, shall include in such Shelf Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (the “Shelf Requesting Holders”), within five (5) Business Days after sending the Company Shelf Takedown Notice, or, in the case of a Block Trade, as provided in Section 2.5. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company with the managing Underwriter or Underwriters selected by the initiating Holders after consultation with the Company and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are reasonably requested by the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. In connection with any Shelf Underwritten Offering contemplated by this subsection 2.1.3, subject to Section 3.3 and Article IV, the underwriting agreement into which each Holder and the Company shall enter shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations of the Company and the selling stockholders as are customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company.

2.1.4 Holder Information Required for Participation in Registration. At least ten (10) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Article II, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to notify each Holder in writing of the information reasonably necessary about the Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities to the extent the Company has not received such information, and received any other reasonably requested agreements or certificates, on or prior to the third (3rd) Business Day prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Article II.

2.2 Demand Registration.

2.2.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.4 and subsection 2.4 hereof and provided that the Company does not have an effective Registration Statement pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 outstanding covering all the Registrable Securities, following the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period, either (a) the Existing Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the Existing Holders, (b) the New Holders (other than the Blackstone Holders) of at least a majority-in-interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the New Holders (other than the Blackstone Holders) or (c) the Blackstone Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the Blackstone Holders (the “Demanding Holders”), in each case, may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall

 

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describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand, a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable, but not more than forty-five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than (x) an aggregate of two (2) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration by the Existing Holders under this subsection 2.2.1, (y) an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration with respect to any or all Registrable Securities held by the New Holders (other than the Blackstone Holders) and (z) an aggregate of two (2) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration with respect to any or all Registrable Securities held by the Blackstone Holders; provided, however, that a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Registration Statement that may be available at such time has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders and the Demanding Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders and the Demanding Holders in such Registration Statement (subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.4) have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

2.2.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.2.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Demand Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) such interference by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency is resolved and a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days, of such election; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

2.2.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.4 and Section 2.4, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration, which Underwriter(s) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

2.2.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the

 

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Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Company Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Company Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders or Shelf Demanding Holders, as applicable, (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder or Shelf Demanding Holder, as applicable, has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders or Shelf Demanding Holders, as applicable, have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Requesting Holders or Shelf Requesting Holders, as applicable, (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Requesting Holder or Shelf Requesting Holder, as applicable, has so requested) exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Company Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Company Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

2.2.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. Any Demanding Holder, Shelf Demanding Holder, Requesting Holder, or Shelf Requesting Holder, pursuant to an Underwritten Registration under subsection 2.2.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration or a Shelf Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.3 for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Registration (i) at least one (1) Business Day prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration or (ii) in the case of an Underwritten Registration pursuant to Rule 415, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of the applicable offering. If the Demanding Holders withdraw from a proposed Underwritten Offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such Registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in this Section 2.2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration or a Shelf Underwritten Offering prior to the withdrawal of any such Holder under this subsection 2.2.5.

2.3 Piggyback Registration.

2.3.1 Piggyback Rights. If the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for a rights offering or an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their successor forms, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as reasonably practicable but not less than ten (10) Business Days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such

 

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Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.3.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

2.3.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of Company Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Company Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, and (iii) the Company Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Company Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.3.1 hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Company Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested or demanded pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Company Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.3.1, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Company Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Company Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

2.3.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration (or in the case of an Underwritten Registration pursuant to Rule 415, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of the applicable offering). The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.3.3.

 

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2.3.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.2 hereof or a Shelf Underwritten Offering effected under subsection 2.1.3.

2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable best efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of an Underwriter(s) to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company stating that in their good faith judgment and in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would materially interfere with a bona fide business, acquisition or divestiture or financing transaction of the Company or is reasonably likely to require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than sixty (60) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than twice in any 12-month period (the “Aggregate Blocking Period”).

2.5 Block Trades. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Sections 2.4 and 3.4, if the Holders desire to effect a Block Trade by delivering a Shelf Takedown Notice pursuant to subsection 2.1.3 or a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, then such Demanding Holder(s) shall provide written notice to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed date such Block Trade will commence. As expeditiously as possible, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Block Trade. The Demanding Holders shall use reasonable best efforts to work with the Company and the Underwriter(s) (including by disclosing the maximum number of Registrable Securities proposed to be the subject of such Block Trade) in order to facilitate preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade and any related due diligence and comfort procedures. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade shall have the right to withdraw from such Block Trade upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade prior to such Demanding Holders’ withdrawal under this Section 2.5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.3 shall not apply to a Block Trade initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement. The Demanding Holder(s) initiating a Block Trade shall have the right to select the Underwriter(s) for such Block Trade (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), which Underwriter(s) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than four (4) Block Trades pursuant to this Section 2.5 in any twelve (12) month period.

2.6 Rule 415; Removal. If at any time the Commission takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to this Article II is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to use reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the Commission Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09) or requires a Holder to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall (i) promptly notify each holder of Registrable Securities thereof (or in the case of the Commission requiring a Holder to be named as an “underwriter,” the Holders) and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to persuade the Commission that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Holders is an “underwriter.” The Holders whose Registrable Securities are subject to such position of the Commission shall have the right to select one (1) legal counsel designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities subject to such position of the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) to

 

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review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2.6, including participation in any meetings or discussions with the Commission regarding the Commission’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the Commission with respect thereto. No such written submission regarding the Holders with respect to this matter shall be made to the Commission to which the applicable Holders’ counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2.6, the Commission refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Removed Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the Commission may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415; provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Holder as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Holder. In the event of a share removal pursuant to this Section 2.6, the Company shall give the applicable Holders at least five (5) days’ prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment. Any removal of shares of the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be allocated between the Holders on a Pro Rata basis based on the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities held by the Holders. In the event of a share removal of the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.6, the Company shall promptly register the resale of any Removed Shares pursuant to subsection 2.1.2 hereof and in no event shall the filing of such Registration Statement on Form S-1 or subsequent Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to the terms of subsection 2.1.2 be counted as a Demand Registration hereunder. Until such time as the Company has registered all of the Removed Shares for resale pursuant to Rule 415 on an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall not be able to defer the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

ARTICLE III

COMPANY PROCEDURES

3.1 General Procedures. If the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Article II hereof, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any majority-in-interest of the Holders with Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

3.1.4 notify the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement promptly in all events within two (2) Business Days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration

 

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Statement or any Prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such Prospectus will not contain a Misstatement, and promptly make available to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment;

3.1.5 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

3.1.6 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

3.1.7 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

3.1.8 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to take all actions necessary to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

3.1.9 at least three (3) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and its counsel, including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;

3.1.10 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in su