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): April 28, 2025 (April 22, 2025)
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 001-42250 | 98-1576482 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 938-5000
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:
☒ | 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)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share | CEP | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 Definitive Agreement
Business Combination Agreement
On April 22, 2025, Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“CEP”), Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador Sociedad anónima de capital variable (“Tether”), iFinex, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (“Bitfinex” and, together with Tether, the “Sellers”) and, solely for certain limited purposes, Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SoftBank”), entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”). Capitalized terms used in this Current Report on Form 8-K but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Closing”), (i) CEP will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Surviving Subsidiary”) and as a result of which CEP shareholders will receive one share of Pubco Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Pubco Class A Stock”), for each CEP Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (a “CEP Class A Ordinary Share”), held by such CEP shareholder (the “SPAC Merger”) and (ii) the Company will merge with and into a Delaware corporation to be formed by CEP after the date of the Business Combination Agreement (“Company Merger Sub”), with Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “Company Surviving Subsidiary”), and as a result of which the Sellers will receive shares of Pubco Stock (as defined below) in exchange for their membership interests in the Company as described below (such merger, the “Company Merger”, the Company Merger together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers” and the Mergers together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary documents thereto, the “Transactions”). As a result of the Mergers, SPAC Surviving Subsidiary and Company Surviving Subsidiary will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will become a publicly traded company, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and in accordance with applicable law.
As consideration for the Company Merger, the Sellers will be entitled to receive, in exchange for their (i) class A common membership interests of the Company (the “Company Class A Interests”), an aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock equal to (a) the product of (1) 31,500, multiplied by (2) $84,863.57 (which is equal to the average CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant for the ten-day period ending on the day prior to the date of the Business Combination Agreement, the “Signing Bitcoin Price”), divided by (b) $10.00 (such aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock, the “Class A Merger Consideration Shares”), and (ii) class B common membership interests of the Company (the “Company Class B Interests” and together with the Company Class A Interests, the “Company Interests”), an aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Pubco Class B Stock” and, together with the Pubco Class A Stock, the “Pubco Stock”), equal to (a) the product of (1) 31,500, multiplied by (2) the Signing Bitcoin Price, divided by (b) $10.00 (such aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B Stock, the “Class B Merger Consideration Shares” and, together with the Class A Merger Consideration Shares, the “Merger Consideration Shares”). Each Seller shall receive its pro rata share of the Class A Merger Consideration Shares and Class B Merger Consideration Shares based on the number of Company Class A Interests and Class B Company Interests, respectively, owned by such Seller at Closing.
In connection with the Closing, Pubco will issue two (2) classes of shares of Pubco Stock with different voting and economic rights attached to them. The shares of Pubco Class A Stock will have no voting rights other than as required by applicable law. Holders of shares of Pubco Class B Stock will be entitled to one (1) vote per share. Holders of Pubco Class A Stock will be entitled to receive distributions in proportion to the number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock held by them. Holders of Pubco Class B Stock will not have any economic rights. In addition, the shares of Pubco Class A Stock will be listed for trading and will be freely transferable, subject to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreements (as described below) and any restrictions pursuant to applicable laws. The shares of Pubco Class B Stock will not be listed or freely transferable. Immediately following Closing, (i) all shares of Pubco Class A Stock will be held by the CEP shareholders, the Equity PIPE Investors, Tether, Bitfinex and SoftBank and (ii) all shares of Pubco Class B Stock will be held only by Tether, Bitfinex and SoftBank.
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties, which shall not survive the Closing. Many of the representations and warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect. “Material Adverse Effect” as used in the Business Combination Agreement means with respect to any specified person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of such person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of such person or any of its subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions, in each case subject to certain customary exceptions. Certain of the representations are subject to specified exceptions and qualifications contained in the Business Combination Agreement or in information provided pursuant to certain disclosure schedules to the Business Combination Agreement.
Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement also contains pre-closing covenants of the parties, including obligations of the parties to operate their respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and to refrain from taking certain specified actions without the prior written consent of certain other parties, in each case, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications. Additionally, the parties have agreed not to solicit, negotiate or enter into competing transactions, as further provided in the Business Combination Agreement. The covenants do not survive the Closing (other than those that are to be performed after the Closing).
The Business Combination Agreement also contains obligations of certain of the parties to use their reasonable best efforts to consummate the Transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. This includes certain obligations of Pubco and CEP with regards to carrying out the PIPE Investments (as defined below) in connection with the Closing. Pubco and CEP are each obligated to use reasonable best efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements and the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements (each as defined below), respectively.
Within ten (10) Business Days after the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Tether agreed to purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the aggregate gross cash proceeds of the Convertible Notes PIPE and the Equity PIPE (each as defined below), less a holdback of $52,000,000 (such Bitcoin, the “Initial PIPE Bitcoin” and such net proceeds, the “Initial PIPE Net Proceeds”).
In addition, for a period of 30 days following the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Pubco has agreed to grant the Convertible Note Investors (as defined below) an option to purchase additional Convertible Notes (as defined below) in an aggregate amount of up to $100 million (the “Option Convertible Notes”). Within ten (10) Business Days after the end of such 30-day option period, Tether shall also purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the gross proceeds of the Option Convertible Notes, less a holdback of 0.5% of the gross proceeds of the Option Convertible Notes (the “Option PIPE Bitcoin” and such net proceeds the “Option Note Net Proceeds”, and the Option PIPE Bitcoin together with the Initial PIPE Bitcoin, the “PIPE Bitcoin”).
Immediately prior to Closing, solely to the extent that the sum of the PIPE Bitcoin and any Bitcoin contributed to Pubco at the Closing by Equity PIPE Investors (as defined below) in lieu of a cash investment, is less than 10,500 Bitcoin, Tether shall also purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to such shortfall (“Additional PIPE Bitcoin”).
At Closing and upon the funding of the PIPE Investments, Pubco shall purchase from Tether (i) the Initial PIPE Bitcoin for an aggregate price equal to the Initial PIPE Net Proceeds and (ii) the Option PIPE Bitcoin for an aggregate price equal to the Option Note Net Proceeds (the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) collectively, the “PIPE Bitcoin Sale”). At the Closing and immediately following completion of the PIPE Bitcoin Sale, Tether shall transfer and contribute to Pubco all of Tether’s rights, title, and interest in and to the Additional PIPE Bitcoin and, in consideration for the Additional PIPE Bitcoin, Pubco shall issue to Tether an equal number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock and Pubco Class B Stock, respectively, equal to the quotient of (i) the price Tether paid for the Additional PIPE Bitcoin, divided by (ii) $10.00.
CEP agreed, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution of the Business Combination Agreement and prior to the completion of the Contribution (as defined below), to take all actions necessary to carry out the SPAC Pre-Closing Restructuring, pursuant to which CEP will form, or cause to be formed, certain subsidiaries of SPAC, including Company Merger Sub (collectively, the “SPAC Subsidiaries”), as described in the Business Combination Agreement.
CEP and Pubco agreed, as promptly as practicable after the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, to prepare and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of the issuance of the Pubco Class A Stock to CEP shareholders and certain Company securityholders, and containing a proxy statement/prospectus for the purpose of CEP soliciting proxies from the CEP shareholders to approve (the “SPAC Shareholder Approval”), at an extraordinary general meeting of CEP shareholders (the “CEP Shareholder Meeting”), the Business Combination Agreement, the Transactions and related matters (the “SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters”) and providing CEP shareholders an opportunity, in accordance with CEP’s organizational documents and initial public offering prospectus, to have their CEP Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed.
The parties agreed to take all necessary action so that effective as of the Closing, the board of directors of Pubco will consist of seven individuals, six of which are to be designated by the Sellers and Softbank, with the final director to be the chief executive officer of Pubco.
Conditions to the Parties’ Obligations to Consummate the Merger
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the obligations of the parties to consummate (or cause to be consummated) the Transactions are subject to a number of customary conditions for special purpose acquisition companies, including, among others, the following: (i) the receipt of the SPAC Shareholder Approval; (ii) the consummation of the Transactions not being prohibited by applicable law; (iii) effectiveness of the Registration Statement; (iv) the shares of Pubco Class A Stock having been approved for listing on Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange or another national stock exchange; and (v) the PIPE Investments having been fully funded in accordance with the respective PIPE Subscription Agreements.
The obligations of CEP to consummate (or cause to be consummated) the Transactions are also subject to, among other things (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller being true and correct, subject to the applicable materiality standards contained in the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) material compliance by the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller with their respective pre-closing covenants, (iii) no occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or Pubco, and (iv) completion of the Contribution.
The obligations of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers to consummate (and cause to be consummated) the Transactions are also subject to, among other things: (i) the representations and warranties of CEP and the SPAC Subsidiaries being true and correct, subject to the applicable materiality standards contained in the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) material compliance by CEP with its applicable pre-closing covenants, (iii) no occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect with respect to CEP since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured, and (iv) Cantor EP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) having performed in all material respects its obligations required under the Sponsor Support Agreement (as defined below).
Termination Rights
The Business Combination Agreement contains certain termination rights, including, among others, the following: (i) upon the mutual written consent of CEP, the Sellers and Softbank, (ii) by CEP or the Sellers if a Government Authority shall have issued an Order taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions, (iii) by Sellers if the CEP board of directors publicly changes its recommendation with respect to the Business Combination Agreement and Transactions and related shareholder approvals under certain circumstances detailed in the Business Combination Agreement, (iv) by either CEP or Sellers if the CEP Shareholder Meeting is held and SPAC Shareholder Approval is not received, (v) by CEP in connection with a breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement by the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub or any Seller, if the breach would result in the failure of the related condition to Closing, (vi) by the Sellers for CEP’s material uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement, if the breach would result in the failure of the related condition to Closing, or (vii) by either CEP or the Sellers if the Closing has not occurred on or before one year from the date of the Business Combination Agreement.
None of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement is required to pay a termination fee or reimburse any other party for its expenses as a result of a termination of the Business Combination Agreement. However, each party will remain liable for willful breaches of the Business Combination Agreement or for Fraud Claims prior to termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC will also bear all fees, costs and expenses incurred by any party in connection the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC and submitting a listing application for Pubco Class A Stock to Nasdaq.
Trust Account Waiver
The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each of the Sellers agreed that it and its affiliates will not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in CEP’s trust account held for its public shareholders, and agreed not to, and waived any right to, make any claim against the trust account (including any distributions therefrom).
The Business Combination Agreement is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Business Combination Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein. The filing of the Business Combination Agreement herewith provides investors with information regarding its terms and is not intended to provide any other factual information about the parties. In particular, the assertions embodied in the representations and warranties contained in the Business Combination Agreement were made as of the execution date of the Business Combination Agreement only and are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules provided by the parties to each other in connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement. These disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies, and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. Moreover, certain representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement may have been used for the purpose of allocating risk between the parties rather than establishing matters of fact. Accordingly, you should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement as characterizations of the actual statements of fact about the parties.
Contribution Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Tether, Bitfinex and the Company entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which, immediately prior to the Closing, Tether and Bitfinex will contribute (the “Contribution”) to the Company 24,500 Bitcoin and 7,000 Bitcoin, respectively, in exchange for (i) in the case of Tether, 208 Company Class A Interests and 208 Company Class B Interests, and (ii) in the case of Bitfinex, 59 Company Class A Interests and 59 Company Class B Interests.
The Contribution Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as follows: (a) by the mutual written consent of the parties thereto, CEP and SoftBank; or (b) automatically with no further action required by the parties thereto if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
The Contribution Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Contribution Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Sponsor Support Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, CEP entered into a Sponsor Support Agreement with Sponsor and Pubco (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed (i) to vote its CEP Ordinary Shares in favor of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions and each of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters, (ii) vote its CEP Ordinary Shares against any alternative transactions, (iii) to comply with the restrictions imposed by the letter agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and among CEP, the Sponsor and the officers and directors of CEP at the time of its initial public offering (the “Letter Agreement”), including the restrictions on transfer and redeeming CEP Ordinary Shares in connection with the Transactions, and (iv) subject to and conditioned upon the Closing, agree that any loans outstanding from the Sponsor to CEP shall be repaid as follows: (a) with respect to the Sponsor Loan Note, the aggregate amount owed by CEP, as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement delivered by CEP prior to the Closing, shall be automatically converted, immediately prior to the SPAC Merger, into CEP Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and that upon the issuance and delivery of such CEP Class A Ordinary Shares to Sponsor, the Sponsor Loan Note shall be deemed satisfied in full, provided, however, that the portion of the Sponsor Loan Note that is drawn by or on behalf of CEP to pay for any SEC or Nasdaq fees, costs and expenses pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, shall be repaid in cash at the Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement and (b) with respect to all other SPAC Loans (other than the Sponsor Loan Note), all amounts outstanding thereunder as of the Closing, as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement delivered by CEP prior to the Closing, shall be repaid in cash at the Closing in accordance the Business Combination Agreement.
The Sponsor Support Agreement also provides that upon the Closing, the Sponsor will enter into a securities exchange agreement, substantially in the form attached to the Sponsor Support Agreement, pursuant to which, immediately following the Closing, the Sponsor will exchange a number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock received by the Sponsor in connection with the anti-dilution right of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares set forth in CEP’s governing documents for Convertible Notes in accordance with such securities exchange agreement.
Further, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the parties agreed that at the Closing they would enter into an amendment to the Letter Agreement, to modify the terms of the lock-up applicable to the Sponsor’s Founder Shares to be consistent with the lock-up set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements (as defined below).
The Sponsor Support Agreement and certain of its provisions will terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earlier to occur of Closing and the termination of the Business Combination Agreement pursuant to its terms and, if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms, all provisions of the Sponsor Support Agreement will terminate and be of no further force or effect.
The Sponsor Support Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Lock-Up Agreements
Concurrently with the Closing, each of the Sellers and Softbank will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement (collectively, the “Lock-Up Agreements”) with Pubco, pursuant to which each Seller and Softbank will agree that the shares of Pubco Class A Stock received by each Seller and the shares of Pubco Class A Stock transferred by Tether to Softbank will be locked-up and subject to transfer restrictions, as described below, subject to certain exceptions. The shares of Pubco Class A Stock held by each Seller and Softbank will be locked up until the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the date of the Closing (the “Anniversary Release”); provided that, in the event the S-1 registration statement filed with the SEC by Pubco to register the resale of the Pubco Class A Stock underlying the Convertible Notes (the “Resale Registration Statement”) has not been declared effective on or prior to the Anniversary Release, then the Anniversary Release will be deemed to be the date such Resale Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and (ii) the date on which Pubco consummates a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after the Closing which results in all of Pubco’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Stock for cash, securities or other property.
The form of Lock-Up Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Lock-Up Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Pubco and CEP entered into subscription agreements with certain investors (the “Convertible Note Subscription Agreements” and such investors, the “Convertible Note Investors”), pursuant to which the Convertible Note Investors have agreed to purchase $340 million aggregate principal amount of 1.00% convertible senior secured notes due 2030 (the “Convertible Notes” and such subscriptions, the “Convertible Notes PIPE”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. In addition, for a period of 30 days following the execution of the Convertible Note Subscription Agreements, Pubco has agreed to grant the Convertible Note Investors an option to purchase additional Convertible Notes in an aggregate amount of up to $100 million, on a pro rata basis based on such Convertible Note Investor's participation in the Convertible Note PIPE (the “Option Convertible Notes”).
As described above, the net proceeds of the Convertible Notes PIPE and the Option Convertible Notes will be used by Pubco to purchase the PIPE Bitcoin.
The closing of the Convertible Notes PIPE and the Option Convertible Notes is contingent upon the satisfaction of all closing conditions to consummate the Transactions and the Convertible Note Investors’ consent to any amendments, modifications or waivers to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits of the Convertible Note Investors, among other customary closing conditions.
Pursuant to the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements, Pubco has agreed to certain obligations to register and maintain the registration of the Convertible Notes and the shares of Pubco Class A common stock underlying the Convertible Notes including that, within 30 calendar days after the Closing, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Convertible Notes and the shares of Pubco Class A common stock underlying the Convertible Notes, and Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than 90 calendar days after the Closing, which may be extended an additional 90 calendar days depending on the level of SEC review involved.
Each Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of (i) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (ii) the mutual written agreement of the respective parties to terminate such agreement; or (iii) April 22, 2026.
At Closing, in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes and as applicable, the Option Convertible Notes, (i) Pubco, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, and Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), will enter into an indenture, and (ii) Pubco, Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A. as securities intermediary, and the Collateral Agent will enter into a securities accounts control and security agreement.
At Closing, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor will exchange certain Pubco Class A Stock for Convertible Notes, and, pursuant to agreements between Pubco and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., an affiliate of Sponsor (“CF&Co.”), Pubco will issue Convertible Notes to CF&Co., such that the aggregate principal of the Convertible Notes will be $385 million.
The form of Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, certain investors (the “Equity PIPE Investors”) each entered into a subscription agreement (collectively, the “Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements”) with CEP and Pubco, pursuant to which, CEP agreed to issue, and the Equity PIPE Investors agreed to purchase, 20,000,000 CEP Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Equity PIPE Shares”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200,000,000, in a private placement (the “Equity PIPE,” together with the Convertible Notes PIPE, the “PIPE Investments”). The purchase price for the Equity PIPE Shares may be paid in either cash or Bitcoin (based on the Signing Bitcoin Price), at the sole election of each of the Equity PIPE Investors. As of the date hereof, the Equity PIPE Investors have elected to purchase an aggregate of 2,950,000 Equity PIPE Shares for 347.6168 Bitcoin, with 17,050,000 Equity PIPE Shares to be purchased in cash.
As described above, the net proceeds of the Equity PIPE will be used by Pubco to purchase the PIPE Bitcoin.
The closing of the Equity PIPE is contingent upon the satisfaction of all closing conditions to consummate the Transactions and the Equity PIPE Investors’ consent to any amendments, modifications or waivers to the terms of the BCA that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits of the Equity PIPE Investors, among other customary closing conditions.
Pursuant to the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements, CEP and Pubco have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Pubco Class A Stock into which the Equity PIPE Shares will be converted upon consummation of the SPAC Merger to be registered on the Registration Statement. To the extent that any such shares of Pubco Class A Stock are unable to be included on the Form S-4, Pubco has agreed to certain obligations to register and maintaining the registration of the Equity PIPE Shares, including that, within 30 calendar days after the Closing, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Equity PIPE Shares, and Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than 90 calendar days after the Closing, which may be extended an additional 90 calendar days depending on the level of SEC review involved.
Each Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of (i) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (ii) the mutual written agreement of the respective parties to terminate such agreement; or (iii) April 22, 2026.
The form of Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing of the Business Combination Agreement, CEP, Pubco, the Sponsor, each Seller and Softbank shall enter into a registration rights agreement that will amend and restate the registration rights agreement entered into at the time of CEP’s initial public offering between CEP and the Sponsor (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Pubco will (i) assume the registration obligations of CEP under such registration rights agreement, with such rights applying to the shares of Pubco Class A Stock and (ii) provide registration rights with respect to the resale of shares of Pubco Class A Stock held by Sponsor, each Seller and SoftBank.
The form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Services Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing of the Business Combination Agreement, Tether and Pubco will enter into a Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”). Pursuant to the Services Agreement, Tether will agree to provide, or cause to be provided, certain services to Pubco and its subsidiaries in exchange for a services fee in the amount of $30,000 per calendar quarter or such other amount as may be agreed by the parties thereto.
The form of Services Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Services Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities
The disclosure set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein, to the extent applicable. The securities of Pubco that may be issued in connection with the Convertible Notes Subscriptions and the securities of CEP that may be issued in connection with the Equity PIPE 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 8.01 Other Events.
Softbank Purchase Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Tether and SoftBank entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “SoftBank Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, immediately following the Closing: (i) SoftBank will pay Tether (a) an amount in cash calculated in accordance with the terms of the SoftBank Purchase Agreement in exchange for Bitcoin that Tether will purchase as part of the Contribution and (b) an interest amount calculated in accordance with the terms of the SoftBank Purchase Agreement, payable at SoftBank’s election, either in cash or out of the SoftBank Shares (as defined below) and (ii) Tether will transfer to SoftBank an equal number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock and Pubco Class B Stock (such shares, the “SoftBank Shares”), calculated in accordance with the terms of the SoftBank Purchase Agreement.
The Softbank Purchase Agreement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the foregoing description thereof is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Softbank Purchase Agreement and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein. The information furnished under this Item 8.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Pubco and CEP intend to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as may be amended, the “Registration Statement”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of CEP and a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) in connection with the Transactions and the PIPE Investments (collectively, the “Proposed Transactions”). The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to shareholders of CEP as of a record date to be established for voting on the Transactions and other matters as described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. CEP and/or Pubco will also file other documents regarding the Proposed Transactions with the SEC. This Current Report on Form 8-K does not contain all of the information that should be considered concerning the Proposed Transactions and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Proposed Transactions. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF CEP AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH CEP’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CEP, PUBCO AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by CEP and Pubco, without charge, once available, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., 110 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022; e-mail: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com, or upon written request to Twenty One Capital, Inc., via email at info@xxi.money, respectively.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR ANY RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS CURRENT REPORT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The Convertible Notes and the Class A ordinary shares of CEP to be issued in the PIPE Investment have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Participants in the Solicitation
CEP, Pubco and their respective directors, executive officers, certain of their shareholders and other members of management and employees may be deemed under SEC rules to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CEP’s shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transactions. A list of the names of such persons, and information regarding their interests in the Proposed Transactions and their ownership of CEP’s securities are, or will be, contained in CEP’s filings with the SEC, including CEP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025. Additional information regarding the interests of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of CEP’s shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transactions, including the names and interests of Pubco’s directors and executive officers, will be set forth in the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is expected to be filed by Pubco and CEP with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents as described above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K is for informational purposes only and is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Proposed Transactions and shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange the securities of CEP or Pubco, or any commodity or instrument or related derivative, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Investors should consult with their counsel as to the applicable requirements for a purchaser to avail itself of any exemption under the Securities Act.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws with respect to the Proposed Transactions involving Pubco and CEP, including expectations, intentions, and plans regarding Pubco, CEP and the Proposed Transactions, statements regarding the timing of the completion of the Proposed Transactions, entry into certain agreements subsequent to the entry into the Business Combination Agreement and the satisfaction of closing conditions to the Proposed Transactions. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including, but not limited to: the risk that the Proposed Transactions may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CEP’s securities; the risk that the Proposed Transactions may not be completed by CEP’s business combination deadline; the failure by the parties to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Transactions, including the approval of CEP’s shareholders, or either of the PIPE Investments; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions; the level of redemptions of CEP’s public shareholders which may reduce the public float of, reduce the liquidity of the trading market of, and/or maintain the quotation, listing, or trading of the Class A ordinary shares of CEP or the shares of Class A common stock of Pubco; the lack of a third-party fairness opinion in determining whether or not to pursue the Transactions; the failure of Pubco to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities on any securities exchange after closing of the Proposed Transactions; costs related to the Proposed Transactions and as a result of becoming a public company; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to Pubco’s anticipated operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of Bitcoin; the risk that Pubco’s stock price will be highly correlated to the price of Bitcoin and the price of Bitcoin may decrease between the signing of the definitive documents for the Proposed Transactions and the closing of the Proposed Transactions or at any time after the closing of the Proposed Transactions; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which Pubco will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding Bitcoin; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; risks that after consummation of the Proposed Transactions, Pubco experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the risks that growing Pubco’s learning programs and educational content could be difficult; challenges in implementing Pubco’s business plan including Bitcoin-related financial and advisory services, due to operational challenges, significant competition and regulation; being considered to be a “shell company” by any stock exchange on which Pubco’s Class A common stock will be listed or by the SEC, which may impact Pubco’s ability to list Pubco’s Class A common stock and restrict reliance on certain rules or forms in connection with the offering, sale or resale of securities; the outcome of any potential legal proceedings that may be instituted against Pubco, CEP or others following announcement of the Proposed Transactions, and those risk factors discussed in documents that Pubco and/or CEP filed, or that will be filed, with the SEC.
The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the final prospectus of CEP dated as of August 12, 2024 and filed by CEP with the SEC on August 13, 2024, CEP’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, CEP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Registration Statement that will be filed by Pubco and CEP and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus contained therein, and other documents filed by CEP and Pubco from time to time with the SEC. These filings do or will identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither CEP nor Pubco presently know or that CEP and Pubco currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and each of CEP and Pubco assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither CEP nor Pubco gives any assurance that either CEP or Pubco will achieve its expectations. The inclusion of any statement in this Current Report does not constitute an admission by CEP or Pubco or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
+ | Certain schedules, exhibits and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. CEP will provide a copy of such omitted materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. |
† | Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to Item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. |
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.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Brandon Lutnick | |
Name: | Brandon Lutnick | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: April 28, 2025
11
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION VERSION
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
by and among
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC.,
as SPAC,
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC.,
as Pubco,
TWENTY ONE MERGER SUB D,
as SPAC Merger Sub,
TWENTY ONE ASSETS, LLC,
as the Company,
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY,
as the Sellers
and
solely for the purposes of Article I, Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI, Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.10, 8.12, 8.13, 8.14, 8.17, 8.19, 8.20, 8.21, 8.24, 8.25, 10.1(a), 10.2 and Article XII,
STELLAR BEACON LLC,
as SoftBank
Dated as of April 22, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
ARTICLE I | ||
DEFINITIONS | ||
1.1 | Certain Definitions | 3 |
1.2 | Section References | 12 |
1.3 | Interpretation | 14 |
ARTICLE II | ||
MERGERS | ||
2.1 | SPAC Merger | 15 |
2.2 | Company Merger | 16 |
2.3 | Effective Time | 16 |
2.4 | Effect of the Mergers | 16 |
2.5 | Organizational Documents | 17 |
2.6 | Directors and Officers of the Surviving Subsidiaries | 17 |
2.7 | Company Merger Consideration | 17 |
2.8 | Effect of SPAC Merger on Outstanding Securities of SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub | 18 |
2.9 | Effect of Company Merger on Outstanding Securities of the Company and Company Merger Sub | 19 |
2.10 | Effect of Mergers on Outstanding Securities of Pubco | 20 |
2.11 | Exchange Procedures | 20 |
2.12 | Intended Tax Treatment | 22 |
2.13 | Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action | 22 |
2.14 | Seller Consent | 22 |
2.15 | Withholding | 22 |
ARTICLE III | ||
CLOSING | ||
3.1 | Closing | 23 |
3.2 | Pre-Closing Statements | 23 |
3.3 | Closing Deliveries | 23 |
ARTICLE IV | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPAC | ||
4.1 | Organization and Standing | 25 |
4.2 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | 25 |
4.3 | Governmental Approvals | 26 |
4.4 | Non-Contravention | 26 |
4.5 | Capitalization | 26 |
4.6 | SEC Filings; SPAC Financials; Internal Controls | 27 |
4.7 | No Litigation; Orders; Permits | 29 |
4.8 | Absence of Certain Changes | 29 |
4.9 | Compliance with Laws | 29 |
4.10 | Taxes and Returns | 29 |
4.11 | Employees and Employee Benefit Plans | 29 |
4.12 | Properties3 | 30 |
4.13 | Material Contracts | 30 |
4.14 | Transactions with Affiliates | 30 |
4.15 | Finders and Brokers | 30 |
4.16 | Certain Business Practices | 30 |
4.17 | Insurance | 31 |
4.18 | Independent Investigation | 31 |
4.19 | No Other Representations | 31 |
4.20 | Information Supplied | 32 |
4.21 | SPAC Trust Account | 32 |
4.22 | Equity PIPE | 32 |
4.23 | SPAC Subsidiaries’ Activities | 33 |
ARTICLE V | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PUBCO AND SPAC MERGER SUB | ||
5.1 | Organization and Standing | 33 |
5.2 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | 33 |
5.3 | Governmental Approvals | 34 |
5.4 | Non-Contravention | 34 |
5.5 | Capitalization | 34 |
5.6 | Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Activities | 35 |
5.7 | Finders and Brokers | 35 |
5.8 | Ownership of Pubco Stock | 35 |
5.9 | Convertible Notes PIPE | 35 |
5.10 | Information Supplied | 35 |
5.11 | Independent Investigation | 36 |
5.12 | No Other Representations3 | 36 |
ARTICLE VI | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | ||
6.1 | Organization and Standing | 37 |
6.2 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | 37 |
6.3 | Capitalization | 37 |
6.4 | Governmental Approvals | 37 |
6.5 | Non-Contravention | 38 |
6.6 | Absence of Certain Changes | 38 |
6.7 | Company Activities | 38 |
6.8 | Title to Assets | 38 |
6.9 | Employees and Benefit Plans | 38 |
6.10 | Certain Business Practices. | 38 |
6.11 | Finders and Brokers | 39 |
6.12 | Information Supplied | 39 |
6.13 | Independent Investigation | 39 |
6.14 | No Other Representations | 40 |
ARTICLE VII | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS | ||
7.1 | Organization and Standing | 40 |
7.2 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | 40 |
7.3 | Ownership | 40 |
7.4 | Government Approvals | 41 |
7.5 | Non-Contravention | 41 |
7.6 | No Litigation | 41 |
7.7 | Investment Representations | 42 |
7.8 | Finders and Brokers | 42 |
7.9 | Information Supplied | 42 |
7.10 | No Other Representations | 43 |
ARTICLE VIII | ||
COVENANTS | ||
8.1 | Access and Information | 43 |
8.2 | Conduct of Business of the Company, Pubco, and SPAC Merger Sub | 44 |
8.3 | Conduct of Business of SPAC | 45 |
8.4 | Annual and Interim Financial Statements | 47 |
8.5 | SPAC Public Filings | 48 |
8.6 | No Solicitation | 48 |
8.7 | No Trading | 49 |
8.8 | Notification of Certain Matters | 49 |
8.9 | Efforts | 49 |
8.10 | Further Assurances | 51 |
8.11 | The Registration Statement | 51 |
8.12 | Public Announcements | 54 |
8.13 | Confidential Information | 55 |
8.14 | Post-Closing Pubco Board of Directors and Executive Officers | 56 |
8.15 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance | 56 |
8.16 | Use of Proceeds | 57 |
8.17 | Pre-Closing Transaction | 57 |
8.18 | Delisting and Deregistration | 57 |
8.19 | Pubco A&R Organizational Documents | 57 |
8.20 | Amendment and Restatement of Founder Registration Rights Agreement | 58 |
8.21 | PIPE Investments | 58 |
8.22 | PIPE Bitcoin Sale | 58 |
8.23 | Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale. | 58 |
8.24 | SoftBank Purchase Agreement | 59 |
8.25 | Pubco Incentive Plan | 59 |
8.26 | Pre-Closing Restructuring | 59 |
ARTICLE IX | ||
CLOSING CONDITIONS | ||
9.1 | Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations | 60 |
9.2 | Conditions to Obligations of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers | 60 |
9.3 | Conditions to Obligations of SPAC | 61 |
9.4 | Frustration of Conditions | 62 |
ARTICLE X | ||
TERMINATION AND EXPENSES | ||
10.1 | Termination | 62 |
10.2 | Effect of Termination | 63 |
ARTICLE XI | ||
WAIVERS AND RELEASES | ||
11.1 | Waiver of Claims Against Trust | 63 |
11.2 | Release and Covenant Not to Sue | 64 |
ARTICLE XII | ||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||
12.1 | Survival | 64 |
12.2 | Notices | 64 |
12.3 | Binding Effect; Assignment | 65 |
12.4 | Third Parties | 66 |
12.5 | Fees and Expenses | 66 |
12.6 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction | 66 |
12.7 | Specific Performance | 67 |
12.8 | Severability | 67 |
12.9 | Amendment | 67 |
12.10 | Waiver | 68 |
12.11 | Entire Agreement | 68 |
12.12 | Counterparts | 68 |
12.13 | Legal Representation | 68 |
12.14 | No Recourse | 68 |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Form of Lock-Up Agreement |
Exhibit B | Form of Sponsor Support Agreement |
Exhibit C | Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement |
Exhibit D | Form of Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement |
Exhibit E | Form of Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement |
Exhibit F | Terms of Pubco Stock |
Exhibit G | Form of Services Agreement |
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This Business Combination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 22, 2025 by and among (a) Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), (b) Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), (c) Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (d) Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), (e) each of the holders of the outstanding Company Interests named on Annex I (the “Sellers”) and (f) solely for the purposes of Article I, Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI, Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.10, 8.12, 8.13, 8.14, 8.17, 8.19, 8.20, 8.21, 8.24, 8.25, 10.1(a), 10.2 and Article XII (collectively, the “SoftBank Provisions”), Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SoftBank”). SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers, the Company and solely for the purposes of the SoftBank Provisions, SoftBank, are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador sociedad anónima de capital variable (“Tether”), iFinex, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (“Bitfinex”), and the Company have entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which, immediately prior to the Closing, (a) Tether shall contribute to the Company 24,500 Bitcoin, and (b) Bitfinex shall contribute to the Company 7,000 Bitcoin, for an aggregate contribution of 31,500 Bitcoin (collectively, the “Contribution”);
WHEREAS, after the date hereof, but prior to the Contribution, (a) SPAC shall form a new subsidiary (“SPAC Subsidiary A”), a Delaware corporation, which will in turn form, a new subsidiary, a Delaware corporation (“SPAC Subsidiary B”), which in turn will form a new subsidiary, a Delaware corporation (“Company Merger Sub” and with SPAC Subsidiary A and SPAC Subsidiary B, the “SPAC Subsidiaries” and each, a “SPAC Subsidiary”), and (b) following the formation of the SPAC Subsidiaries, Pubco shall dissolve the Pubco Merger Subs;
WHEREAS, after the Contribution, but prior to the Closing, the Sellers shall own 100% of the issued and outstanding Company Interests in the amounts as set forth on Annex I;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire and intend to effect a business combination transaction whereby (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “SPAC Merger”), and with SPAC Shareholders receiving one share of Pubco Class A Stock for each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share held by such shareholder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) at least two (2) hours after the SPAC Merger, the Company will merge with and into Company Merger Sub, with the Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”, and together with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including the Contribution, the Pre-Closing Restructuring and the PIPE Investments (as defined below), the “Transactions”), and with members of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Stock in exchange for their Company Interests in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and as a result of the Mergers, SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will become a publicly traded company, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with applicable Law;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Tether and SoftBank have entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “SoftBank Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, immediately following the Closing, SoftBank will purchase from Tether and Tether will transfer to SoftBank a number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock and Pubco Class B Stock (the “SoftBank Shares”), each calculated in accordance with the terms of the SoftBank Purchase Agreement; WHEREAS, concurrently with the Closing, each Seller and SoftBank shall enter into a Lock-Up Agreement with Pubco substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit A (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which each Seller shall agree not to transfer its shares of Pubco Stock for a period of six (6) months after the Closing;
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, in connection with the Transactions, Pubco, SPAC and Cantor EP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) are entering into a Sponsor Support Agreement substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit B (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), providing that, among other things, (i) the Sponsor will vote its SPAC Ordinary Shares in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions and (ii) prior to the Closing, the Sponsor will amend the letter agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and among SPAC, the Sponsor and the officers and directors of SPAC at the time of its initial public offering, to reduce the post-Closing lock-up period applicable to the shares of Pubco Class A Stock held at the Closing by the Sponsor and the other insiders, from twelve (12) months to six (6) months;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the Closing, Sponsor, SPAC, Pubco, each Seller and SoftBank shall enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement of SPAC, which will add Pubco as a party and cover the resale of the shares of Pubco Stock held by Sponsor, each Seller and SoftBank substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit C (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on the date of this Agreement, (a) the Convertible Note Investors (as defined below) have agreed to make a private investment in Pubco by purchasing convertible notes with an aggregate principal amount equal to the Convertible Note Gross Proceeds (as defined below) (the “Convertible Notes PIPE”) and (b) the Equity PIPE Investors (as defined below) have agreed to make a private investment in SPAC by purchasing SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in the aggregate amount equal to the Equity PIPE Gross Proceeds (as defined below) (the “Equity PIPE” and, together with the Convertible Notes PIPE, the “PIPE Investments”), in each case, pursuant to (x) subscription agreements substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit D for the Convertible Notes PIPE (the “Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements”) and (y) subscription agreements substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit E for the Equity PIPE (the “Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements” and, together with the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements, the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement, Pubco has granted to the Convertible Note Investors an option to purchase up to $100,000,000 additional principal amount of convertible notes (the “Option Convertible Notes”) at any time before the 30th day after the date of this Agreement (the “Option Period”);
WHEREAS, in accordance herewith, (a) following the date of this Agreement, Tether shall (i) purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the Initial PIPE Net Proceeds (such number of Bitcoin, the “Initial PIPE Bitcoin”), which Initial PIPE Bitcoin shall be sold by Tether to Pubco at the Closing, at a purchase price equal to the Initial PIPE Net Proceeds, and (ii) purchase an additional number of Bitcoin equal to the Option Note Net Proceeds (such number of Bitcoin, the “Option PIPE Bitcoin”), which Option PIPE Bitcoin shall be sold by Tether to Pubco at the Closing, at a purchase price equal to the Option Note Net Proceeds, and (b) immediately prior to the Closing and solely to the extent that the sum of the Initial PIPE Bitcoin and the Option PIPE Bitcoin is less than 10,500 Bitcoin, Tether shall purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the Additional PIPE Bitcoin (as defined below), which Additional PIPE Bitcoin shall be contributed to Pubco at the Closing; WHEREAS, the board of directors of SPAC (the “SPAC Board”) has unanimously: (a) determined that this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which SPAC is a party and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of SPAC and the SPAC Shareholders; (b) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by SPAC of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which SPAC is a party and the Transactions; (c) approved the Transactions as a Business Combination; and (d) recommended the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which SPAC is a party and the Transactions by the SPAC Shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub and the managers of the Company have each unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which their respective companies are a party and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of their respective companies and shareholders and (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which their respective companies are a party and the Transactions, in each case upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Action” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or any request (including any subpoena or request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Person, including any Governmental Authority.
“Additional PIPE Bitcoin” means an aggregate number of Bitcoin equal to 10,500 Bitcoin minus (i) the Initial PIPE Bitcoin, minus (ii) the Option PIPE Bitcoin and minus (iii) the Contributed PIPE Bitcoin; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall such number of Bitcoin be a negative number.
“Additional PIPE Bitcoin Purchase Price” means the aggregate purchase price (expressed in U.S. dollars) paid by Tether for the Additional PIPE Bitcoin.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person as of the date on which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of affiliation is being made. For the purposes of this definition, the term “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling,” “controlled,” or “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Anchorage” means Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A.
“Ancillary Documents” means each agreement, instrument or document attached hereto as an Exhibit, and the other agreements, certificates and instruments to be executed or delivered by any of the Parties in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or the Transactions, including the Contribution Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Securities Exchange Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, the PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Services Agreement, the Pubco A&R Organizational Documents and the SoftBank Purchase Agreement.
“Benefit Plans” of any Person means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or consulting, severance or termination pay, holiday, vacation or other bonus plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life or other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by a Person for the benefit of any employee or terminated employee of such Person, or with respect to which such Person has any Liability, whether direct or indirect, actual or contingent, whether formal or informal, and whether legally binding or not.
“Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the SPAC Memorandum and Articles as in effect on the date hereof.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York, Austin, Texas and the Cayman Islands are authorized to close for business or for purposes of the Pre-Closing Restructuring, any day on which the Delaware Secretary of State is authorized to close for business.
“Cayman Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Reference to a specific section of the Code shall include such section and any valid treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.
“Company Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information, whether written, oral, electronic, in visual form or in any other media, concerning Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Pubco Merger Subs, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives, furnished in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions; provided, however, that Company Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (a) at the time of disclosure by any Party, any Affiliates thereof or any of their respective Representatives , is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or applicable confidentiality agreement or (b) at the time of the disclosure by any Party, any Affiliates thereof or any of their respective Representatives was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Company Confidential Information.
“Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties made by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 6.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 6.3 (Capitalization), and Section 6.11 (Finders and Brokers).
“Company Merger Sub Common Stock” means the shares of common stock of Company Merger Sub.
“Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, authorization or Permit of, or notice to or declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
“Contracts” means all legally binding contracts, agreements, arrangements, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, purchase orders, licenses (and all other contracts, agreements or binding arrangements concerning Intellectual Property), franchises, leases and other instruments or obligations of any kind, written or oral (including any amendments and other modifications thereto).
“Contributed PIPE Bitcoin” means the aggregate number of Bitcoin contributed to Pubco at the Closing by Equity PIPE Investors in lieu of a cash investment in the Equity PIPE.
“Convertible Note Investors” means those Persons who are participating in the Convertible Notes PIPE pursuant to a Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement entered into with Pubco and SPAC as of the date of this Agreement.
“Convertible Notes Gross Cash Proceeds” means $340,200,000.
“Convertible Notes Gross Proceeds” means $385,000,000.
“Equity PIPE Gross Cash Proceeds” means $170,500,000.
“Equity PIPE Gross Proceeds” means $200,000,000.
“Equity PIPE Investors” means those Persons who are participating in the Equity PIPE pursuant to an Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement entered into with Pubco and SPAC as of the date of this Agreement.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Expenses” means, collectively, the SPAC Expenses and the Sellers Expenses.
“Founder Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and between SPAC and Sponsor.
“Fraud” means actual and intentional fraud, with elements of scienter and reliance, under the Laws of the State of Delaware, in the making of any representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.
“Fraud Claim” means any Action to the extent based upon Fraud.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.
“Governance Term Sheet” means that certain term sheet relating to the governance of Pubco entered into by Tether, Bitfinex and SoftBank on the date hereof.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body with competent jurisdiction.
“IFRS” means international financial reporting standards, as adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services or capitalized leases, as determined in accordance with GAAP (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such Person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) 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, that has been drawn or claimed against, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of acceptances issued or created, (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, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (g) all obligations secured by a Lien on any property of such Person, (h) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person, (i) any severance costs, pension, bonus, deferred compensation, amounts due in respect of cancellation of options and other equity awards, forgivable loans (whether issued or proposed to be issued) or similar obligations (and, in each case, any employer portion of unemployment, social security, payroll or similar Tax payable in connection therewith), and (j) all obligation described in clauses (a) through (i) above of any other Person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
“Initial Holdback Amount” means $52,000,000.
“Initial PIPE Net Proceeds” means the sum of (a) the Convertible Notes Gross Cash Proceeds and (b) the Equity PIPE Gross Cash Proceeds minus the Initial Holdback Amount.
“Intellectual Property” means trade marks, service marks, rights in trade names, business names, logos or get-up, goodwill and the right to sue for passing off, patents, supplementary protection certificates, rights in inventions, proprietary processes, formulae, models and methodologies, registered and unregistered design rights, copyrights (including rights in software), database rights, image rights, rights to publicity and rights to personality and privacy, moral rights and rights of attribution and integrity, rights in domain names and URLs and social media presence accounts, and all other similar rights in any part of the world (including in confidential information and trade secrets) and whether registered or not, including, where such rights are obtained or enhanced by registration, any registration of such rights and applications and any rights to apply for and be granted, registrations, renewals, extensions, continuations or restorations of, and rights to claim priority from such registrations.
“Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of SPAC, dated as of August 12, 2024, and filed with the SEC on August 13, 2024 (File No. 333-280230).
“Knowledge” means, with respect to any Party, the actual knowledge of its directors and executive officers, after reasonable inquiry.
“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, Order or Consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, Actions or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured, whether due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP, IFRS or other applicable accounting standards), including Tax liabilities due or to become due.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest (including any created by Law), attachment, option, proxy, voting trust, encumbrance, license, covenant not to sue, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), any subordination arrangement in favor of another Person, or any filing or agreement to file a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar Law.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any specified Person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries to consummate the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, with respect to clause (a), any changes or effects directly or indirectly attributable to, resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other, changes or effects) shall not be deemed to be, constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has or may, would or could have occurred a Material Adverse Effect: (i) general changes in the financial or securities markets (including changes in interest rates) or general economic or political conditions in the country or region in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries do business; (ii) changes, conditions or effects that generally affect the industries or markets in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iii) changes in the price or trading volume of Bitcoin (provided that the underlying cause of any such event, occurrence, change or effect in the price or trading volume may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein); (iv) any proposal, enactment or change in interpretation of, or any other change in, applicable Laws, IFRS, GAAP or other applicable accounting principles or mandatory changes in the regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which such Person and its Subsidiaries principally operate; (v) conditions caused by acts of God, natural disasters, terrorism, war (whether or not declared), escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions or any outbreak or continuation of an epidemic or pandemic or the effects of the actions of any Governmental Authority or Laws or other responses with respect thereto; (vi) the taking of any action required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and (vii) any failure in and of itself by such Person and its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (provided that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein); provided, further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iv), (v) and (vii) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change has a disproportionate and adverse effect on such Person or any of its Subsidiaries compared to similarly situated participants in the industries in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries primarily conducts its businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to SPAC, the amount of the Redemption or the failure to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval shall not in and of itself be deemed to be a Material Adverse Effect on or with respect to SPAC (provided that the underlying causes of any such Redemption or failure to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein; and provided, further, with respect to the failure to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval, that the SPAC has not violated its obligations under this Agreement in connection with obtaining such Required Shareholder Approval).
“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Global Market.
“Option Holdback Amount” means an aggregate amount equal to (a) 0.5% multiplied by (b) the Option Note Gross Proceeds.
“Option Note Gross Proceeds” means the aggregate principal amount of Option Convertible Notes purchased by the Option Note Investors in accordance with the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements.
“Option Note Investors” means those Persons who elect to purchase Option Convertible Notes in accordance with the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement.
“Option Note Net Proceeds” means (a) the Option Note Gross Proceeds, minus (b) the Option Holdback Amount.
“Order” means any order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction, writ, determination, binding decision, verdict, judicial award or other action that is or has been made, entered, rendered, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, (a) that is a corporation or company, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and/or memorandum and articles of association or comparable documents, (b) that is a partnership, its certificate of partnership and partnership agreement, or comparable documents, (c) that is a limited liability company, its certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement, or comparable documents, (d) that is a trust, its declaration of trust, or comparable documents and (e) that is any other Person but that is not an individual, its comparable organizational documents.
“PCAOB” means the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or any successor thereto).
“Permits” means all federal, state, local or foreign or other third-party permits, grants, easements, consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, licenses, franchises, concessions, ratifications, permissions, clearances, confirmations, endorsements, waivers, certifications, designations, ratings, registrations, qualifications or orders of any Governmental Authority.
“Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes or assessments and similar governmental charges or levies, which either are (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and adequate reserves have been established with respect thereto, (b) other Liens imposed by operation of Law arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not due and payable and as would not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of, or materially adversely interfere with the use of, the property subject thereto, (c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with social security, (d) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business, or (e) Liens arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, company, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Personal Property” means any machinery, equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, leasehold improvements, office equipment, plant, parts and other tangible personal property.
“PIPE Investors” means, collectively, the Convertible Notes Investors and the Equity PIPE Investors.
“Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties made by Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub pursuant to Section 5.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 5.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 5.5 (Capitalization) and Section 5.7 (Finders and Brokers).
“Pubco Class A Stock” means the shares of class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco to be issued at the Closing in connection with the Transactions.
“Pubco Class B Stock” means the shares of class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco to be issued at the Closing in connection with the Transactions.
“Pubco Merger Subs” means, collectively, Twenty One Merger Sub A, Inc., Twenty One Merger Sub B, Inc., and Twenty One Merger Sub C, Inc.
“Pubco Organizational Documents” means the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Pubco as of the date of this Agreement, as in effect under the TBOC.
“Pubco Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco; provided, that from and after the Closing, Pubco Stock shall refer to, collectively, the Pubco Class A Stock and the Pubco Class B Stock, which shall have the terms set out in Exhibit F.
“Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable with respect to all Redemptions of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to and in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles.
“Related Persons” means, as to any Person, the Affiliates of such Person, the Representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates, and the immediate family members of any of the foregoing.
“Representatives” means, as to any Person, the respective managers, directors, officers, employees, independent contractors, consultants, advisors (including financial advisors, counsel and accountants), agents and other legal representatives of such Person.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Securities Exchange Agreement” means the Securities and Exchange Agreement by and between Pubco and the Sponsor, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit A to the Sponsor Support Agreement, which shall be entered into at the Closing.
“Sellers Expenses” means the following out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses paid or payable by or on behalf of any Seller, SoftBank, Pubco, the Company, SPAC Merger Sub, the Pubco Merger Subs or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document and the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby: (a) fees and expenses of counsel, advisors, accountants, brokers, finders, investment bankers and financial advisors to any Seller, SoftBank, Pubco, the Company, SPAC Merger Sub, the Pubco Merger Subs or any of their respective Affiliates and (b) any premiums, costs and expenses incurred under the D&O Tail Insurance, in each case as set forth on the Sellers Pre-Closing Statement to be delivered by the Sellers and SoftBank to SPAC pursuant to Section 3.2(b).
“Sellers Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties made by each Seller pursuant to Section 7.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 7.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement) and Section 7.8 (Finders and Brokers).
“Services Agreement” means, the Services Agreement by and between Tether and/or certain of its Affiliates, and Pubco, substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit G, which shall be entered into at the Closing, pursuant to which Tether and/or such Affiliates will agree to provide certain services to Pubco including acting as custodian of the Bitcoin indirectly owned by Pubco and to purchase Bitcoin on behalf of Pubco and its Subsidiaries.
“Signing Bitcoin Price” means the U.S. dollar price of one bitcoin as determined by the average of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant for the ten-day period ending on the day prior to the date of this Agreement.
“SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties made by SPAC pursuant to Section 4.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 4.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 4.5 (Capitalization), and Section 4.15 (Finders, Brokers, and Advisors).
“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC.
“SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC.
“SPAC Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information, whether written, oral, electronic, in visual form or in any other media, concerning SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that SPAC Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (a) at the time of disclosure by any Party, any Affiliates thereof or any of their respective Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (b) at the time of the disclosure by any Party, any Affiliates thereof or any of their respective Representatives, was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such SPAC Confidential Information.
“SPAC Expenses” means the following out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses paid or payable by or on behalf of SPAC or any of the SPAC Subsidiaries in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document and the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby: (a) fees and expenses of counsel, advisors, accountants, brokers, finders, investment bankers and financial advisors to SPAC and (b) the SPAC Loans, in each case as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement to be delivered by SPAC to the Sellers and SoftBank pursuant to Section 3.2(a).
“SPAC Loans” means the loans made to SPAC by the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates for the purpose of financing (a) costs and expenses incurred in connection with the IPO, a Business Combination or other working capital expenditures of SPAC or (b) a portion of the Redemption Amount as described in the SEC Reports.
“SPAC Memorandum and Articles” means the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of SPAC as of the date of this Agreement, as in effect under the Cayman Act.
“SPAC Merger Sub Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC Merger Sub.
“SPAC Merger Sub Shareholder Approval” means the vote or unanimous resolution of the shareholder of SPAC Merger Sub required to approve the SPAC Merger and SPAC Plan of Merger, as determined in accordance with the Organizational Documents of SPAC Merger Sub and the Cayman Act.
“SPAC Ordinary Shares” means the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares.
“SPAC Preference Shares” means preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC.
“SPAC Shareholders” means the shareholders of SPAC as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“Sponsor Loan Note” means the Amended and Restated Promissory Note entered into by SPAC in favor of the Sponsor on November 5, 2024, and effective as of August 12, 2024.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which (a) if a corporation or company, a majority of the total voting power of capital stock or share capital entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity. A Subsidiary of a Person will also include any variable interest entity which is consolidated with such Person under applicable accounting rules.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.
“Taxes” means (a) all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, tariffs, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto, (b) any Liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law and (c) any Liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other Person.
“TBOC” means the Texas Business Organizations Code.
“Trust Account” means the trust account established by SPAC with the proceeds from the IPO pursuant to the Trust Agreement in accordance with the IPO Prospectus.
“Trust Agreement” means that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and between SPAC and the Trustee, as it may be amended, including to add Pubco to accommodate the Mergers, as well as any other agreements entered into related to or governing the Trust Account.
“Trustee” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee under the Trust Agreement.
1.2 Section References. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, have the respective meanings given to them in the Section as set forth below adjacent to such terms:
$ | 1.3(b) |
Acquisition Proposal | 8.6(a) |
Action | 1.1 |
Additional PIPE Bitcoin | 1.1 |
Additional PIPE Bitcoin Consideration | 8.23(b) |
Additional PIPE Bitcoin Purchase Price | 1.1 |
Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale | 8.23(b) |
Affiliate | 1.1 |
Agreement | Preamble |
Alternative Transaction | 8.6(a) |
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement | Recitals |
Anchorage | 1.1 |
Ancillary Documents | 1.1 |
Antitrust Laws | 8.9(b) |
Authorization Notice | 2.8(e) |
Benefit Plans | 1.1 |
Bitfinex | Recitals |
Business Combination | 1.1 |
Business Day | 1.1 |
Cayman Act | 2.1 |
Cayman Registrar | 1.1 |
Class A Merger Consideration Shares | 2.7(a) |
Class A Pro Rata Share | 2.7(a) |
Class A Transmittal Documents | 2.11(e) |
Class B Merger Consideration Shares | 2.7(b) |
Class B Pro Rata Share | 2.7(b) |
Class B Transmittal Documents | 2.11(f) |
Closing | 3.1 |
Closing Date | 3.1 |
Closing Filing | 8.12(b) |
Closing Press Release | 8.12(b) |
Code | 1.1 |
Company | Preamble |
Company Certificate of Merger | 2.3 |
Company Certificates | 2.11(b) |
Company Class A Interests | 6.3(a) |
Company Class B Interests | 6.3(a) |
Company Confidential Information | 1.1 |
Company Disclosure Schedules | Article VI |
Company Fundamental Representations | 1.1 |
Company Interests | 6.3(a) |
Company Merger | Recitals |
Company Merger Intended Tax Treatment | 2.12 |
Company Merger Sub | Recitals |
Company Merger Sub Common Stock | 1.1 |
Company Surviving Subsidiary | 2.2 |
Consent | 1.1 |
Contracts | 1.1 |
Contributed PIPE Bitcoin | 1.1 |
Contribution | Recitals |
Contribution Agreement | Recitals |
Convertible Note Investors | 1.1 |
Convertible Notes Gross Cash Proceeds | 1.1 |
Convertible Notes Gross Proceeds | 1.1 |
Convertible Notes PIPE | Recitals |
Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements | Recitals |
D&O Indemnified Persons | 8.15(a) |
D&O Tail Insurance | 8.15(b) |
Delaware Secretary of State | 2.3 |
DGCL | 2.2 |
DLLCA | 2.2 |
Dollars | 1.3(b) |
Effective Time | 2.3 |
EGS | 12.13(a) |
Enforceability Exceptions | 4.2 |
Equity PIPE | Recitals |
Equity PIPE Gross Cash Proceeds | 1.1 |
Equity PIPE Gross Proceeds | 1.1 |
Equity PIPE Investors | 1.1 |
Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements | Recitals |
ERISA | 1.1 |
Exchange Act | 1.1 |
Exchange Agent | 2.11(a) |
Expenses | 1.1 |
Extraordinary General Meeting | 8.11(a) |
Federal Securities Laws | 8.7 |
Founder Registration Rights Agreement | 1.1 |
Fraud | 1.1 |
Fraud Claim | 1.1 |
GAAP | 1.1 |
Governance Term Sheet | 1.1 |
Governmental Authority | 1.1 |
IFRS | 1.1 |
Indebtedness | 1.1 |
Initial Holdback Amount | 1.1 |
Initial PIPE Bitcoin | Recitals |
Initial PIPE Net Proceeds | 1.1 |
Intellectual Property | 1.1 |
Intended Tax Treatment | 2.12 |
Interim Period | 8.1(a) |
Intervening Event | 8.11(d)(ii) |
Intervening Event Change in Recommendation | 8.11(d)(ii) |
Intervening Event Notice Period | 8.11(d)(ii) |
Investment Company Act | 1.1 |
IPO | 1.1 |
IPO Prospectus | 1.1 |
Knowledge | 1.1 |
Law | 1.1 |
LCIA Court | 12.6(b) |
LCIA Rules | 12.6(b) |
Liabilities | 1.1 |
Lien | 1.1 |
Lock-Up Agreement | Recitals |
Lost Certificate Affidavit | 2.11(i) |
Material Adverse Effect | 1.1 |
Merger Consideration Shares | 2.7(b) |
Mergers | Recitals |
Modification in Recommendation | 8.11(d)(i) |
Nasdaq | 1.1 |
Non-Recourse Parties | 12.14 |
NTA Amendment | 8.11(a) |
OFAC | 4.16(c) |
Option Convertible Notes | Recitals |
Option Holdback Amount | 1.1 |
Option Note Gross Proceeds | 1.1 |
Option Note Investors | 1.1 |
Option Note Net Proceeds | 1.1 |
Option Period | Recitals |
Option PIPE Bitcoin | Recitals |
Order | 1.1 |
Organizational Documents | 1.1 |
Outside Date | 10.1(b) |
Parties | Preamble |
Party | Preamble |
PCAOB | 1.1 |
Permits | 1.1 |
Permitted Liens | 1.1 |
Person | 1.1 |
Personal Property | 1.1 |
PIPE Bitcoin | 8.22(b) |
PIPE Bitcoin Sale | 8.22(d) |
PIPE Digital Wallets | 8.22(c) |
PIPE Investments | Recitals |
PIPE Investors | 1.1 |
PIPE Subscription Agreements | Recitals |
Post-Closing Pubco Board | 8.14(a) |
Pre-Closing Restructuring | 8.26(b) |
Proxy Statement | 8.11(a) |
Pubco | Preamble |
Pubco A&R Organizational Documents | 8.19 |
Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Fundamental Representations | 1.1 |
Pubco Class A Stock | 1.1 |
Pubco Class B Stock | 1.1 |
Pubco Disclosure Schedules | Article V |
Pubco Incentive Plan | 8.25 |
Pubco Merger Subs | 1.1 |
Pubco Organizational Documents | 1.1 |
Pubco Pre-Closing Restructuring | 8.26(b) |
Pubco Stock | 1.1 |
Public Shareholders | 11.1 |
Redemption | 8.11(a) |
Redemption Amount | 1.1 |
Registration Statement | 8.11(a) |
Related Persons | 1.1 |
Released Claims | 11.1 |
Releasing Persons | 11.2 |
Representatives | 1.1 |
Required Shareholder Approval | 9.1(a) |
S&C | 12.13(c) |
SEC | 1.1 |
SEC Reports | 4.6(a) |
Securities Act | 1.1 |
Securities Exchange Agreement | 1.1 |
Seller Digital Wallets | 7.3(b) |
Sellers | Preamble |
Sellers Expenses | 1.1 |
Sellers Fundamental Representations | 1.1 |
Sellers Pre-Closing Statement | 3.2(b) |
Services Agreement | 1.1 |
Signing Bitcoin Price | 1.1 |
Signing Filing | 8.12(b) |
Signing Press Release | 8.12(b) |
Skadden | 12.13(b) |
SoftBank | Preamble |
SoftBank Provisions | Preamble |
SoftBank Purchase Agreement | Recitals |
SoftBank Shares | Recitals |
SPAC | Preamble |
SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations | 1.1 |
SPAC Board | Recitals |
SPAC Certificates | 2.11(b) |
SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares | 1.1 |
SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares | 1.1 |
SPAC Confidential Information | 1.1 |
SPAC Disclosure Schedules | Article IV |
SPAC Dissenting Shareholders | 2.8(e) |
SPAC Dissenting Shares | 2.8(e) |
SPAC Expenses | 1.1 |
SPAC Financials | 4.6(d) |
SPAC Loans | 1.1 |
SPAC Material Contract | 4.13(a) |
SPAC Memorandum and Articles | 1.1 |
SPAC Merger | Recitals |
SPAC Merger Intended Tax Treatment | 2.12 |
SPAC Merger Sub | Preamble |
SPAC Merger Sub Ordinary Shares | 1.1 |
SPAC Merger Sub Shareholder Approval | 1.1 |
SPAC Ordinary Shares | 1.1 |
SPAC Plan of Merger | 2.3 |
SPAC Pre-Closing Restructuring | 8.26(a)(a) |
SPAC Pre-Closing Statement | 3.2(a) |
SPAC Preference Shares | 1.1 |
SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters | 8.11(a) |
SPAC Shareholders | 1.1 |
SPAC Subsidiaries | Recitals |
SPAC Subsidiary | Recitals |
SPAC Subsidiary A | Recitals |
SPAC Subsidiary B | Recitals |
SPAC Surviving Subsidiary | 2.1 |
Sponsor | Recitals |
Sponsor Class A Ordinary Shares | 2.8(a)(i) |
Sponsor Loan Note | 1.1 |
Sponsor Support Agreement | Recitals |
Subsidiary | 1.1 |
Tax Return | 1.1 |
Taxes | 1.1 |
TBOC | 1.1 |
Tether | Recitals |
Transactions | Recitals |
Tribunal | 12.6(b) |
Trust Account | 1.1 |
Trust Agreement | 1.1 |
Trustee | 1.1 |
Written Objection | 2.8(e) |
1.3 Interpretation.
(a) The table of contents and the Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(b) In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and words in the singular, including any defined terms, include the plural and vice versa; (ii) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (iii) any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has the meaning assigned to such term in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, based on the accounting principles used by the applicable Person; (iv) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (v) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (vi) the word “if” and other words of similar import when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “and only if”; (vii) the term “or” means “and/or” unless clearly indicated otherwise, including, by use of “either”; (viii) any reference to the term “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice”; (ix) any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented as of the applicable date or during the applicable period of time, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent (and in the case of agreements or instruments, in accordance with the term of the agreement or instrument, and in the case of any Ancillary Document, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) and (in the case of statutes, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; (x) unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to statutes shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (xi) except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to the words “Section,” “Article”, “Schedule”, “Annex” and “Exhibit” are intended to refer to Sections, Articles, Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits to this Agreement; and (xii) the term “Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars.
(c) Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body and any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s officers shall include any Person filling a substantially similar position for such Person.
(d) Any reference in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the equity interests of such Person, in whatever form.
(e) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(f) The Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules and the SPAC Disclosure Schedules (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a Party in the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, as applicable, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, as applicable, shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, as applicable, if it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, as applicable. Certain information set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Pubco Disclosure Schedules or the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, as applicable, is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. Unless expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.
ARTICLE II MERGERS
2.1 SPAC Merger. At the Effective Time, and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the SPAC Plan of Merger, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Act”), SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub shall consummate the SPAC Merger, pursuant to which SPAC shall be merged with and into SPAC Merger Sub, following which the separate corporate existence of SPAC shall cease and SPAC Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving company. SPAC Merger Sub, as the surviving company after the SPAC Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “SPAC Surviving Subsidiary” (provided, that references to SPAC Merger Sub for periods after the Effective Time shall include the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary). The SPAC Merger shall have the effects specified in the Cayman Act.
2.2 Company Merger. At the Effective Time, but at least two (2) hours after the SPAC Merger becomes effective, and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware (the “DLLCA”), the Company and Company Merger Sub shall consummate the Company Merger, pursuant to which the Company shall be merged with and into Company Merger Sub, following which the separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease and Company Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving company. Company Merger Sub, as the surviving company after the Company Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Company Surviving Subsidiary” (provided, that references to the Company Merger Sub for periods after the Effective Time shall include the Company Surviving Subsidiary). The Company Merger shall have the effects specified in the DGCL and the DLLCA.
2.3 Effective Time. On the Closing Date, (a) with respect to the SPAC Merger, SPAC Merger Sub, SPAC and Pubco shall enter into and file a plan of merger (the “SPAC Plan of Merger”) together with such other documents as provided by Section 233 of the Cayman Act with the Cayman Registrar in accordance with the Cayman Act, and (b) with respect to the Company Merger, Company Merger Sub, the Company and Pubco shall file a certificate of merger (the “Company Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Secretary of State”) in accordance with the DGCL and the DLLCA. The SPAC Merger shall become effective at the time on the Closing Date when the SPAC Plan of Merger is registered by the Cayman Registrar in accordance with the Cayman Act and the Company Merger shall become effective at the time on the Closing Date when the Company Certificate of Merger has been duly accepted for filing by the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the DGCL (or such other time as specified in the SPAC Plan of Merger or the Company Certificate of Merger, as applicable) (such time, the “Effective Time”), provided that the Company Merger shall become effective at least two (2) hours after the effectiveness of the SPAC Merger.
2.4 Effect of the Mergers.
(a) At the Effective Time, the effect of the SPAC Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, and the SPAC Plan of Merger and the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of SPAC Merger Sub and SPAC shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary (including all rights and obligations with respect to the Trust Account), which shall include the assumption by the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of SPAC Merger Sub and SPAC set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Effective Time, and the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall continue its existence as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Pubco.
(b) At the Effective Time, the effect of the Company Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL and DLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of Company Merger Sub and the Company shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of the Company Surviving Subsidiary which shall include the assumption by the Company Surviving Subsidiary of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of Company Merger Sub and the Company set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Effective Time, and the Company Surviving Subsidiary shall continue its existence as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of SPAC Subsidiary B.
2.5 Organizational Documents.
(a) At the Effective Time, the memorandum and articles of association of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall be the memorandum and articles of association of SPAC Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(b) At the Effective Time, the Company Surviving Subsidiary shall adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws which are substantially in the form of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Company Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, as the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company Surviving Subsidiary; provided, that at the Effective Time, (i) references therein to the name of the Company Surviving Subsidiary shall be amended to be such name as reasonably determined by the Sellers and (ii) references therein to the authorized share capital of the Company Surviving Subsidiary shall be amended to refer to the authorized share capital of the Company Surviving Subsidiary.
2.6 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Subsidiaries.
(a) At the Effective Time, the directors of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall be the same as the directors of Pubco, after giving effect to Section 8.14, or as otherwise determined by the Sellers.
(b) At the Effective Time, the board of directors and executive officers of the Company Surviving Subsidiary shall be the same as the board of directors and executive officers of Pubco, after giving effect to Section 8.14, or as otherwise determined by the Sellers.
2.7 Company Merger Consideration.
(a) Pubco Class A Stock. As consideration for the Company Merger, the Sellers collectively shall be entitled to receive from Pubco, in the aggregate, a number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock equal to: (i) the product of (A) 31,500, multiplied by (B) the Signing Bitcoin Price, divided by (ii) $10.00 (such aggregate number of shares, the “Class A Merger Consideration Shares”). Each Seller shall receive its pro rata share of the Class A Merger Consideration Shares, based on the number of Company Class A Interests owned by such Seller at Closing, divided by the total number of Company Class A Interests owned by all Sellers (such percentage being each such Seller’s “Class A Pro Rata Share”).
(b) Pubco Class B Stock. As consideration for the Company Merger, the Sellers collectively shall be entitled to receive from Pubco, in the aggregate, a number of shares of Pubco Class B Stock equal to: (i) the product of (A) 31,500, multiplied by (B) the Signing Bitcoin Price, divided by (ii) $10.00 (such aggregate number of shares, the “Class B Merger Consideration Shares” and, together with the Class A Merger Consideration Shares, the “Merger Consideration Shares”). Each Seller shall receive its pro rata share of the Class B Merger Consideration Shares, based on the number of Company Class B Interests owned by such Seller at Closing, divided by the total number of shares of Company Class B Interests owned by all Sellers (such percentage being each such Seller’s “Class B Pro Rata Share”).
2.8 Effect of SPAC Merger on Outstanding Securities of SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the SPAC Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of SPAC, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub:
(a) SPAC Ordinary Shares.
(i) SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, all issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares (other than those described in Section 2.8(b)) shall be converted automatically into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, following which, all SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist. Any and all SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares received by the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall be referred to as the “Sponsor Class A Ordinary Shares”. The holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except as provided herein or by Law. Each certificate previously evidencing SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall be exchanged for a certificate (if requested) representing the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares determined in accordance with this Section 2.8(a)(i) upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.11. Each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share (other those described in Section 2.8(b)) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares determined in accordance with this Section 2.8(a)(i) and the Sponsor Support Agreement.
(ii) SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. At the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (including each Sponsor Class A Ordinary Share but excluding those described in Section 2.8(a)(iii), Section 2.8(b) and Section 2.8(e)) shall be converted automatically into one share of Pubco Class A Stock, following which, all such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist. The holders of certificates previously evidencing SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except as provided herein or by Law. Each certificate previously evidencing SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares shall be exchanged for a certificate (if requested) representing the same number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.11. Each certificate formerly representing SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (other those described in Section 2.8(a)(iii), Section 2.8(b) and Section 2.8(e)) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the same number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock.
(iii) Redeeming Shares. At the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share in respect to which the holder thereof has validly exercised redemption rights pursuant to and in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles (and not waived, withdrawn or otherwise lost such rights), shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist and shall thereafter represent only the right to receive a pro rata share of the Redemption Amount in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles.
(b) Treasury Shares. Notwithstanding Section 2.8(a) or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, at the Effective Time, if there are any SPAC Ordinary Shares that are owned by the SPAC as treasury shares immediately prior to the Effective Time, such SPAC Ordinary Shares shall be automatically canceled and shall cease to exist without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
(c) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.8, none of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, Pubco or any other Party shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
(d) SPAC Merger Sub Shares. At the Effective Time, all SPAC Merger Sub Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an equal number of ordinary shares, par value $0.0001, of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding share capital of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary.
(e) Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the Cayman Act, the SPAC Ordinary Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by SPAC Shareholders who shall have demanded properly in writing dissenters’ rights for such SPAC Ordinary Shares in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Act and otherwise complied with all of the provisions of the Cayman Act relevant to the exercise and perfection of dissenters’ rights (the “SPAC Dissenting Shares” and the holders of such SPAC Dissenting Shares being the “SPAC Dissenting Shareholders”) shall be automatically cancelled and cease to exist at the Effective Time and shall thereafter represent only the right to be paid by SPAC the fair value of such SPAC Dissenting Shares and such other rights provided pursuant to Section 238 of the Cayman Act and shall not be converted into, and such SPAC Dissenting Shareholders shall have no right to receive, the applicable shares of Pubco Class A Stock, unless and until such shareholder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its right to dissenters’ rights under the Cayman Act. The SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by any SPAC Shareholder who fails to perfect or who effectively withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Act shall be cancelled and converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the applicable shares of Pubco Class A Stock pursuant to Section 2.8(a), without any interest thereon. Prior to the Closing, SPAC shall give the Company and Sellers prompt notice of any demands for dissenters’ rights received by SPAC and any withdrawals of such demands. If any SPAC Shareholder gives to SPAC, before the Required Shareholder Approval is obtained at the Extraordinary General Meeting, written objection to the SPAC Merger (each, a “Written Objection”) in accordance with Section 238(2) of the Cayman Act (i) SPAC shall, in accordance with Section 238(4) of the Cayman Act, promptly give written notice of the authorization of the SPAC Merger (the “Authorization Notice”) to each such SPAC Shareholder who has made a Written Objection, and (ii) SPAC and the Company may, but are not obliged to, delay the commencement of the Closing and the filing of the SPAC Plan of Merger with the Cayman Registrar, until at least twenty (20) days shall have elapsed since the date on which the Authorization Notice is given (being the period allowed for written notice of an election to dissent under Section 238(5) of the Cayman Act, as referred to in Section 239(1) of the Cayman Act), but in any event subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article IX.
2.9 Effect of Company Merger on Outstanding Securities of the Company and Company Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of any Party:
(a) Company Class A Interests. At the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding Company Class A Interest (other than those described in Section 2.9(c)) will automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Class A Merger Consideration Shares, with each Seller being entitled to receive its Class A Pro Rata Share of the Class A Merger Consideration Shares, without interest, upon delivery of the Class A Transmittal Documents in accordance with Section 2.11(d). As of the Effective Time, each Seller shall cease to have any other rights in and to the Company or the Company Surviving Subsidiary.
(b) Company Class B Interests. At the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding Company Class B Interest (other than those described in Section 2.9(c)) will automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Class B Merger Consideration Shares, with each Seller being entitled to receive its Class B Pro Rata Share of the Class B Merger Consideration Shares, without interest, upon delivery of the Class B Transmittal Documents in accordance with Section 2.11(d). As of the Effective Time, each Seller shall cease to have any other rights in and to the Company or the Company Surviving Subsidiary.
(c) Treasury Interests. Notwithstanding Section 2.9(a), Section 2.9(b) or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, at the Effective Time, if there are any Company Interests that are owned by the Company as treasury interests or any Company Interests owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, such Company Interests shall be canceled and shall cease to exist without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
(d) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.9, none of the Company Surviving Subsidiary, Pubco or any other Party shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
(e) Company Merger Sub Shares. At the Effective Time, all of the shares of Company Merger Sub Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of the Company Surviving Subsidiary, with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of the Company Surviving Subsidiary.
2.10 Effect of Mergers on Outstanding Securities of Pubco. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Mergers and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of any Party, all of the shares of Pubco Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
2.11 Exchange Procedures.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Pubco shall appoint SPAC’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, or another agent reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Exchange Agent”), as its agent for the purpose of exchanging the SPAC Certificates and Company Certificates for shares of Pubco Stock.
(b) At the Effective Time, (i) the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares will surrender their share certificates or other instruments representing the SPAC Ordinary Shares (collectively, the “SPAC Certificates”) and (ii) the holders of Company Interests will surrender their share certificates or other instruments representing the Company Interests and written acknowledgement of the termination of their rights to such Company Interests (collectively, the “Company Certificates”), if any, or in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed SPAC Certificate or Company Certificate, upon delivery of a Lost Certificate Affidavit (and indemnity, if required) in the manner provided in Section 2.11(i), to Pubco for cancellation together with any related documentation reasonably requested by Pubco in connection therewith.
(c) Certificates representing the shares of Pubco Stock shall be issued to the holders of Company Interests and SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (including Sponsor Class A Ordinary Shares) upon surrender of the Company Certificates and SPAC Certificates as provided for herein or otherwise agreed by the Parties. Upon surrender of the Company Certificates and SPAC Certificates (or in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificate or SPAC Certificate, upon delivery of a Lost Certificate Affidavit (and indemnity, if required) in the manner provided in Section 2.11(i)) for cancellation to Pubco or the Exchange Agent, Pubco shall issue, or cause to be issued, to each holder of the Company Certificates and SPAC Certificates such certificates representing the number of shares of Pubco Stock for which their Company Interests and SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, respectively, are exchangeable at the Effective Time and any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.11(h), and the Company Certificates and the SPAC Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. Until so surrendered, outstanding Company Certificates will be deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to evidence only the right to receive the applicable portion of the Merger Consideration Shares pursuant to this Article II.
(d) If certificates representing shares of Pubco Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which the Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor are registered, it will be a condition of the issuance thereof that the Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates so surrendered will be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Persons requesting such exchange will have paid to Pubco or any agent designated by it any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of certificates representing shares of Pubco Stock in any name other than that of the registered holder of the Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Pubco or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(e) Each Seller shall be entitled to receive its Class A Pro Rata Share of the Class A Merger Consideration Shares in respect of the Company Class A Interests represented by the Company Certificate(s) (excluding any equity securities described in Section 2.9(c)), as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, but subject to the delivery to Pubco of the following items (collectively, the “Class A Transmittal Documents”): (i) the Company Certificate(s) for its Company Class A Interests (or a Lost Certificate Affidavit) and (ii) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Exchange Agent or Pubco. Until so surrendered, each Company Certificate shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive such portion of the Class A Merger Consideration Shares attributable to such Company Certificate.
(f) Each Seller shall be entitled to receive its Class B Pro Rata Share of the Class B Merger Consideration Shares in respect of the Company Class B Interests represented by the Company Certificate(s) (excluding any equity securities described in Section 2.9(c)), as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, but subject to the delivery to Pubco of the following items (collectively, the “Class B Transmittal Documents”): (i) the Company Certificate(s) for its Company Class B Interests (or a Lost Certificate Affidavit), (ii) a duly executed counterpart to a Lock-Up Agreement and (iii) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Exchange Agent or Pubco. Until so surrendered, each Company Certificate shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive such portion of the Class B Merger Consideration Shares attributable to such Company Certificate.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no fraction of a share of Pubco Stock will be issued by Pubco by virtue of this Agreement or the Transactions contemplated hereby, and each Person who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Pubco Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Pubco Stock that otherwise would be received by such holder) shall instead have the number of shares of Pubco Stock issued to such Person rounded down in the aggregate to the nearest whole share of Pubco Stock.
(h) No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the date of this Agreement with respect to shares of Pubco Stock with a record date after the Effective Time will be paid to the holders of any Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates that have not yet been surrendered with respect to the shares of Pubco Stock to be issued upon surrender thereof until the holders of record of such Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates shall surrender such certificates. Subject to applicable Law, following surrender of any such Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates, Pubco shall promptly deliver to the record holders thereof, without interest, the certificates representing the shares of Pubco Stock issued in exchange therefor and the amount of any such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Pubco Stock.
(i) In the event any Company Certificate or SPAC Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact (a “Lost Certificate Affidavit”) by the Person claiming such Company Certificate or SPAC Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Pubco, the posting by such Person of a bond in customary amount and upon such terms as may be reasonably required by Pubco as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Company Certificate or SPAC Certificate, Pubco will issue or cause to be issued the number of shares of Pubco Stock for which such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificates or SPAC Certificates are exchangeable at the Effective Time and any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.11(h).
2.12 Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (a) the SPAC Merger is intended to be treated as a “reorganization” described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code (the “SPAC Merger Intended Tax Treatment”) and (b) the Company Merger is intended to be treated as a taxable transaction (the “Company Merger Intended Tax Treatment” and, together with the SPAC Merger Intended Tax Treatment, the “Intended Tax Treatment”). The Parties hereby agree to file all Tax and other informational returns on a basis consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required pursuant to a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. Each of the Parties acknowledge and agree that each (a) has had the opportunity to obtain independent legal and tax advice with respect to the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if the SPAC Merger and/or the Company Merger do not qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment, respectively. If the SEC or any other Governmental Authority requests or requires that an opinion be provided on or prior to the Closing in respect of the SPAC Merger Intended Tax Treatment, SPAC will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Tax advisors to provide any such opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, and each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to reasonably cooperate with one another and their respective Tax advisors with respect to such opinion, including using reasonable best efforts to deliver to the relevant counsel certificates (dated as of the necessary date and signed by such Party or its Affiliate, as applicable) containing such customary representations as are necessary or appropriate for such counsel to render such opinion.
2.13 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary or Company Surviving Subsidiary, as applicable, with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub, on the one hand, or the Company and Company Merger Sub, on the other hand, the officers and directors of SPAC, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company and Company Merger Sub, as applicable, are fully authorized in the name of their respective entities to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
2.14 Seller Consent. Each Seller that is a member of the Company as of the date hereof, as a member of the Company, hereby approves, authorizes and consents to the Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions. Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that the consents set forth herein are intended and shall constitute such consent of the Sellers as may be required (and shall, if applicable, operate as a written member resolution of the Company) pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company, any other Contract in respect of the Company to which any Seller is a party or bound and all applicable Laws.
2.15 Withholding. Each of Pubco, the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, the Company Surviving Subsidiary and the Exchange Agent (without duplication) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any applicable Law; provided, however, that the relevant payor will reasonably cooperate with the relevant payee prior to the making of such deductions and withholding payments to determine whether any such deductions or withholding payments (other than with respect to compensatory payments, if any) are required under applicable Law and in obtaining any available exemption or reduction of, or otherwise minimizing to the extent permitted by applicable Law, such deduction and withholding. Any amounts so deducted and withheld shall be paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, and to that extent shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made. The Parties acknowledge that no withholding is expected to be required under applicable U.S. federal income Tax Law as in effect as of the date of this Agreement with respect to any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement. To the extent any Party becomes aware of any obligation to deduct or withhold from amounts otherwise payable, issuable or transferable pursuant to this Agreement, such Party shall notify the other Parties as soon as reasonably practicable, and the Parties shall reasonably cooperate to obtain any certificates or other documentation required in respect of such withholding obligation.
ARTICLE III CLOSING
3.1 Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article IX, the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place by electronic exchange of signatures, on a date to be agreed by SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank, which date shall be no later than on the fifth (5th) Business Day after all the Closing conditions in Article IX have been satisfied or waived (other than any such conditions which by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at the Closing) at 10:00 a.m. New York time, or at such other date, time or place as SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank may agree in writing (the date and time at which the Closing is actually held being the “Closing Date”).
3.2 Pre-Closing Statements.
(a) At least four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, SPAC shall prepare and deliver to the Sellers and SoftBank a written statement setting forth SPAC’s good faith estimate and calculation of the SPAC Expenses as of the Closing Date (in each case, in reasonable detail and with reasonable supporting documentation, including corresponding invoices therefor) and the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment or reimbursement of all such SPAC Expenses in accordance with Section 12.5 (such statement or as updated pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 3.2(a), the “SPAC Pre-Closing Statement”). SPAC shall consider in good faith any reasonable comments made by any of the Sellers and SoftBank at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date with respect to the estimate and calculations included in the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement, and to the extent SPAC agrees, acting in good faith and reasonably, with any such comments, SPAC will deliver an updated SPAC Pre-Closing Statement incorporating such comments. In addition, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, if not already delivered, SPAC shall deliver a supplement to the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement setting forth SPAC’s good faith estimate and calculation of the (i) Redemption Amount and (ii) total cash proceeds from the Trust Account remaining following the Redemption.
(b) At least four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Sellers and SoftBank shall prepare and deliver to SPAC a written statement setting forth the Sellers’ and SoftBank’s good faith estimate and calculation of the Sellers Expenses as of the Closing Date (in each case, in reasonable detail and with reasonable supporting documentation, including corresponding invoices therefor) and the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment or reimbursement of all such Sellers Expenses in accordance with Section 12.5 ((such statement or as updated pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 3.2(b), the “Sellers Pre-Closing Statement”). The Sellers and SoftBank shall consider in good faith any reasonable comments made by SPAC at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date with respect to the estimate and calculations included in the Sellers Pre-Closing Statement, and to the extent the Sellers and SoftBank agree, acting in good faith and reasonably, with any such comments, the Sellers and SoftBank will deliver an updated Sellers Pre-Closing Statement incorporating such comments.
3.3 Closing Deliveries.
(a) At the Closing, SPAC shall deliver or cause to be delivered:
(i) to the Company and Pubco, a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer or director of SPAC in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) with respect to SPAC;
(ii) to the Company and Pubco, a certificate from its secretary, assistant secretary, director or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of the SPAC Memorandum and Articles as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Effective Time), (B) the resolutions of the SPAC Board authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (C) evidence that the Required Shareholder Approval has been obtained and (D) the incumbency of directors and officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which SPAC is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound; (iii) to the Company and Pubco, a certificate on behalf of SPAC, prepared in a manner consistent and in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(g), (h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that no interest in SPAC is, or has been during the relevant period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “United States real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code, and a form of notice to the IRS prepared in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2); and
(iv) to Pubco, each Seller and SoftBank, a copy of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by SPAC and Sponsor.
(b) At the Closing, Pubco shall deliver or cause to be delivered:
(i) to SPAC, a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of Pubco, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 9.3(a), 9.3(b) and 9.3(c) with respect to Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub, as applicable;
(ii) to SPAC, a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and attaching, (A) copies of its Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Effective Time), (B) the resolutions of its board of directors and shareholders authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or bound, and the consummation of the Transactions, and (C) the incumbency of its officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound;
(iii) to each Seller, SoftBank and SPAC, a copy of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by Pubco; and
(iv) to Tether and SPAC, a copy of the Services Agreement, duly executed by Pubco.
(c) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered:
(i) to SPAC, a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer or director of the Company, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 9.3(a), 9.3(b) and 9.3(c) with respect to the Company;
(ii) to Pubco, a certificate on behalf of the Company, prepared in a manner consistent and in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(g), (h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that no interest in the Company is, or has been during the relevant period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “United States real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code, and a form of notice to the IRS prepared in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2); and
(iii) to SPAC, a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer or director certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and attaching, (A) copies of its Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Effective Time), (B) the resolutions of its board of directors and shareholders authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or bound, and the consummation of the Transactions, and (C) the incumbency of its directors and officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.
(d) At the Closing, each Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered, as applicable:
(i) to SPAC, a certificate from each Seller, dated as the Closing Date, signed by such Seller, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 9.3(a) and 9.3(b) with respect to such Seller;
(ii) to SPAC, a Lock-Up Agreement from each Seller, duly executed by such Seller and Pubco; and
(iii) to the Exchange Agent, a copy of the Class A Transmittal Documents and Class B Transmittal Documents, as the case may be, each in customary form for transfer on the books of Pubco.
(e) At the Closing, Tether shall deliver or cause to be delivered to SPAC and Pubco, a copy of the Services Agreement, duly executed by Tether and/or the Affiliates of Tether party thereto.
(f) At the Closing, SoftBank shall deliver or cause to be delivered, as applicable:
(i) to Pubco, each Seller and SPAC, a copy of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by SoftBank; and
(ii) to Pubco, a copy of the Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by SoftBank.
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPAC
Except as set forth in (a) the disclosure schedules delivered by SPAC to the Sellers and SoftBank, the Company and Pubco on the date of this Agreement (the “SPAC Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, or (b) the SEC Reports that are available prior to the date hereof on the SEC’s website through EDGAR (excluding 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 excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any content of such SEC Reports that have been redacted or omitted pursuant to applicable Law) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such SEC Reports will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 4.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 4.5 (Capitalization), Section 4.10 (Taxes and Returns), Section 4.15 (Finders and Brokers) and Section 4.21 (SPAC Trust Account)), SPAC represents and warrants to the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, and the Sellers as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, as follows:
4.1 Organization and Standing. SPAC is, and each SPAC Subsidiary will be when formed, a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation. SPAC has, and each SPAC Subsidiary will have when formed, all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. SPAC is, and each SPAC Subsidiary will be when formed, duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. SPAC has heretofore made available to the Sellers and SoftBank accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents each as currently in effect. SPAC is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.
4.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject to obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the SPAC Board and, other than obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings, other than as set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, on the part of SPAC are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which SPAC is a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other Parties and other parties thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”). The SPAC Board, either (A) at a duly called and held meeting or (B) by way of written resolution, has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the SPAC Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, SPAC and its shareholders, (ii) approved this Agreement, the SPAC Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in accordance with the Cayman Act and the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, (iii) approved the Transactions as a Business Combination, (iv) directed that this Agreement and the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters be submitted to the SPAC Shareholders for adoption and approval, and (v) resolved to recommend that the SPAC Shareholders adopt this Agreement and the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters.
4.3 Governmental Approvals. No Consent of any Governmental Authority on the part of SPAC or, when formed, the SPAC Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by SPAC of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by SPAC and the SPAC Subsidiaries of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement, (b) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, (c) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (d) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
4.4 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by SPAC of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by SPAC and the SPAC Subsidiaries of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by SPAC with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the SPAC Memorandum and Articles or, when formed, the SPAC Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents, in any material respect, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.3, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to SPAC or, when formed, the SPAC Subsidiaries, or any of their properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by SPAC under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of SPAC under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any SPAC Material Contract, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (b) and (c) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
4.5 Capitalization.
(a) SPAC is authorized to issue (i) 550,000,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, consisting of (A) 500,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and (B) 50,000,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and (ii) 5,000,000 SPAC Preference Shares. The issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares as of the date of this Agreement consist of (A) 10,300,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, of which (x) 10,000,000 were issued in the IPO and (y) 300,000 were issued to, and are currently owned by, the Sponsor pursuant to a private placement consummated simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, and (B) 2,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares. There are no issued or outstanding SPAC Preference Shares. All outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under applicable Law, the SPAC Memorandum and Articles or any Contract to which SPAC is a party. None of the outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares has been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws. Prior to giving effect to the Transactions, other than the SPAC Subsidiaries when formed, SPAC does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person. The SPAC does not own any SPAC Ordinary Shares as treasury shares.
(b) There are no (i) outstanding options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, preemptive or similar rights, (ii) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights or that are convertible or exchangeable into securities having such rights or (iii) subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements, Contracts or commitments of any character (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents), (A) relating to the issued or unissued securities of SPAC, (B) obligating SPAC to issue, transfer, deliver or sell or cause to be issued, transferred, delivered, sold or repurchased any options or shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of SPAC, or (C) obligating SPAC to grant, extend or enter into any option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment for such securities of SPAC. Other than the Redemption or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, there are no outstanding obligations of SPAC to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of SPAC or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person. There are no shareholders agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which SPAC is a party with respect to the voting of any securities of SPAC.
(c) As of the date hereof, (i) SPAC does not have any Indebtedness and (ii) no Indebtedness of SPAC contains any restriction upon (A) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (B) the incurrence of Indebtedness by SPAC, (C) the ability of SPAC to grant any Lien on its properties or assets, or (D) the consummation of the Transactions.
(d) Since the date of incorporation of SPAC, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, SPAC has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its shares and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its shares, and the SPAC Board has not authorized any of the foregoing.
(e) All shares of common stock of each SPAC Subsidiary shall be (once formed) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all Liens.
4.6 SEC Filings; SPAC Financials; Internal Controls.
(a) SPAC, since the IPO and through the date of this Agreement, has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses, and other documents required to be filed or furnished by SPAC with the SEC under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act (collectively, and together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, the “SEC Reports”), which SEC Reports are all available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR, and will file all such SEC Reports required to be filed or furnished subsequent to the date of this Agreement.
(b) The SEC Reports (x) were prepared in all material respects in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable, and (y) did not, as of their respective effective dates (in the case of SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and at the time they were filed with the SEC (in the case of all other SEC Reports) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As used in this Section 4.6, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner permitted by SEC rules and regulations in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “CEP.” Since the IPO, SPAC has complied in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq. There is no action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened against SPAC, by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister or terminate the listing of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. None of SPAC or its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) The financial statements and notes of SPAC contained or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports (the “SPAC Financials”), fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of SPAC at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, all in accordance with (i) GAAP methodologies applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and (ii) Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and for the omission of notes and audit adjustments in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(e) Except as and to the extent reflected or reserved against in the SPAC Financials, SPAC has not incurred any Liabilities or obligations not adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in the SPAC Financials, other than (i) Liabilities incurred since SPAC’s incorporation in the ordinary course of business or (ii) Liabilities or obligations incurred pursuant to this Agreement. SPAC has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the SEC Reports.
(f) Since the IPO, (i) SPAC has not received any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of SPAC or its internal accounting controls, including any such complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that SPAC has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices and (ii) there have been no internal unresolved, material investigations regarding accounting or revenue recognition discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, the SPAC Board or any committee thereof.
(g) SPAC has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information relating to SPAC and other material information required to be disclosed by SPAC in the reports and other documents that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to SPAC’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting SPAC’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in SPAC’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act.
(h) SPAC maintains systems of internal accounting controls that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance: (i) that SPAC maintains records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect, in all material respects, its transactions and dispositions of assets; (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) that transactions are executed, and access to assets is permitted, in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Neither SPAC nor SPAC’s independent auditors identified or have been made aware of any “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (as defined by the PCAOB) in the design or operation of SPAC’s internal controls over financial reporting which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect SPAC’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, in each case which has not been subsequently remediated. SPAC has no knowledge of any fraud or whistle-blower allegations, whether or not material, that involve management or other employees or consultants who have or had a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of SPAC. Since the IPO, there have been no material changes in SPAC’s internal control over financial reporting.
(i) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by SPAC to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of SPAC, in their capacity as such, and SPAC has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(j) As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding comments from the SEC with respect to the SEC Reports. To the Knowledge of SPAC, 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.
4.7 No Litigation; Orders; Permits. There is no Action pending, or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened Action against SPAC, or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, any of its directors or officers (in their capacity as such) or otherwise affecting SPAC or its assets nor is any Order outstanding, against or involving SPAC, whether at law or in equity, before or by any Governmental Authority, which, in each case, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC. There is no unsatisfied judgment or open injunction binding upon SPAC that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC. There is no Action that SPAC has pending against any other Person. SPAC holds all Permits necessary to lawfully conduct its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, all of which are in full force and effect.
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes. The SPAC has, (a) since its incorporation, conducted no business other than its incorporation, the public offering of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (and the related private offering), public reporting and its search for an initial Business Combination as described in the IPO Prospectus (including the investigation of the Company and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement) and related activities and (b) since the IPO, not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9 Compliance with Laws. SPAC (a) is, and has since its incorporation been, in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and the conduct of its business in all material respects, (b) has not received written notice alleging any violation of applicable Law in any material respect by SPAC and (c) is not under investigation with respect to any violation or alleged violation of any Law or judgement, Order or decree of any court or Governmental Authority.
4.10 Taxes and Returns. SPAC has timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, and will timely file or cause to be timely filed all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it, which Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in the SPAC Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP. There are no audits, examinations, investigations, claims, assessments or other proceedings pending or threatened against SPAC in respect of any Tax, and SPAC has not been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claims or assessments against SPAC (other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the SPAC Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP or are immaterial in amount). There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any of SPAC’s assets, other than Permitted Liens. SPAC has no outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by SPAC for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return. SPAC does not have material liability for the Taxes of any Person (i) under Treasury Regulations 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).
4.11 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans. SPAC has never (a) had any paid employees, (b) retained any contractors, other than consultants and advisors in the ordinary course or (c) maintained, sponsored, contributed to or otherwise had any Liability under, any Benefit Plans. Other than reimbursement of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by SPAC’s officers and directors in connection with activities on SPAC’s behalf, neither SPAC nor its Affiliates have any material liability to any officer or director of SPAC (in their capacity as such).
4.12 Properties. SPAC does not own, license or otherwise have any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property. SPAC does not own or lease any material real property or Personal Property.
4.13 Material Contracts.
(a) Other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which SPAC is a party as of the date hereof or such other Ancillary Documents that SPAC shall execute after the date hereof and which are attached as exhibits hereto, Section 4.13(a) of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules set forth a true, correct and complete list of the Contracts to which SPAC is a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound, subject or affected, which (i) creates or imposes a Liability greater than $100,000, (ii) may not be cancelled by SPAC on less than sixty (60) days’ prior notice without payment of a material penalty or termination fee or (iii) prohibits, prevents, restricts or impairs in any material respect any business practice of SPAC as its business is currently conducted, any acquisition of material property by SPAC, or restricts in any material respect the ability of SPAC from entering into this Agreement or Ancillary Documents or consummating the Transactions (each such Contract, a “SPAC Material Contract”). All SPAC Material Contracts have been made available to the Sellers and SoftBank.
(b) With respect to each SPAC Material Contract: (i) the SPAC Material Contract was entered into at arms’ length and in the ordinary course of business; (ii) the SPAC Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in all material respects against SPAC and, to the Knowledge of SPAC, the other parties thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions); (iii) SPAC is not in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default in any material respect by SPAC, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party, under such SPAC Material Contract; (iv) no party to a SPAC Material Contract has given written notice of or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened any potential exercise of termination rights with respect to any SPAC Material Contract and (v) to the Knowledge of SPAC, no other party to any SPAC Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by SPAC under any SPAC Material Contract.
4.14 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for the Contracts with the Sponsor or Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. included in the SEC Reports, Section 4.14 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the Contracts and arrangements that are in existence as of the date of this Agreement under which there are any existing or future Liabilities or obligations between SPAC (and any (a) present or former director, officer, employee, direct equityholder or Affiliate of SPAC or (b) record or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares as of the date hereof.
4.15 Finders and Brokers. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from SPAC, Pubco or the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of SPAC or any of its Affiliates, including the Sponsor.
4.16 Certain Business Practices.
(a) Neither SPAC, nor any of its Representatives acting on its behalf, has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other local or foreign anti-corruption or bribery Law, (iii) made any other unlawful payment or (iv) since the formation of SPAC, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder SPAC or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.
(b) The operations of SPAC are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with money laundering Laws in all applicable jurisdictions and no Action involving SPAC with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened.
(c) None of SPAC or any of its directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, any other Representative acting on behalf of SPAC is currently identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), and SPAC has not, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC in the last five (5) fiscal years.
4.17 Insurance. Section 4.17 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy) held by SPAC relating to SPAC or its business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been provided to the Sellers and SoftBank. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and SPAC is otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and to the Knowledge of SPAC, there is no threatened termination of, or material premium increase with respect to, any of such insurance policies. There have been no insurance claims made by SPAC. SPAC has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
4.18 Independent Investigation. SPAC has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Company for such purpose. SPAC acknowledges and agrees that, in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company, the Sellers, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules or the Pubco Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to SPAC pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company, the Sellers, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub for the Registration Statement.
4.19 No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by SPAC in Article IV (as modified by the SPAC Disclosure Schedule) or as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Document, neither SPAC nor any other Person on its behalf makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to SPAC or its business, operations, assets or Liabilities, or the Transactions, and SPAC hereby expressly disclaims any other representations or warranties, whether implied or made by SPAC or any of its Representatives. SPAC acknowledges that, except for the representations and warranties expressly made by Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub in Article V, the Company in Article VI and the Sellers in Article VII, none of Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank is making or has made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) any representation, warranty, projection, forecast, statement or information to SPAC or its Representatives (including any opinion, information or advice that may have been or may be provided to SPAC or its Representatives by any Representative of Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank), including any representations or warranties regarding the probable success or profitability of the businesses of Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank. SPAC specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers and SoftBank have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.19, nothing in this Section 4.19 shall limit the Sellers’ or SoftBank’s remedies with respect to Fraud Claims in connection with, or arising out of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions.
4.20 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of SPAC or any of its Affiliates (including Sponsor) expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any Current Report on Form 8-K and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the Transactions; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to the SPAC Shareholders with respect to the consummation of the Transactions or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, 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. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of SPAC or any of its Affiliates (including Sponsor) expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filing will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of Pubco, the Company, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates.
4.21 SPAC Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, there is at least $100,000,000 held in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except in accordance with the Trust Agreement, the SPAC Memorandum and Articles and the IPO Prospectus. 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. SPAC has performed all obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of SPAC, 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 SPAC, no such termination, repudiation, rescission, amendment, supplement or modification is contemplated. There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SEC Reports filed, or furnished by SPAC to the Sellers, to be inaccurate or that would entitle any Person (other than holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares who shall have elected to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the SPAC Memorandum and Articles) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account prior to the closing of a Business Combination. There are no Actions pending with respect to the Trust Account. SPAC has not released any money from the Trust Account other than as permitted by the Trust Agreement. Following the Closing, no shareholder of SPAC is or shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such shareholder shall have elected to redeem its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Redemption.
4.22 Equity PIPE.
(a) SPAC has delivered to Pubco true, correct and complete copies of each of the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements entered into by SPAC with the Equity PIPE Investors named therein as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, other than the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements, there are no other agreements, side letters or arrangements between SPAC and any Equity PIPE Investor relating to any Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement that could materially and adversely affect the obligation of such Equity PIPE Investors to contribute to SPAC the applicable portion of the Equity PIPE amount set forth in the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement of such Equity PIPE Investors. As of the date of this Agreement, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto, all of the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements are in full force and effect and are legal, valid and binding obligations of SPAC, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of SPAC, no Equity PIPE Subscription Agreement has been withdrawn or terminated, amended or modified in writing in any respect. As of the date of this Agreement, SPAC is not and, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, would not be in default under any Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements.
(b) No fees, consideration or other discounts are payable or have been agreed to by SPAC (including, from and after the Closing) to any Equity PIPE Investor in respect of the Equity PIPE, except as set forth in the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements.
4.23 SPAC Subsidiaries’ Activities. From the date of their respective incorporation to the Closing, the SPAC Subsidiaries have not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement, do not own, directly or indirectly, any ownership equity, profits or voting interest in any Person (other than SPAC Subsidiary A’s 100% ownership of SPAC Subsidiary B and SPAC Subsidiary B’s 100% ownership of Company Merger Sub) and have no assets or Liabilities except those incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party and the Transactions, and, other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, the SPAC Subsidiaries are not party to or bound by any Contract.
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PUBCO AND SPAC MERGER SUB
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by Pubco to SPAC on the date of this Agreement (the “Pubco Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub severally and not jointly represent and warrant to SPAC, the Company, the Sellers and SoftBank, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, solely with respect to itself, as follows:
5.1 Organization and Standing. Pubco is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas. SPAC Merger Sub is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. Pubco has heretofore made available to SPAC and the Company accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub, each as currently in effect. None of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.
5.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. Subject to filing the Pubco A&R Organizational Documents and obtaining the SPAC Merger Sub Shareholder Approval, each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub and no other corporate proceedings, other than as expressly set forth elsewhere in this Agreement (including the filing of the Pubco A&R Organizational Documents and obtaining the SPAC Merger Sub Shareholder Approval), on the part of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub is a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by such Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Documents by the other Parties and other parties thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
5.3 Governmental Approvals. No Consent of any Governmental Authority on the part of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub is required to be obtained in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Party of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by such Party of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement (including the Pubco A&R Organizational Documents), (b) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, (c) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, (d) requirements under Texas Law, Cayman Law and pursuant to any other applicable Laws, and (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Pubco.
5.4 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by such Party of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by such Party with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not, subject to the filing of the Pubco A&R Organizational Documents and obtaining the SPAC Merger Sub Shareholder Approval, (a) conflict with or violate any provision of such Party’s Organizational Documents in any material respect, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 5.3, the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Party or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by such Party under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide material compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of such Party under, (viii) give rise to any material obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Contract of such Party, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (b) or (c) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Pubco.
5.5 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, (i) Pubco is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of Pubco Stock, of which one (1) share of Pubco Stock is issued and outstanding, which is owned by Tether and (ii) SPAC Merger Sub is authorized to issue 500,000,000 SPAC Merger Sub Ordinary Shares, of which one (1) SPAC Merger Sub Ordinary Share is issued and outstanding, which is owned by Pubco.
(b) Prior to giving effect to the Transactions, other than SPAC Merger Sub and the Pubco Merger Subs, Pubco does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person. Pubco qualifies as a foreign private issuer pursuant to Rule 3b-4 of the Exchange Act.
5.6 Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Activities. Since their formation, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub have not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement, do not own, directly or indirectly, any ownership equity, profits or voting interest in any Person (other than Pubco’s 100% ownership of SPAC Merger Sub and each Pubco Merger Sub) and have no assets or Liabilities except those incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party and the Transactions, and, other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub are not party to or bound by any Contract.
5.7 Finders and Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from SPAC, Pubco, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates.
5.8 Ownership of Pubco Stock. All shares of Pubco Stock to be issued and delivered to the Sellers as Merger Consideration Shares and to the SPAC Shareholders in exchange for their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with this Agreement shall be, upon issuance and delivery of such shares of Pubco Stock, duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens. The issuance and sale of such shares of Pubco Stock pursuant hereto will not be subject to or give rise to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal.
5.9 Convertible Notes PIPE.
(a) Pubco has delivered to SPAC true, correct and complete copies of each of the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements entered into by Pubco with the applicable Convertible Notes Investors named therein as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, other than the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements, there are no other agreements, side letters or arrangements between Pubco and any Convertible Notes Investor relating to any Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement that could materially and adversely affect the obligation of such Convertible Notes Investors to contribute to Pubco the applicable portion of the Convertibles Notes PIPE amount set forth in the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement of such Convertible Notes Investors. As of the date of this Agreement, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto, all of the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements are in full force and effect and are legal, valid and binding obligations of Pubco, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Pubco, no Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement has been withdrawn or terminated, amended or modified in writing in any respect. As of the date of this Agreement, Pubco is not and, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, would not be in default under any Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements.
(b) No fees, consideration or other discounts are payable or have been agreed to by Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub (including, from and after the Closing) to any Convertible Notes Investor in respect of the Convertible Notes PIPE, except as set forth in the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements.
5.10 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub in writing expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any Current Report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the Transactions; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to SPAC’s or Pubco’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the Transactions or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, 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. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing and the Closing Press Release will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub makes any representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of SPAC, the Company, the Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates.
5.11 Independent Investigation. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company and SPAC and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Company and SPAC for such purpose. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub acknowledges and agrees that, in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company, the Sellers and SPAC set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules and the SPAC Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company, the Sellers or SPAC for the Registration Statement.
5.12 No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by Pubco and/or SPAC Merger Sub in Article V (as modified by the Pubco Disclosure Schedules) or as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Document, none of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub nor any other Person on any of their behalves makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to any of Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub or their respective business, operations, assets or Liabilities, or the Transactions, and Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub each hereby expressly disclaims any other representations or warranties, whether implied or made by Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub acknowledge that, except for the representations and warranties expressly made by SPAC in Article IV, the Company in Article VI and the Sellers in Article VII, none of SPAC, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank is making or has made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) any representation, warranty, projection, forecast, statement or information, to Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives (including any opinion, information or advice that may have been or may be provided to Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives by any Representative of SPAC, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank), including any representations or warranties regarding the probable success or profitability of the business of SPAC, the Company, the Sellers and SoftBank. Each of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub specifically disclaim that they are relying upon or have relied upon any such other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that SPAC, the Company, the Sellers and SoftBank have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.12 nothing in this Section 5.12 shall limit SPAC’s remedies with respect to Fraud Claims in connection with, or arising out of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to SPAC on the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, the Company hereby represents and warrants to SPAC as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, as follows:
6.1 Organization and Standing. The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary for the business as currently conducted. The Company has made available to SPAC accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of the Company, as currently in effect. The Company is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.
6.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the board of managers of the Company and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other Parties and other parties thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
6.3 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is authorized to issue (i) class A common membership interests (collectively, the “Company Class A Interests”), of which one (1) Company Class A Interest is issued and outstanding, which is owned by Tether and (ii) class B common membership interests (collectively, the “Company Class B Interests” and, together with the Company Class A Interests, the “Company Interests”), of which none are issued and outstanding.
(b) As of the Closing and after giving effect to the Contribution, the Company will have (i) 267 Company Class A Interests issued and outstanding, all of which will be owned by the Sellers and (ii) 267 Company Class B Interests issued and outstanding, all of which will be owned by the Sellers, in each case in the amounts set forth on Annex I.
(c) Prior to giving effect to the Transactions, the Company does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person.
6.4 Governmental Approvals. No Consent of any Governmental Authority on the part of the Company is required to be obtained in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents or the consummation by the Company of the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than (a) such filings as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (b) pursuant to requirements under Delaware Law or any other applicable Laws and (c) those Consents, the failure of which to obtain prior to the Closing, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
6.5 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by the Company of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s Organizational Documents in any material respect, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents required from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 6.4, the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any of its properties or assets in any material respect, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a material default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by the Company under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of any the Company under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any material right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Contract of the Company, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (b) or (c) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
6.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Section 6.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedules or for actions expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, since its formation, the Company has not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect.
6.7 Company Activities. Since its incorporation, the Company has not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement, does not own, directly or indirectly, any ownership equity, profits or voting interest in any Person and has no assets or Liabilities except the assets to be received pursuant to the Contribution and the Liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is a party and the Transactions. Other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is a party, the Company is not party to or bound by any Contract. The Company does not lease or own any real property or any interest in real property.
6.8 Title to Assets. As of the Closing, and subject to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, the Company will have all rights, title and interest in and to the Bitcoin contributed into the Company pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.
6.9 Employees and Benefit Plans. The Company does not have any employees and does not have any Benefit Plans.
6.10 Certain Business Practices.
(a) Neither the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its Representatives acting on its behalf has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to government officials or employees, to political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the applicable bribery Laws or (iii) made any other unlawful payment in violation of applicable bribery Laws. Neither the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its Representatives acting on its behalf has directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder the Company or assist the Company in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, the operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with money laundering Laws in all applicable jurisdictions, and no Action involving the Company with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing.
(c) Neither the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its directors, officers or employees acting on behalf of the Company, is currently identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list, and the Company has not, directly or knowingly indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, and the Crimea regions of Ukraine or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to U.S. sanctions, in each case in violation of any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC in the last five (5) fiscal years.
6.11 Finders and Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from SPAC, Pubco, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
6.12 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company in writing expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any Current Report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the Transactions; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to SPAC’s or Pubco’s shareholders with respect to the consummation of the Transactions or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, 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. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company in writing expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filing will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of SPAC, the Sellers, SPAC Merger Sub, Pubco or any of their respective Affiliates.
6.13 Independent Investigation. The Company has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of SPAC and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of SPAC for such purpose. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of SPAC set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of SPAC for the Registration Statement.
6.14 No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Article VI (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedules) or as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Document, neither the Company nor any other Person on its behalf makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or its business, operations, assets or Liabilities, or the Transactions, and the Company hereby expressly disclaims any other representations or warranties, whether implied or made by the Company or any of its Representatives. The Company acknowledges that, except for the representations and warranties expressly made by SPAC in Article IV, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub in Article V and the Sellers in Article VII, none of SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers or SoftBank is making or has made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) any representation, warranty, projection, forecast, statement or information to the Company (including any opinion, information, projection or advice that may have been or may be provided to the Company or its Representatives by any Representative of SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers or SoftBank), including any representations or warranties regarding the probable success or profitability of the businesses of SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers or SoftBank. The Company specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers and SoftBank have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.14 nothing in this Section 6.14 shall limit SPAC’s remedies with respect to Fraud Claims in connection with, or arising out of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions.
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, with respect to each representation and warranty in this Article VII, each Seller hereby severally and not jointly represents and warrants to SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company and SoftBank, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, as follows:
7.1 Organization and Standing. Such Seller, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in the jurisdiction of such entity’s formation) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.
7.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. Such Seller has all requisite power, authority and legal right and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform such Seller’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which such Seller is or is required to be a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by such Seller and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other Parties and other parties thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable against such Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
7.3 Ownership.
(a) Such Seller has, or will have as of immediately prior to the Company Merger, good, valid and marketable title to the Company Interests set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Annex I, free and clear of any and all Liens (other than those imposed by applicable securities Laws or the Company’s Organizational Documents). There are no proxies, voting rights, shareholders’ agreements or other agreements or understandings to which such Seller is a party by which such Seller is bound with respect to the voting or transfer of any of such Seller’s Company Interests other than this Agreement.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, (i) the Sellers have all rights, title and interest in and to the Bitcoin to be contributed by it to the Company pursuant to their respective Contribution Agreement, (ii) such Bitcoin is held in a digital wallet held or operated by or on behalf of such Seller (the “Seller Digital Wallets”) and neither such Bitcoin nor such Seller Digital Wallet is subject to any Liens (other than Permitted Liens), (iii) the Sellers have taken commercially reasonable steps to protect their Seller Digital Wallet and such Bitcoin and (iv) the Sellers have the exclusive ability to control such Seller Digital Wallet, including by use of “private keys” or other equivalent means or through custody arrangements or other equivalent means.
7.4 Government Approvals. No Consent of any Governmental Authority on the part of such Seller is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Seller of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents or the consummation by such Seller of the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than (a) such filings as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (b) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, and (c) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/or other applicable securities Laws.
7.5 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by such Seller of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or otherwise bound and the consummation by such Seller of the Transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by such Seller with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not, (a) conflict with or violate any provision of such Seller’s Organizational Documents, (b) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Seller or any of its properties or assets or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a material breach of, (ii) constitute a material default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by such Seller under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of such Seller under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a material default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any Contract to which such Seller is a party or its properties or assets are bound, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) that has not had and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair or delay the ability of such Seller to consummate the Transactions.
7.6 No Litigation. There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of such Seller, threatened, nor any Order is outstanding, against or involving such Seller, whether at law or in equity, before or by any Governmental Authority, which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability of such Seller to consummate the Transactions contemplated by, and discharge its obligations under, this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which such Seller is or is required to be a party.
7.7 Investment Representations. Such Seller: (a) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act; (b) is acquiring its portion of the Merger Consideration Shares for itself for investment purposes only, and not with a view towards any resale or distribution of such Merger Consideration Shares; (c) has been advised and understands that the Merger Consideration Shares (i) are being issued in reliance upon one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable U.S. state securities Laws, (ii) have not been and at Closing shall not be, registered under the Securities Act or any applicable U.S. state securities Laws and, therefore, must be held indefinitely and cannot be resold unless and until such Merger Consideration Shares are registered under the Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities Laws, unless exemptions from registration are available; and (iii) may be subject to additional restrictions on transfer pursuant to such Seller’s Lock-Up Agreement (if applicable); (d) is aware that an investment in Pubco is a speculative investment and is subject to the risk of complete loss; and (e) (other than the Company Interests held by the Sellers) acknowledges that except as set forth in the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, Pubco is under no obligation hereunder to register the Merger Consideration Shares under the Securities Act. Such Seller does not have any Contract with any Person to sell, transfer, or grant participations to such Person, or to any third Person, with respect to the Merger Consideration Shares. By reason of such Seller’s business or financial experience, such Seller is capable of evaluating the risks and merits of an investment in Pubco and of protecting its interests in connection with this investment. Such Seller has carefully read and understands all materials provided by or on behalf of SPAC or its Representatives to such Seller or such Seller’s Representatives pertaining to an investment in Pubco and has consulted, as such Seller has deemed advisable, with its own attorneys, accountants or investment advisors with respect to the investment contemplated hereby and its suitability for such Seller. Such Seller acknowledges that the Merger Consideration Shares are subject to dilution for events not under the control of such Seller. Such Seller has completed its independent inquiry and has relied fully upon the advice of its own legal counsel, accountant, financial and other Representatives in determining the legal, tax, financial and other consequences of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby and the suitability of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby for such Seller and its particular circumstances, and, except as set forth herein, has not relied upon any representations or advice by Pubco or SPAC or their respective Representatives. Such Seller: (A) has been represented by independent counsel (or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel and has declined to do so); (B) has had the full right and opportunity to consult with such Seller’s attorneys and other advisors and has availed itself of this right and opportunity; (C) has carefully read and fully understands this Agreement in its entirety and has had it fully explained to it or him by such counsel; (D) is fully aware of the contents hereof and the meaning, intent and legal effect thereof; and (E) is competent to execute this Agreement and any Ancillary Documents to which such Seller is or will be required to be a party and has executed this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents free from coercion, duress or undue influence.
7.8 Finders and Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby directly based upon arrangements made by such Seller or any of their Affiliates.
7.9 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by such Seller in writing expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any Current Report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the Transactions; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to SPAC’s or Pubco’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the Transactions or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, 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. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by such Seller in writing expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing and the Closing Press Release will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Seller makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of SPAC, SPAC Merger Sub, Pubco or any of their respective Affiliates.
7.10 No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties expressly made by the Sellers in this Article VII (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedules and the Pubco Disclosure Schedules) or as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Document, none of the Sellers or any other Person on any Sellers behalf makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Sellers or any of the Sellers’ business, operations, assets or Liabilities, or the Transactions, and the Sellers hereby expressly disclaims any other representations or warranties, whether implied or made by any Seller or any of its Representatives. The Parties hereto (other than the Sellers) acknowledge that, except for the representations and warranties expressly made by the Sellers in this Article VII, none of the Sellers is making or has made, communicated or furnished (orally or in writing) any representation, warranty, projection, forecast, statement or information to any other Party (including any opinion, information, projection or advice that may have been or may be provided to any other Party or any Representatives thereof), including any representations or warranties regarding the probable success or profitability of the businesses of SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub or the Sellers. Each Party, other than Sellers, specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that the Sellers have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.10, nothing in this Section 7.10 shall limit SPAC’s remedies with respect to Fraud Claims in connection with, or arising out of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions.
ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS
8.1 Access and Information.
(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1 or the Closing (the “Interim Period”), subject to Section 8.13, each of the Company, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, SPAC, SoftBank and their respective Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information of or pertaining to Pubco, the Company or SPAC Merger Sub, as SPAC, SoftBank or their respective Representatives may reasonably request regarding Pubco, the Company or SPAC Merger Sub and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects and cause each of the Representatives of the Company, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub to reasonably cooperate with SPAC, SoftBank and their respective Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that SPAC, SoftBank and their respective Representatives, in each case, shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of Pubco, the Company or SPAC Merger Sub.
(b) During the Interim Period, subject to Section 8.13, SPAC shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Company and Pubco and their respective Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information of or pertaining to SPAC or its Subsidiaries, as the Company or Pubco or their respective Representatives may reasonably request regarding SPAC, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects and cause each of their respective Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Company and Pubco and their respective Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Company and Pubco and their respective Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries.
8.2 Conduct of Business of the Company, Pubco, and SPAC Merger Sub.
(a) Unless SPAC and SoftBank shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated, permitted or required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 8.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, or as required by the Transactions or applicable Law, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Company shall (i) only engage in activities relating to the initial organization and commencement of their respective operations and, in the case of the Company, the Contribution, (ii) comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to them and their respective businesses and assets, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 8.2(a) and except as contemplated, permitted or required by the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 8.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, or as required in connection with the Transactions or by applicable Law, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of SPAC and SoftBank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), none of the Company, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub shall:
(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents;
(ii) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, or terminate the Contribution Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement or the Securities Exchange Agreement;
(iii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its shares or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities;
(iv) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;
(v) incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party (other than advancement of expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business), or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate; (vi) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;
(vii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;
(viii) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of equity securities of the Company, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub;
(ix) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement;
(x) enter into, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any material transaction with any Related Person (other than compensation and benefits and advancement of expenses);
(xi) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
(c) Without limiting Sections 8.2(a) and 8.2(b), without the prior written consent of SPAC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (i) the Company shall not issue any Company Interests (other than pursuant to the Contribution), and (ii) no Seller shall sell, transfer or dispose of any Company Interests owned by such Seller.
8.3 Conduct of Business of SPAC.
(a) Unless the Sellers and SoftBank shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated, permitted or required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 8.3 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, or as required in connection with the Transactions or applicable Law, SPAC shall and shall cause the SPAC Subsidiaries (when formed) to (i) conduct its businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to SPAC, the SPAC Subsidiaries and their businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, its business organizations.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 8.3(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 8.3 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, or as required by the Transactions or applicable Law, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Sellers and SoftBank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), SPAC shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including, when formed, the SPAC Subsidiaries) to not:
(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents;
(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity securities or other security interests of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities; (iii) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its shares or other equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;
(iv) incur, create, assume, prepay, repay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), fees or expenses in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party, or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person (provided that this Section 8.3(b)(iv) shall not prevent SPAC from borrowing funds necessary to finance its ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and SPAC Expenses);
(v) make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any Action relating to Taxes, file any amended Tax Return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with GAAP;
(vi) amend, waive or otherwise change the Trust Agreement;
(vii) amend or otherwise modify, terminate, waive or assign or delegate (as applicable) any right or obligation under any SPAC Material Contract (other than amendments or other modifications, terminations, waivers, assignments or delegations of or with respect to Contracts with Related Persons otherwise governed by Section 8.3(b)(viii)) or enter into any new Contract that would be a SPAC Material Contract;
(viii) other than drawings on the SPAC Loans or as expressly required by the Sponsor Support Agreement, enter into, renew, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any Contracts, arrangements or transactions with any Related Person, including any Ancillary Document to which SPAC or any Related Person is a party;
(ix) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(x) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
(xi) revalue any of its material assets or make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP, and after consulting SPAC’s outside auditors;
(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Action (including any Action relating to this Agreement or the Transactions), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, SPAC) not in excess of $250,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the SPAC Financials;
(xiii) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, company, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business; (xiv) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to the SPAC Merger);
(xv) voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate (excluding the incurrence of any SPAC Expenses) other than pursuant to the terms of a Contract (a) in existence as of the date of this Agreement and disclosed to the Sellers and SoftBank (including in the SEC Reports) or (b) entered into in the ordinary course of business or in accordance with the terms of this Section 8.3 during the Interim Period;
(xvi) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;
(xvii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement; or
(xviii) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
8.4 Annual and Interim Financial Statements.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement but in no event later than forty five (45) days after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank, the audited and/ or reviewed financial statements of the Company and Pubco (including, in each case, any related notes thereto), that are required for the initial filing of the Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such financial statements shall fairly present the financial position and results of operations of the Company and Pubco, as applicable, as of the dates or for the periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP. The financial statements, if required to be audited, shall be audited in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards by a PCAOB qualified auditor.
(b) During the Interim Period, as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of each three-month quarterly period of each fiscal year (other than the last three-month period), and in any event no later than forty five (45) days thereafter, and to the extent required for the Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company and Pubco shall deliver to SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and Pubco, as applicable, consisting of the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and Pubco, as applicable as of the end of such three-month period (and most recent year end), and the related unaudited consolidated income statement, changes in shareholder equity and statement of cash flows for the year to date period of such fiscal year for such fiscal quarter (subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes).
(c) During the Interim Period, as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of each fiscal year, and in any event no later than ninety (90) days thereafter, and to the extent required for the Registration Statement pursuant to the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company and Pubco shall deliver to SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and Pubco, consisting of the consolidated audited balance sheet of the Company or Pubco, as applicable, as of the end of such fiscal year (and prior fiscal year), and the related audited consolidated income statement, changes in shareholder equity and statement of cash flows for the fiscal year then ended (and prior two fiscal years or such shorter period as the Company has been in existence). Such audited financial statements shall be audited in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards by a PCAOB qualified auditor and shall fairly present the financial position and results of operations of the Company and Pubco, as applicable, as of the dates and for the periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP.
8.5 SPAC Public Filings. During the Interim Period, SPAC will (i) keep current and timely file all of the public filings required to be filed by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and shall use its reasonable best efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq; provided, that the Parties acknowledge and agree that from and after the Closing, the Parties intend to list on Nasdaq only the shares of Pubco Class A Stock, and (ii) reasonably cooperate with Pubco to cause the shares of Pubco Class A Stock to be issued in connection with the Mergers to be approved for listing on Nasdaq as of the Closing Date.
8.6 No Solicitation.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) an “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer, or any indication of interest in making an offer or proposal, from any Person or group at any time relating to an Alternative Transaction, and (ii) an “Alternative Transaction” means (A) with respect to the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers and their respective Affiliates, a transaction (other than the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document) concerning the sale of (x) all or any material part of the business or assets of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or (y) any of the shares or other equity interests or profits of the Company, in any case, whether such transaction takes the form of a sale of shares or other equity interests in the Company, assets, merger, consolidation, issuance of debt securities, management Contract, joint venture or partnership, or otherwise, (B) with respect to the Sellers, (x) the sale of any portion of Bitcoin that, and only if such sale, would materially prevent or impair the ability of the Sellers to perform their obligations under the Contribution Agreement and (y) the sale of any portion of the Initial PIPE Bitcoin, and (C) with respect to SPAC and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning a Business Combination involving SPAC.
(b) During the Interim Period, in order to induce the other Parties to continue to commit to expend management time and financial resources in furtherance of the Transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall not, and shall cause its Representatives to not, without the prior written consent of the Sellers and SPAC, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, assist, initiate, continue or facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to any Seller, the Company) or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any Person or group (other than a Party to this Agreement or their respective Representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with any Person or group with respect to, or that is intended or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal, or (vi) release any third Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such Party is a party.
(c) Each Party shall notify the others as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 48 hours) orally and in writing of the receipt by such Party or any of its Representatives (or with respect to the Company, any Seller) of (i) any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations regarding or constituting any Acquisition Proposal or any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations that could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to any Seller, the Company), specifying in each case, the material terms and conditions thereof (including a copy thereof if in writing or a written summary thereof if oral) and the identity of the party making such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information, subject to applicable confidentiality restrictions. Each Party shall keep the others promptly informed of the status of any such inquiries, proposals, offers or requests for information. During the Interim Period, each Party shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall, and shall direct its Representatives to, cease and terminate any such solicitations, discussions or negotiations.
8.7 No Trading. Each of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, and the Sellers acknowledge and agree that it is aware, and that their respective Affiliates are aware (and each of their respective Representatives is aware or, upon receipt of any material nonpublic information of SPAC, will be advised) of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq promulgated thereunder or otherwise (the “Federal Securities Laws”) and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers each hereby agree that, while it is in possession of such material nonpublic information, it shall not purchase or sell any securities of SPAC (other than pursuant to the Transactions), communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to SPAC in violation of such Laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.
8.8 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, each Party shall give prompt notice to the other Parties if such Party or its Affiliates (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller): (a) fails to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it or its Affiliates (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller) hereunder in any material respect; (b) receives any notice or other communication in writing from any third party (including any Governmental Authority) alleging (i) that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any non-compliance with any Law by such Party or its Affiliates (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller); (c) receives any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (d) discovers any fact or circumstance that, or becomes aware of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any of the conditions to set forth in Article IX not being satisfied or the satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed; or (e) becomes aware of the commencement or threat, in writing, of any Action against such Party or any of its Affiliates (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller), or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any officer, director, partner, member or manager, in his, her or its capacity as such, of such Party or of its Affiliates (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller) with respect to the consummation of the Transactions. No such notice shall constitute an acknowledgement or admission by the Party providing the notice regarding whether or not any of the conditions to the Closing have been satisfied or in determining whether or not any of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement have been breached.
8.9 Efforts.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the receipt of all applicable Consents of, or termination of all applicable waiting periods by, Governmental Authorities) and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements or conditions of Governmental Authorities applicable to the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of Section 8.9(a), to the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (“Antitrust Laws”), each Party agrees to make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable, with respect to the Transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable, to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be reasonably requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to take all other actions reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under Antitrust Laws as soon as practicable, including by requesting early termination of the waiting period provided for under the Antitrust Laws. The Parties agree to use their reasonable best efforts to make all required filings under Antitrust Laws no later than thirty (30) days after the initial filing of the Registration Statement. Each Party shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations for the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust Law, use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other Party or its Affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person; (ii) keep the other Parties reasonably informed of any communication received by such Party or its Representatives from, or given by such Party or its Representatives to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) permit a Representative of the other Parties and their respective outside counsel to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other Person, give a Representative or Representatives of the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences; (iv) in the event a Party’s Representative is prohibited from participating in or attending any meetings or conferences, the other Parties shall keep such Party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto; and (v) use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the Transactions contemplated hereby, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority.
(c) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities requests for approval of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties if such Party or any of its Representatives (or, with respect to the Company, any Seller) receives any notice from such Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall promptly furnish the other Parties with a copy of such Governmental Authority notice. If any Governmental Authority requires that a hearing or meeting be held in connection with its approval of the Transactions contemplated hereby, whether prior to the Closing or after the Closing, each Party shall arrange for Representatives of such Party to be present for such hearing or meeting. If any objections are asserted with respect to the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any applicable Law or if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by any applicable Governmental Authority or any private Person challenging any of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document as violative of any applicable Law or which would otherwise prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to resolve any such objections or Actions so as to timely permit consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including in order to resolve such objections or Actions which, in any case if not resolved, could reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. In the event any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or private Person challenging the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any Ancillary Document, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate with each other and use their respective reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such Action and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents.
(d) Prior to the Closing, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Consents of Governmental Authorities or other third Persons as may be necessary for the consummation by such Party or its Affiliates of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or required as a result of the execution or performance of, or consummation of the Transactions contemplated by, this Agreement by such Party or its Affiliates, and the other Parties shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with such efforts.
(e) With respect to Pubco, during the Interim Period, the Company and Pubco shall take all commercially reasonable actions necessary to cause Pubco to qualify as “foreign private issuer” as such term is defined under Exchange Act Rule 3b-4 and to maintain such status through the Closing.
8.10 Further Assurances. The Parties shall further cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings.
8.11 The Registration Statement.
(a) Following the date of this Agreement, SPAC and Pubco shall prepare with the reasonable assistance of the Company, and, as promptly as practicable after completion of the Company’s audited financial statements described in Section 8.4(a), file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Pubco Stock to be issued under this Agreement to the holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and to the holders of Company Interests at the Effective Time, which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement of SPAC (as amended, the “Proxy Statement”) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC Shareholders for the matters to be acted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting and providing the Public Shareholders an opportunity in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles and the IPO Prospectus to have their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed (the “Redemption”) in conjunction with the shareholder vote on the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters. The Proxy Statement shall include proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC Shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of SPAC Shareholders to be called and held for such purpose (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”), in favor of resolutions approving (i) as an ordinary resolution, the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions as a Business Combination, (ii) as a special resolution, the approval of the SPAC Merger and authorization of SPAC’s entry into the SPAC Plan of Merger, and (iii) as an ordinary resolution (or if required by applicable Law or the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, as a special resolution) the adoption and approval of such other matters as the Sellers, the Company, Pubco and SPAC shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Transactions (the approvals described in foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), collectively, the “SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters”), (iv) as a special resolution, an amendment to the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, effective immediately prior to the Closing, to remove references to the $5,000,001 net tangible assets requirements set forth in the SPAC Memorandum and Articles (the “NTA Amendment”), and (v) as an ordinary resolution, the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of SPAC, in each case in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, the Cayman Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq. If on the date for which the Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled, SPAC has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, SPAC may make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with Section 8.11(d). In connection with the Registration Statement, SPAC and Pubco will file with the SEC financial and other information about the Transactions in accordance with applicable Law and applicable proxy solicitation and registration statement rules set forth in the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, the Cayman Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq. SPAC and Pubco shall cooperate and provide the Sellers (and their counsel) with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto prior to filing the same with the SEC. The Company and the Sellers shall provide SPAC and Pubco with such information concerning the Company, the Sellers and their respective shareholders, officers, directors, employees, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be reasonably required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information provided by the Company and any Seller shall be true and correct and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(b) SPAC and Pubco shall take any and all reasonable and necessary actions required to satisfy the requirements of the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable Laws in connection with the Registration Statement, the Extraordinary General Meeting and the Redemption. Each of SPAC, Pubco and the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, make their respective directors, officers and employees, upon reasonable advance notice, available to the Company, Pubco, SPAC, and their respective Representatives in connection with the drafting of the public filings with respect to the Transactions, including the Registration Statement, and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC. Each Party shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Registration Statement (and other related materials) if and to the extent that such information is determined to have become false or misleading in any material respect or as otherwise required by applicable Laws. SPAC and Pubco shall amend or supplement the Registration Statement and cause the Registration Statement, as so amended or supplemented, to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to the SPAC Shareholders, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable Laws and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the SPAC Memorandum and Articles; provided, that Pubco shall not amend or supplement the Registration Statement without the prior written consent of SPAC, which consent shall not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(c) SPAC and Pubco, with the assistance of the other Parties, shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Registration Statement and shall otherwise use their reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to “clear” comments from the SEC and become effective. SPAC and Pubco shall provide the Sellers with copies of any written comments, and shall inform the Sellers of any material oral comments, that SPAC, Pubco or their respective Representatives receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement, the Extraordinary General Meeting and the Redemption promptly after the receipt of such comments and shall give the Sellers and their respective Representatives a reasonable opportunity under the circumstances to review and comment on any proposed written or material oral responses to such comments, including to the extent possible, participation by the Sellers or their counsel in discussions with the SEC.
(d) As soon as practicable following the Registration Statement “clearing” comments from the SEC and becoming effective, SPAC shall set a record date for the Extraordinary General Meeting and distribute the Registration Statement to the SPAC Shareholders and, pursuant thereto, shall call and convene the Extraordinary General Meeting for a date no later than thirty (30) days following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. SPAC shall, through the SPAC Board, subject to Section 8.11(d)(ii), recommend to the SPAC Shareholders the approval of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement, with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Parties.
(i) Subject to Section 8.11(d)(ii), the SPAC Board shall not change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify its recommendation to the SPAC Shareholders that they vote in favor of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (a “Modification in Recommendation”).
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the SPAC Board may, at any time prior to, but not after, obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval, make a Modification in Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event (an “Intervening Event Change in Recommendation”) if the SPAC Board determines in good faith, based on the advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the fiduciary duties of the SPAC Board under applicable Law; provided that: (A) the Company shall have received written notice from SPAC of SPAC’s intention to make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation at least five (5) Business Days prior to the taking of such action by SPAC (the “Intervening Event Notice Period”), which notice shall specify the applicable Intervening Event in reasonable detail (including the facts and circumstances providing the basis for the determination by the SPAC Board to effect such Intervening Event Change in Recommendation), (B) during the Intervening Event Notice Period and prior to making an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation, if requested by the Company, SPAC and its Representatives shall have negotiated in good faith with the Company and its Representatives regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the Company to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the SPAC Board to proceed with its recommendation of this Agreement and the Transactions and not make such Intervening Event Change in Recommendation, (C) the SPAC and its Representatives shall have provided to the Company and its Representatives all applicable information with respect to such Intervening Event reasonably requested by the Company to permit the Company to propose revisions to the terms of this Agreement and (D) if the Company requested negotiations in accordance with the foregoing sub-clause (B), the SPAC Board may make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation only if the SPAC Board, 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 in a manner that would form a binding contract if accepted by SPAC (and the other applicable Parties), continues to determine in good faith, based on the advice of outside counsel, that failure to make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation would be a breach of its fiduciary duties to the SPAC Shareholders under applicable Law. An “Intervening Event” shall mean any material and negative event after the date of this Agreement that (i) was not known and was not reasonably foreseeable to the SPAC Board as of the date of this Agreement (or the consequences or magnitude of which were not reasonably foreseeable to the SPAC Board as of the date of this Agreement), which becomes known to the SPAC Board prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, and (ii) does not relate to and excludes, whether alone or in combination, (A) any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Transaction (in each case, solely with respect to SPAC), (B) the Transactions and/or this Agreement or any Ancillary Document (or any actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, including obtaining all Consents required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority or any other Person), (C) any change in the price or trading volume of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, (D) any Action filed or threatened against SPAC or any member of the SPAC Board arising out of or related to the Transactions by any Person and (E) any change, event, circumstance, occurrence, effect, development or state of facts that is excluded in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the definition thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation shall constitute a Modification in Recommendation, and (y) in the event that the SPAC Board does not make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation, the SPAC Board, in furtherance of its fiduciary duty, shall still be permitted to advise SPAC Shareholders of their right to redeem in the Redemption and provide the SPAC Shareholders with a detailed explanation and rationale for such advice.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during an Intervening Event Notice Period, the obligations of SPAC and/or the SPAC Board to make filings with the SEC with respect to the proposals contemplated herein, to give notice for or to convene a meeting, or to make a recommendation, shall be tolled to the extent reasonably necessary until such time as SPAC has filed an update to the Registration Statement with the SEC (which SPAC shall file as promptly as practicable after the Intervening Event Change in Recommendation), and in the event a filing and/or notice for a meeting was made prior to the Intervening Event Notice Period, SPAC shall be permitted to adjourn such meeting and to amend such filing as necessary in order to provide sufficient time for the SPAC Shareholders to consider any revised recommendation.
(iv) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) SPAC’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Extraordinary General Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, (y) SPAC agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Extraordinary General Meeting and submit the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters for approval by the SPAC Shareholders and (z) SPAC agrees that if the Required Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained at any such Extraordinary General Meeting, then SPAC shall promptly continue to take all such reasonably necessary actions, including the actions required by this Section 8.11, and hold additional Extraordinary General Meetings in order to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval. SPAC may adjourn or postpone the Extraordinary General Meeting (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval, (ii) for the absence of a quorum and (iii) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that SPAC has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel is required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by the SPAC Shareholders prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting; provided that the Extraordinary General Meeting may not be adjourned or postponed to a date that is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the Extraordinary General Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law).
(e) If the SPAC Shareholders approve the NTA Amendment at the Extraordinary General Meeting, then promptly after the Extraordinary General Meeting and prior to the Closing, SPAC shall amend the SPAC Memorandum and Articles in accordance with the amendments contemplated by the NTA Amendment.
(f) SPAC shall comply with all applicable Laws, any applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq, the SPAC Memorandum and Articles and this Agreement in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement, any solicitation of proxies thereunder, the setting of the record date for, and the calling and holding of, the Extraordinary General Meeting and the Redemption.
8.12 Public Announcements.
(a) The Parties agree that during the Interim Period, no public release, filing or announcement concerning this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be issued by any Party or any of their Affiliates without the prior written consent (not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of SPAC, Pubco, the Sellers and SoftBank, except as such release or announcement may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange, in which case the applicable Party shall use reasonable efforts to allow the other Parties reasonable time to comment on, and arrange for any required filing with respect to, such release or announcement in advance of such issuance; provided that nothing shall prevent the Parties from issuing any press releases or making any public announcements about the Transactions containing information that has already been made public by the Parties.
(b) The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Signing Press Release, SPAC shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by Federal Securities Laws, which the Sellers and SoftBank shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing (with the Sellers and SoftBank reviewing, commenting upon and approving such Signing Filing in any event no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the execution of this Agreement), provided that SPAC provides the Sellers and SoftBank with a reasonable period of time to complete such review, comment and approval prior thereto. The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the Closing (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), issue a press release announcing the consummation of the Transactions (the “Closing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Closing Press Release, Pubco shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Federal Securities Laws which Sponsor, the Sellers and SoftBank shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing. In connection with the preparation of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing, the Closing Press Release, or any other report, statement, filing notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any Governmental Authority or other third party in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall, upon request by any other Party, furnish the Parties with all information concerning themselves, their respective directors, officers and equity holders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby, or any other report, statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any third party and/ or any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Section 8.12 shall prevent SPAC, Pubco, the Company, the Sellers or SoftBank from furnishing customary or other reasonable information concerning the Transactions to their investors and prospective investors that is substantively consistent with public statements previously consented to by the other Parties in accordance with this Section 8.12.
8.13 Confidential Information.
(a) The Parties (other than SPAC) hereby agree that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, they shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any SPAC Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing their obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing their rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the SPAC Confidential Information without SPAC’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that any Party (other than SPAC) or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any SPAC Confidential Information, (A) provide SPAC to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that SPAC or an Affiliate thereof may seek, at SPAC’s cost, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 8.13(a), and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or SPAC waives compliance with this Section 8.13(a), furnish only that portion of such SPAC Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised by outside counsel and to exercise its reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded to such SPAC Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the Transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers and SoftBank shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, promptly deliver to SPAC or destroy (at the Company’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of SPAC Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Sellers, SoftBank and their respective Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any SPAC Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all SPAC Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.
(b) SPAC hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Company Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing its obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing its rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Company Confidential Information without the Sellers’ and SoftBank’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that SPAC or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Company Confidential Information, (A) provide the Sellers and SoftBank to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Sellers and SoftBank may seek, at the their sole expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 8.13(b) and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Sellers or SoftBank waive compliance with this Section 8.13(b), furnish only that portion of such Company Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised by outside counsel and to exercise its reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded to such Company Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the Transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, SPAC shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Sellers and SoftBank or destroy (at SPAC’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Company Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that SPAC and its Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any Company Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Company Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.
8.14 Post-Closing Pubco Board of Directors and Executive Officers.
(a) The Parties shall take all necessary action, including causing the directors of Pubco to resign, so that effective as of the Closing, Pubco’s board of directors (the “Post-Closing Pubco Board”) will consist of seven (7) persons, including (i) six (6) persons who are designated, prior to the Closing, by the Sellers and SoftBank according to the terms of the Governance Term Sheet, at least three (3) of whom shall be required to qualify as an independent director under Nasdaq rules and (ii) the chief executive officer of Pubco. At the Closing, Pubco will provide each member of the Post-Closing Pubco Board with a customary director indemnification agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such director, Pubco, SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank.
(b) The Parties shall take all action necessary, so that the individuals serving as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, of Pubco immediately after the Closing will be the same individuals (in the same office) as that of the Company immediately prior to the Closing (unless, at its sole discretion, the Sellers desire to appoint another qualified person to either such role, in which case, such other person identified by the Sellers shall serve in such role).
8.15 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance.
(a) The Parties agree that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of the current or former directors and officers of SPAC, the Company, Pubco, the SPAC Subsidiaries or SPAC Merger Sub (the “D&O Indemnified Persons”) as provided in their respective Organizational Documents or under any indemnification, employment or other similar agreements between any D&O Indemnified Person and SPAC, any SPAC Subsidiary, the Company, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement (or upon formation with respect to the SPAC Subsidiaries), shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, Pubco shall cause the Organizational Documents of Pubco, SPAC, the SPAC Subsidiaries, the Company and SPAC Merger Sub to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses to D&O Indemnified Persons than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement (or, with respect to the SPAC Subsidiaries, as of their date of formation) in the Organizational Documents of SPAC, the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the SPAC Subsidiaries, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The provisions of this Section 8.15(a) shall survive the Closing indefinitely and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Persons and their respective heirs and representatives. The provisions of this Section 8.15(a) shall be binding, jointly and severally, on Pubco and all its successors and assigns. In the event that Pubco or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation 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, Pubco shall ensure that proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Pubco shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 8.15(a). In addition to the foregoing, only to the extent not covered by the existing directors’ and officers’ insurance of SPAC or, from and after the Effective Time, the D&O Tail Insurance, and further only to the extent not covered (or excluded) by the indemnity and exculpatory provisions contained in the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, Pubco hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the current directors of SPAC (and their heirs and legal representatives), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, from, against and in respect of any and all losses, Liabilities, damages, penalties, amounts paid in settlement, costs and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, any such director that are based upon, arise out of or result from, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any shareholder Action relating to the board’s failure to make a Modification in Recommendation in response to an adverse and material event involving SPAC and occurring after the date of this Agreement, which becomes known to the SPAC Board prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, SPAC shall obtain and Pubco shall fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy under SPAC’s existing insurance policy for the benefit of SPAC’s directors and officers that provides coverage for up to a six-year period from and after the Effective Time for events occurring prior to the Effective Time (the “D&O Tail Insurance”), on terms substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than SPAC’s existing coverage (or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage), except that in no event shall Pubco be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the aggregate annual premium currently payable by SPAC with respect to such current policy; provided, that, if the annual premium of such insurance coverage exceeds such amount, SPAC shall be obligated to obtain a “tail” insurance policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding such amount from insurance carriers with the same or better credit rating as SPAC’s current insurance provider. Pubco and its Subsidiaries shall, for a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, maintain the D&O Tail Insurance in effect and shall continue to honor the obligations thereunder and timely pay or cause to be paid all premiums with respect to the D&O Tail Insurance after the Closing.
8.16 Use of Proceeds.
(a) Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article IX and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice SPAC shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, SPAC shall (i) cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (ii) cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, (x) pay as and when due all amounts payable to former SPAC Shareholders pursuant to the Redemption and (y) pay all remaining amounts, less the fees and costs incurred by the Trustee in accordance with the Trust Agreement, then available in the Trust Account in accordance with Section 8.16(b).
(b) The Parties agree that, at the Closing, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article IX, the funds in the Trust Account (after taking into account payments for the Redemption) and the net proceeds of the PIPE Investment shall be used to pay or reimburse (i) the Expenses pursuant to and in accordance with Section 12.5 and (ii) any premiums for the D&O Tail Insurance. Any remaining cash in the Trust Account and remaining net proceeds of the PIPE Investment shall be disbursed to the Company or Pubco and used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
8.17 Pre-Closing Transaction. During the Interim Period, the Company and the Sellers shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Contribution immediately prior to the Closing, including exercising their respective rights to specifically enforce the Contribution Agreement.
8.18 Delisting and Deregistration. The Parties shall take all actions necessary or reasonably requested by another Party to cause the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares to be delisted from Nasdaq (or be succeeded by the shares of Pubco Stock) and to terminate the SPAC’s registration with the SEC pursuant to Sections 12(b), 12(g) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or be succeeded by Pubco) as of the Closing Date.
8.19 Pubco A&R Organizational Documents. At or prior to the Closing, Pubco shall amend and restate the Pubco Organizational Documents (the “Pubco A&R Organizational Documents”) to incorporate the terms of the Governance Term Sheet and otherwise on terms that are satisfactory to the Sellers, SoftBank and SPAC, each acting reasonably.
8.20 Amendment and Restatement of Founder Registration Rights Agreement. SPAC, Pubco, the Sellers and SoftBank shall amend and restate the Founder Registration Rights Agreement, effective as of the Closing, substantially in the form of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement.
8.21 PIPE Investments.
(a) Pubco shall use reasonable best efforts to take all actions and do all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Convertibles Notes Subscription Agreements on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements, and exercising its right to specifically enforce the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements pursuant to the terms thereof.
(b) SPAC shall use reasonable best efforts to take all actions and do all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements, and exercising its right to specifically enforce the Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements pursuant to the terms thereof.
8.22 PIPE Bitcoin Sale.
(a) Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of this Agreement, Tether shall purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the Initial PIPE Bitcoin.
(b) Within ten (10) Business Days after the end of the Option Period, Tether shall purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the Option PIPE Bitcoin. The Initial PIPE Bitcoin and the Option PIPE Bitcoin shall be referred to jointly as the “PIPE Bitcoin”.
(c) Upon each purchase of the PIPE Bitcoin, such PIPE Bitcoin shall be placed into a digital wallet held or operated by or on behalf of Tether (the “PIPE Digital Wallets”), and which content of such PIPE Digital Wallet shall be viewable publicly and (i) neither such PIPE Bitcoin nor such PIPE Digital Wallet shall be subject to any Liens (other than Permitted Liens), (ii) Tether shall take commercially reasonable steps to protect the PIPE Digital Wallet and the PIPE Bitcoin, (iii) prior to the PIPE Bitcoin Sale (as defined below), Tether shall not sell or transfer the PIPE Bitcoin or the PIPE Digital Wallets, and (iv) Tether shall have the exclusive ability to control the PIPE Digital Wallet, including by use of “private keys” or other equivalent means or through custody arrangements or other equivalent means. Following such purchase, SPAC shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K providing information about the purchase of the PIPE Bitcoin, including the average purchase price thereof, and including details regarding how the content of the PIPE Digital Wallet can be viewed.
(d) At the Closing and upon the funding of the PIPE Investments by the PIPE Investors and completion of the Mergers, Pubco shall purchase (i) the Initial PIPE Bitcoin from Tether at an aggregate purchase price equal to the Initial PIPE Net Proceeds and (ii) the Option PIPE Bitcoin from Tether at an aggregate purchase price equal to the Option Note Net Proceeds (such purchases, collectively, the “PIPE Bitcoin Sale”).
(e) Following the PIPE Bitcoin Sale, the PIPE Bitcoin shall be placed in a custodial account with Anchorage serving as the custodian.
8.23 Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale.
(a) Immediately prior to the Closing, solely to the extent that the PIPE Bitcoin is less than 10,500 Bitcoin, Tether shall purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to the Additional PIPE Bitcoin.
(b) At the Closing and immediately following completion of the PIPE Bitcoin Sale, Tether shall transfer and contribute to Pubco all of Tether’s legal and beneficial rights, title, and interest in and to the Additional PIPE Bitcoin (the “Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale”). In consideration for the Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale, Pubco shall issue to Tether an equal amount of shares of Pubco Class A Stock and Pubco Class B Stock, respectively, equal to the quotient of (i) the Additional PIPE Bitcoin Purchase Price, divided by (ii) $10.00 (such amount of shares, the “Additional PIPE Bitcoin Consideration”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Additional PIPE Bitcoin Consideration shall be in addition to any portion of the Merger Consideration Shares that Tether is entitled to pursuant to the Company Merger.
(c) Following the Additional PIPE Bitcoin Sale, the Additional PIPE Bitcoin shall be placed in a custodial account with Anchorage serving as the custodian.
8.24 SoftBank Purchase Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that pursuant to the terms of the SoftBank Purchase Agreement, Tether is obligated to provide to SoftBank all notices and/or copies of any notices, materials, documents, information or other communications or content that Tether provides or receives which are required to be delivered by or to SoftBank pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement and/or the other Ancillary Documents and compliance with such obligations is permitted pursuant to this Agreement.
8.25 Pubco Incentive Plan. In the event that Pubco determines that it will implement a new equity incentive plan (the “Pubco Incentive Plan”), such Pubco Incentive Plan will be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Sellers, SoftBank and SPAC.
8.26 Pre-Closing Restructuring.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement and prior to completion of the Contribution, SPAC shall (i) form SPAC Subsidiary A as a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of SPAC, (ii) as promptly as practicable following the formation of SPAC Subsidiary A, cause SPAC Subsidiary A to form SPAC Subsidiary B as a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of SPAC Subsidiary A and (iii) as promptly as practicable following the formation of SPAC Subsidiary B, cause SPAC Subsidiary B to form Company Merger Sub as a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of SPAC Subsidiary B, in each case pursuant to the DGCL (such formations, the “SPAC Pre-Closing Restructuring”). Each of the SPAC Subsidiaries shall be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable following completion of the SPAC Pre-Closing Restructuring and prior to the SPAC Merger, Pubco shall dissolve and liquidate each Pubco Merger Sub pursuant to the DGCL (such dissolutions, the “Pubco Pre-Closing Restructuring” and together with the SPAC Pre-Closing Restructuring, the “Pre-Closing Restructuring”).
(c) SPAC and Pubco shall cooperate with each other and provide the Sellers and SoftBank (and their respective counsel) with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the documentation required to effect the Pre-Closing Restructuring and SPAC and Pubco shall consider in good faith any such comments.
(d) The Parties agree that any fees, costs or expenses (including advisor fees and Taxes) incurred by or on behalf of SPAC or any Seller in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring shall be considered Expenses for the purposes of this Agreement and reimbursed or paid in accordance with Section 12.5(a).
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING CONDITIONS
9.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The obligations of each Party to consummate the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company and SPAC of the following conditions:
(a) Required Shareholder Approval. The SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters that are submitted to the vote of the shareholders of SPAC at the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the Proxy Statement shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of SPAC at the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, applicable Law and the Proxy Statement (the “Required Shareholder Approval”).
(b) No Law or Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the transactions or agreements contemplated by this Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the Transactions.
(c) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing.
(d) Exchange Listing. The shares of Pubco Class A Stock shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange or another national exchange reasonably acceptable to Pubco, SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank, subject only to notice of issuance.
(e) Funding of the PIPE Investments. The PIPE Investors shall have fully funded the PIPE Investments in accordance with Section 8.21 and their respective PIPE Subscription Agreements.
9.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 9.1, the obligations of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver by the Company of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations (other than Section 4.5(a)) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) in all material respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for those SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations that address matters only as of a particular date (which SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such date).
(ii) The representations and warranties of SPAC contained in Section 4.5(a) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the Closing Date, except for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of such date).
(iii) Each of the representations and warranties of SPAC contained in this Agreement (other than the SPAC and SPAC Subsidiaries Fundamental Representations) shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (x) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct as of such date) and (y) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on, or with respect to, SPAC.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. SPAC shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to SPAC since the date of this Agreement which is continuing and uncured.
(d) Sponsor Support Agreement. Each of the covenants of the Sponsor required under the Sponsor Support Agreement to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects.
9.3 Conditions to Obligations of SPAC. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 9.1, the obligations of SPAC to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver by SPAC of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The Company Fundamental Representations (other than Section 6.3(a)), Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Fundamental Representations (other than Section 5.5(a)) and Sellers Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) in all material respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for those Company Fundamental Representations, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Fundamental Representations or Sellers Fundamental Representations that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such date).
(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub contained in Section 6.3(a) and Section 5.5(a) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the Closing Date, except for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of such date).
(iii) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and Sellers (other than the Company Fundamental Representations, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub Fundamental Representations and Sellers Fundamental Representations) shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (a) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct as of such date) and (b) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on, or with respect to, the Company, Pubco or any Seller.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. Each of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company or Pubco since the date of this Agreement.
(d) Completion of the Contribution. The Contribution shall have been completed in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement, and the applicable Bitcoin shall be placed into a custodial account with Anchorage serving as the custodian thereof.
9.4 Frustration of Conditions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article IX to be satisfied if such failure was caused by the failure of such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, any Seller, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub) to comply with or perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE X TERMINATION AND EXPENSES
10.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of SPAC, the Sellers and SoftBank;
(b) by written notice by SPAC or the Sellers if any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article IX have not been satisfied or waived by the date that is one year from the date of this Agreement (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(b) shall not be available to a Party if the breach or violation by such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Sellers, the Company, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub) of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was the primary cause of, or directly resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Date;
(c) by written notice by either SPAC or the Sellers if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(c) shall not be available to a Party if the failure by such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Sellers, the Company, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub) to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority;
(d) by written notice by the Sellers to SPAC, if (i) there has been a material breach by SPAC of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of SPAC shall have become materially untrue or materially inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 9.2(a) or Section 9.2(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to SPAC by the Sellers or (B) five (5) Business Days prior to the Outside Date; provided, that the Sellers shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(d) if at such time the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub or any Seller is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;
(e) by written notice by the Sellers to SPAC within ten (10) Business Days after there has been a Modification in Recommendation;
(f) by written notice by SPAC to the Sellers, if (i) there has been a material breach by the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub or any Seller of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such Parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 9.3(a) or Section 9.3(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Sellers by SPAC or (B) five (5) Business Days prior to the Outside Date; provided, that SPAC shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) if at such time SPAC is in material uncured breach of this Agreement; or (g) without prejudice to the SPAC’s obligations under Section 8.11(d)(i), by written notice by either SPAC or the Sellers to the other if the Extraordinary General Meeting is held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, SPAC Shareholders have duly voted, and the Required Shareholder Approval was not obtained.
10.2 Effect of Termination. This Agreement may only be terminated in the circumstances described in Section 10.1 and pursuant to a written notice delivered by the applicable Party to the other applicable Parties, which sets forth the basis for such termination, including the provision of Section 10.1 under which such termination is made. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no Liability on the part of any Party or any of their respective Representatives, and all rights and obligations of each Party shall cease, except: (i) Sections 8.12, 8.13, 11.1, Article XII and this Section 10.2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from Liability for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such Party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, subject to Section 11.1). Without limiting the foregoing, and except as provided in Section 12.5 and this Section 10.2 (but subject to Section 11.1, and subject to the right to seek injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief in accordance with Section 12.7), the Parties’ sole right prior to the Closing with respect to any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement by another Party or with respect to the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be the right, if applicable, to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1.
ARTICLE XI WAIVERS AND RELEASES
11.1 Waiver of Claims Against Trust. The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that SPAC has established the Trust Account containing the proceeds of the IPO, from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO and from certain loans agreed to be made by Sponsor (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the holders of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued and sold in the IPO (the “Public Shareholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, SPAC may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the consummation of its initial Business Combination or in connection with an amendment to the SPAC Memorandum and Articles to extend SPAC’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Shareholders if SPAC fails to consummate a Business Combination within twenty four (24) months after the closing of the IPO, subject to further extension by amendment to the SPAC Memorandum and Articles, (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, as necessary to pay any income taxes, and (d) to SPAC after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of SPAC entering into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller hereby agree on behalf of themselves and their Affiliates, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, that none of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, any Seller nor any of their respective Affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (collectively, the “Released Claims”). The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller on behalf of themselves and their respective Affiliates hereby irrevocably waive any Released Claims that any such Party or any of its Affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements hereunder and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Agreement or any other agreement with SPAC or its Affiliates). The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers each agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by SPAC to induce SPAC to enter in this Agreement, and the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers each further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against such Party and each of its Affiliates under applicable Law. To the extent the Company, Pubco, either Merger Sub, any Seller or any of their respective Affiliates commences any action or proceeding based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to this Agreement or the Transactions, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against the Trust Account, each such Party hereby acknowledge and agree that such Party’s and its Affiliates’ sole remedy with respect to monetary relief shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such Party or any of its Affiliates (or any Person claiming on any of their behalves or in lieu of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. Nothing in this Section 11.1 shall amend, limit, alter, change, supersede or otherwise modify the right of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and each Seller to (a) bring any action or actions for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable relief or (b) bring or seek a claim for damages against SPAC, or any of its successors or assigns, for any breach of this Agreement (but such claim shall not be against the Trust Account or any funds distributed from the Trust Account). This Section 11.1 shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.
11.2 Release and Covenant Not to Sue. Effective as of the Closing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Seller, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates that owns any share or other equity interest in or of such Seller (the “Releasing Persons”), hereby releases and discharges the Company, SPAC, Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub from and against any and all Actions, obligations, agreements, debts and Liabilities whatsoever, whether known or unknown, both at law and in equity, which such Releasing Person now has, has ever had or may hereafter have against such Parties arising on or prior to the Closing Date or on account of or arising out of any matter occurring on or prior to the Closing Date, including any rights to indemnification or reimbursement from the Company, whether pursuant to its Organizational Documents, Contract or otherwise, and whether or not relating to claims pending on, or asserted after, the Closing Date. From and after the Closing, each Releasing Person hereby irrevocably covenants to refrain from, directly or indirectly, asserting any Action, or commencing or causing to be commenced, any Action of any kind against any of the Parties or their respective Affiliates, based upon any matter purported to be released hereby. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the releases and restrictions set forth herein shall not apply to any claims a Releasing Person may have against any Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Survival. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 10.2, (a) the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement (other than those representations and warranties set forth in Sections 4.19, 5.12, 6.14 and 7.10 or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall not survive the Closing, and from and after the Closing, the Parties and their respective Representatives shall not have any further obligations, nor shall any claim be asserted or action be brought against any of the Parties or their respective Representatives with respect thereto and (b) the covenants and agreements made by the Parties in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such covenants or agreements, shall not survive the Closing, except for those covenants and agreements contained herein and therein that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Closing (which such covenants shall survive the Closing and continue until fully performed in accordance with their terms), including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2.15, Section 8.15, Section 8.22(d), Section 8.22(e), Section 8.23(b), Section 8.23(c), Section 11.1 and this Article XII.
12.2 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (a) in person, (b) by facsimile, email or other electronic means, with affirmative confirmation of receipt (excluding out-of-office replies or other automatically generated responses), (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) four (4) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to SPAC, at or prior to the Closing, to:
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105, USA
Attn: Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq.
Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
[***]
[***]
If to Bitfinex, Pubco, the Company or SPAC Merger Sub at, prior to or after the Closing or to SPAC after the Closing, to:
c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, BVI
Attn: Legal
Email: legal@tether.to (with a copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
If to Tether, at prior to or after the Closing:
Final Av. La Revolucion, Colonia San Benito, Edif. Centro,
Corporativo Presidente Plaza, Nivel 12, Oficina 2, Distrito de San
Salvador, Municipio de San Salvador Centro, Republica de El Salvador
Attn: Investments Legal
Email: investments.legal@tether.to (copy to legal@tether.to)
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate,
EC2N 4BQ London
Attn: Lorenzo Corte
Maria Protopapa
[***]
[***]
If to SoftBank at, prior to or after the Closing, to:
Stellar Beacon LLC
300 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Attn: Legal Department
Email:dl-sbsp-notice@softbank.com
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Sullivan and Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Matthew B. Goodman
Mario Schollmeyer
[***]
[***]
12.3 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Other than with respect to the Mergers, this Agreement shall not be assigned by any Party by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of SPAC and SoftBank (in the case of Pubco, the Company, SPAC Merger Sub or any Seller), the Sellers and SoftBank (in the case of SPAC) or SPAC and the Sellers (in the case of SoftBank), and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of its obligations hereunder.
12.4 Third Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Document shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a Party or party thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a Party; provided, however, that (a) in the event that the Closing occurs, the D&O Indemnified Persons are intended third-party beneficiaries of Section 8.14(a) and (b) the past, present or future directors, officers, agents, employees, equityholders or other Representatives, Affiliates, successors or assignees of any Party, are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 12.1 and Section 12.14.
12.5 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Subject to Sections 11.1 and 12.5(a), all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such Expenses, provided that, if the Closing shall occur, Pubco shall reimburse or pay or cause to be reimbursed or paid, at or promptly following Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, all Expenses (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include reimbursement of any Expenses incurred by SoftBank). For the avoidance of doubt, any payments to be made (or to cause to be made) by Pubco pursuant to this Section 12.5 shall be paid upon consummation of the Transactions and release of proceeds from the Trust Account.
(b) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 12.5(a):
(i) regardless of whether the Closing occurs, SPAC shall bear any and all fees, costs and expenses paid or payable by any Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising from (i) filing the Registration Statement with the SEC, and (ii) submitting to Nasdaq a listing application for the shares of Pubco Class A Stock (including any filing fees arising therefrom); and
(ii) subject to and conditioned upon the Closing, in accordance with the terms of the Sponsor Support Agreement, the aggregate of all amounts outstanding and due to Sponsor from SPAC under the Sponsor Loan Note as of the Closing shall be automatically converted, immediately prior to the SPAC Merger, into a number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient of (1) the aggregate amount owed by SPAC under the Sponsor Loan Note, as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement delivered by SPAC pursuant to Section 3.2(a), divided by (2) $10.00.
12.6 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. Subject to Section 12.7:
(a) Subject to Section 12.6(b), this Agreement and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of Laws principles or rules thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
(b) Any Action arising out of or in connection with, or concerning the carrying into effect of, this Agreement or the Transactions, including any question regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration for the time being in force (the “LCIA Rules”), which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Section 12.6(b). The Emergency Arbitrator provisions (as defined in the LCIA Rules) shall not apply. The number of arbitrators shall be three (the “Tribunal”). The Parties agree that the claimant (or claimants jointly), on one hand, and the respondent (or respondents jointly), on the other hand, shall nominate one arbitrator for appointment by the London Court of International Arbitration (the “LCIA Court”) in accordance with the LCIA Rules. The third arbitrator, who shall act as the chairman of the Tribunal, shall be nominated by agreement of the two party-nominated arbitrators, within thirty (30) calendar days of the confirmation of the appointment of the second arbitrator, or in default of such agreement, appointed by the LCIA Court. Where there is more than one claimant and/or more than one respondent, unless otherwise agreed, the Parties hereby agree that they represent two separate sides for the purposes of the formation of the Tribunal as claimant and respondent, respectively. The seat, or legal place, of arbitration shall be London. The language to be used in the arbitral proceedings shall be English. The Parties’ agreement to arbitrate set out in this Section 12.6(b) shall be governed by the Laws of England and Wales. Without prejudice to the Parties’ agreement to arbitrate set out in this Section 12.6(b), any Party may apply to a competent court for an interim injunction or attachment or such interim relief as may be available to it prior to the issuance of a final arbitral award, or any other order in aid of arbitration after any final arbitral award to maintain the status quo or prevent irreparable harm. Any arbitral award made pursuant to this Section 12.6(b) shall be final and binding on the Parties. The Parties agree that leave to appeal under Section 69 or an application for the determination of a preliminary point of law under Section 45 of the English Arbitration Act 1996 may not be sought with respect to any question of law arising out of or in connection with this arbitration or any award made pursuant to this arbitration. Each Party irrevocably consents to the service of process in any Action relating to this Agreement or the Transactions, on behalf of itself, or its property, by personal delivery of copies of such process to such Party at the applicable address set forth in Section 12.2.
12.7 Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the Transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages would be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties would not have an adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.
12.8 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
12.9 Amendment. Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by each of SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers and SoftBank.
12.10 Waiver. Each Party may in its sole discretion (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other non-Affiliated Party, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties by any other non-Affiliated Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance by such other non-Affiliated Party with any covenant or condition contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.
12.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules, which Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules are incorporated herein by reference, together with the Ancillary Documents, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.
12.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile, email or other electronic means or transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts of this Agreement transmitted by electronic transmission (including by email or in .pdf format) or facsimile as well as electronically or digitally executed counterparts (such as DocuSign) shall have the same legal effect as original signatures and shall be considered original executed counterparts of this Agreement.
12.13 Legal Representation.
(a) The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, LLP (“EGS”) may have, prior to Closing, jointly represented SPAC, the SPAC Subsidiaries and Sponsor in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions, and has also represented SPAC and its Affiliates in connection with matters other than the Transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, EGS will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent the Sponsor or its Affiliates in connection with matters in which such Persons are adverse to Pubco, SPAC or any of their respective Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers, who are or have the right to be represented by independent counsel in connection with the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, hereby agree, in advance, to waive (and to cause their Affiliates to waive) any actual or potential conflict of interest that may hereafter arise in connection with EGS’s future representation of one or more of the Sponsor or its Affiliates in which the interests of such Person are adverse to the interests of Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, SPAC, the Company, the Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates, including any matters that arise out of this Agreement or that are substantially related to this Agreement or to any prior representation by EGS of Sponsor, SPAC or any of their respective Affiliates. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, Sponsor shall be deemed the client of EGS with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to Sponsor, shall be controlled by Sponsor and shall not pass to or be claimed by Pubco or SPAC; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by Pubco, SPAC or any of their respective Affiliates of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.
(b) The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP (“Skadden”) may have, prior to Closing, jointly represented Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company and the Sellers in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions, and may have also represented Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company, the Sellers and/or their respective Affiliates in connection with matters other than the Transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, Skadden will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, the Company and the Sellers or their respective Affiliates in connection with matters in which such Persons are adverse to any other party to the Agreement, or any of their respective Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, the Sellers, Pubco, the Company and SPAC Merger Sub shall be deemed the clients of Skadden with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong to each such respective party, shall be controlled thereby and shall not pass to or be claimed by any other party; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party or any of their respective Affiliates of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.
(c) The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that Sullivan and Cromwell LLP (“S&C”) may have, prior to Closing, represented SoftBank in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions, and may have also represented SoftBank and/or its Affiliates in connection with matters other than the Transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, S&C will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent SoftBank or its Affiliates in connection with matters in which such Persons are adverse to any other party to this Agreement, or any of their respective Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, SoftBank shall be deemed the client of S&C with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong to each such respective party, shall be controlled thereby and shall not pass to or be claimed by any other party; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party or any of their respective Affiliates of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.
12.14 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and agree that, no recourse under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Documents shall be had against any Person that is not a Party to this Agreement or such Ancillary Document, including any past, present or future director, officer, agent, employee, equityholder or other Representative or any Affiliate or successor or assignee thereof that is not a Party (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”), as such, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Recourse Party, as such, for any obligation or liability of a Party under this Agreement or Person party to such Ancillary Document under any Ancillary Document for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or liabilities or their creation.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK;
SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party has caused this Business Combination Agreement to be signed and delivered by its respective duly authorized signatory as of the date first written above.
SPAC: | ||
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Brandon Lutnick | |
Name: | Brandon Lutnick | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Pubco: | ||
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Meehan | |
Name: | Steven Meehan | |
Title: | Secretary | |
SPAC Merger Sub: | ||
TWENTY ONE MERGER SUB D | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Meehan | |
Name: | Steven Meehan | |
Title: | Director | |
The Company: | ||
TWENTY ONE ASSETS, LLC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Meehan | |
Name: | Steven Meehan | |
Title: | Secretary |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement – Project Mystery]
The Sellers: | ||
TETHER INVESTMENTS, S.A. DE C.V. | ||
By: | /s/ Giancarlo Devasini | |
Name: | Giancarlo Devasini | |
Title: | Sole Administrator | |
IFINEX, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Paolo Ardoino | |
Name: | Paolo Ardoino | |
Title: | Director | |
Solely for certain limited purposes specified herein: | ||
SoftBank: | ||
STELLAR BEACON LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Karol Niewiadomski | |
Name: | Karol Niewiadomski | |
Title: | Manager |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement – Project Mystery]
ANNEX I
List of Sellers
Seller Name | Number of Company Class A Interests Held or to be Held by each Seller | Class A Pro Rata Share | Number of Company Class B Interests Held or to be Held by each Seller | Class B Pro Rata Share |
Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V. | 208 | 77.78% | 208 | 77.78% |
iFinex, Inc. | 59 | 22.22% | 59 | 22.22% |
TOTAL | 267 | 100.00% | 267 | 100.00% |
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 22, 2025, by and among Cantor EP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”) and Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Business Combination Agreement by and among SPAC, Pubco, Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and the other parties thereto, dated as of April 22, 2025 (as may be amended from time to time, the “BCA”).
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Sponsor owns 2,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Shares”) and 300,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Private Placement Shares” and, together with the Founder Shares and any New Securities (as defined below) of which ownership of record or the power to vote is hereafter acquired by Sponsor prior to the termination of this Agreement, the “Sponsor Shares”);
WHEREAS, in connection with SPAC’s initial public offering (the “IPO”), SPAC, Sponsor and the then current officers and directors of SPAC entered into a letter agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024 (as amended, the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which Sponsor agreed to certain voting requirements, transfer restrictions and waiver of redemption rights with respect to the SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by it;
WHEREAS, Section 17 of SPAC’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “SPAC Charter”) provides, among other matters, that the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares will automatically convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares upon the consummation of an initial business combination, subject to adjustment if additional SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or Equity-linked Securities (as defined in the SPAC Charter) are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the IPO (the “Anti-Dilution Right”), excluding certain exempted issuances;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, SPAC, Pubco, the Company and the other parties thereto are entering into the BCA, pursuant to which, upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Closing”), among other matters, the Company will merge with and into Company Merger Sub (with Company Merger Sub surviving such merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco) (the “Company Merger”) and SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub (with SPAC Merger Sub surviving such merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “SPAC Merger” and, together with the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the BCA and the Ancillary Documents, including the Contribution, the Pre-Closing Restructuring and the PIPE Investments, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the Closing, Pubco and Sponsor shall enter into a Securities Exchange Agreement substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit A (the “Securities Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, immediately following the Closing, (a) Sponsor will assign, transfer and deliver to Pubco a certain number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock and (b) in exchange for the transfer of such shares of Pubco Class A Stock, Pubco will issue and deliver to Sponsor, a certain number of Exchange Notes (as defined therein); and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Pubco’s willingness to enter into the BCA, Pubco has required that Sponsor enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Sponsor Voting Requirements. At any meeting of the SPAC Shareholders, however called, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the SPAC Shareholders is sought, Sponsor shall (i) if a meeting is held, appear at each such meeting (in person or by proxy) or otherwise cause all of the Sponsor Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted), or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering, all of the Sponsor Shares:
(a) in favor of each SPAC Shareholder Approval Matter;
(b) against any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Transaction;
(c) against any merger, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by SPAC (other than the Transactions);
(d) against any change in the business of SPAC; and
(e) against any proposal, action or agreement involving SPAC that would or would reasonably be expected to (i) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the BCA or any Ancillary Document, (ii) result in a breach in any material respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of SPAC under the BCA or any Ancillary Document, (iii) result in any of the conditions in respect of obligations of SPAC or the Parties set forth in Article IX of the BCA not being fulfilled, or (iv) change in any manner the capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of share capital of, SPAC (other than in connection with the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any SPAC Shareholder Approval Matter in connection with the Conversion).
2. Enforcement of Insider Letter. During the Interim Period, for the benefit of Pubco, (a) Sponsor agrees that it shall fully comply with, and perform all of its obligations, covenants and agreements set forth in, the Insider Letter, including not redeeming its Sponsor Shares in connection with the Transactions and complying with the transfer restrictions with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares, (b) SPAC agrees to enforce the Insider Letter in accordance with its terms, and (c) each of Sponsor and SPAC agree not to amend, modify or waive any provision of the Insider Letter without the prior written consent of Pubco (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the Closing, Pubco, SPAC, Sponsor and any other insider party thereto who owns any SPAC Ordinary Shares shall enter into an amendment to the Insider Letter to modify the transfer and lock-up restrictions applicable to the shares of Pubco Class A Stock held from and after the Closing by Sponsor and any other insiders issuable in exchange for their Founder Shares, to be the earlier of the (i) six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) the date on which Pubco consummates a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Stock for cash, securities or other property, subject to and conditioned upon approval of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters by the SPAC Shareholders and the Closing; and provided, further, that Sponsor and SPAC shall give Pubco a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such amendment to the Insider Letter.
3. New Shares. In the event that, during the Interim Period, (a) any SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of SPAC are issued to Sponsor in respect of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Shares pursuant to the Anti-Dilution Right or any share dividend, share split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by Sponsor or otherwise, then such SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity securities acquired or purchased by Sponsor shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted Founder Shares or Private Placement Shares, as applicable, or (b) Sponsor (i) purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of SPAC, or (ii) acquires the right to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of SPAC (such SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of SPAC referred to in clauses (b)(i) and (ii), collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by Sponsor shall be subject to the terms set forth in Sections 1 and 2 to the same extent as if they constituted the Sponsor Shares.
4. Anti-Dilution Protection; Sponsor Participation.
(a) The parties hereby agree that, as a result of the issuance of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in the Equity PIPE, the conversion ratio applicable to the conversion of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the SPAC Memorandum and Articles shall be adjusted in accordance with the Anti-Dilution Right immediately prior to the SPAC Merger to account for the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued in the Equity PIPE in connection with the Closing (the “PIPE Shares”), which shall result in Sponsor receiving a number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares upon the conversion of its SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares equal to (a) (i) 10,000,000 minus the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares subject to redemption in connection with the Closing, plus (ii) the number of PIPE Shares, multiplied by (b) twenty-five percent (25%) (such number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued to Sponsor upon conversion of its SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, the “Sponsor Class A Ordinary Shares”).
(b) The parties hereby agree that, at the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (including each Sponsor Class A Ordinary Share held by Sponsor as of immediately prior to the Effective Time) shall be converted automatically into one share of Pubco Class A Stock in accordance with the terms set forth in the BCA. The parties hereby further agree that, immediately following the Closing, Sponsor shall receive a certain amount of Exchange Notes (as defined in the Securities Exchange Agreement) in exchange for the assignment, transfer and delivery by Sponsor to Pubco of a certain number of shares of Pubco Class A Stock, in each case in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Securities Exchange Agreement.
5. Waiver and Release of Claims. Sponsor covenants and agrees as follows:
(a) Subject to and conditioned upon the Closing, effective as of the Closing (and subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (c) below), Sponsor, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their respective successors, assigns, representatives, administrators, executors and agents, and any other person or entity claiming by, through or under any of the foregoing (each a “Releasing Party” and, collectively, the “Releasing Parties” provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that SPAC shall not be deemed a Releasing Party hereunder), does hereby unconditionally and irrevocably release, waive and forever discharge SPAC, Pubco, the Company and Merger Subs, and each of its and their past and present directors, officers, employees, agents, predecessors, successors, assigns, and Subsidiaries, from any and all past or present claims, demands, damages, judgments, causes of action and liabilities of any nature whatsoever, whether or not known, suspected or claimed, arising directly or indirectly from any act, omission, event or transaction occurring (or any circumstances existing) at or prior to the Closing (each a “Claim” and, collectively, the “Claims”); provided, however, that the release, waiver and discharge by Sponsor’s Affiliates is limited to Claims that arise from the Transactions.
(b) Sponsor acknowledges that it may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which it now knows or believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and that it may hereafter come to have a different understanding of the Law that may apply to potential Claims which it is releasing hereunder, but it affirms that, except as is otherwise specifically provided herein, it is its intention to fully, finally and forever settle and release any and all Claims. In furtherance of this intention, Sponsor acknowledges that the releases contained herein shall be and remain in effect as full and complete general releases notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such additional facts or different understandings of Law.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 or anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Releasing Parties do not release or discharge, and each Releasing Party expressly does not release or discharge, any Claims that arise under or are based upon the terms of (i) this Agreement, (ii) any Ancillary Document to which Sponsor is a party, (iii) any letter of transmittal to which Sponsor is a party, (iv) any other document, certificate or Contract executed or delivered in connection with the BCA to which Sponsor is a party, (v) the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, (vi) any rights a Releasing Party has to indemnification from SPAC arising out of the Transactions, (vii) the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and between Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“CF&Co.”) and SPAC, (viii) the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and between CF&Co. and SPAC, (ix) the letter agreement, dated as of April 22, 2025, by and among SPAC, Pubco and CF&Co. with respect to services provided by CF&Co. pursuant to the PIPE Investments, (ix) the letter agreement, dated as of April 22, 2025, by and between SPAC and CF&Co. with respect to financial advisory services provided by CF&Co. to SPAC, or (x) the SPAC Memorandum and Articles or any indemnity agreement of any director or office of SPAC with SPAC with or for the benefit of a Releasing Party with respect to any Claims for indemnification, contribution, set-off, reimbursement or similar rights.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission by any party hereto of any liability of any kind to any other party hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Sponsor (and each of its Affiliates other than SPAC) and SPAC shall be deemed not to be Affiliates of each other for purposes of this Section 5.
6. SPAC Loan Conversion. The parties hereby agree that, subject to and conditioned upon the Closing, the aggregate of all amounts outstanding and due to Sponsor from SPAC as of the Closing under the SPAC Loans shall be repaid as follows: (a) with respect to the Sponsor Loan Note, the aggregate amount owed by SPAC, as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement delivered by SPAC prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 3.2(a) of the BCA, shall be automatically converted, immediately prior to the SPAC Merger, into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and that upon the issuance and delivery of such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares to Sponsor, the Sponsor Loan Note shall be deemed satisfied in full, provided, however, that the portion of the Sponsor Loan Note that is drawn by or on behalf of SPAC to pay for any SEC or Nasdaq fees, costs and expenses pursuant to Section 12.5(b)(i) of the BCA, shall be repaid in cash at the Closing in accordance with Section 12.5(a) of the BCA, and (b) with respect to all other SPAC Loans (other than the Sponsor Loan Note), all amounts outstanding thereunder as of the Closing, as set forth on the SPAC Pre-Closing Statement delivered by SPAC prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 3.2(a) of the BCA, shall be repaid in cash at the Closing in accordance with Section 12.5(a) of the BCA. The parties acknowledge and agree that the amounts to be incurred under the Sponsor Loan Note after the date hereof (other than the amounts incurred to pay for any SEC or Nasdaq fees, costs and expenses pursuant to Section 12.5(b)(i) of the BCA or reasonably incurred in connection with the Transactions) will be reasonably consistent with the types of expenses and amounts outstanding in respect thereof as of the date of this Agreement.
7. Representations and Warranties of Sponsor. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports or in any other report filed by Sponsor with the SEC that are available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR, Sponsor represents and warrants to Pubco, as follows:
(a) Authorization. Sponsor is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Sponsor and the consummation by Sponsor of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Sponsor and no other proceedings on the part of Sponsor or Sponsor’s equityholders are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby except as have been obtained prior to the date of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Sponsor, and assuming the due execution and delivery by Pubco and SPAC, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Sponsor, enforceable against Sponsor in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(b) Consents and Approvals; No Violations.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Sponsor and the consummation by Sponsor of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not require any filing or registration with, notification to, or authorization, permit, license, declaration, Order, consent or approval of, or other action by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or Nasdaq on the part of Sponsor.
(ii) The execution, delivery and performance by Sponsor of this Agreement and the consummation by Sponsor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not (A) conflict with or violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of Sponsor in any material respect, (B) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Sponsor or by which any property or asset of Sponsor is bound, (C) require any material consent or notice, or result in any material violation or breach of, or materially conflict with, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a material default (or give rise to any right of purchase, termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation) under, result in the loss of any material benefit under, or result in the triggering of any material payments pursuant to, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which Sponsor is a party or by which any of Sponsor’s properties or assets are bound or any Law applicable to Sponsor or Sponsor’s properties or assets, or (D) result in the creation of any Lien on any property or asset of Sponsor, except in the case of clauses (B) and (D) above as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to impair in any material respect the ability of Sponsor to timely perform its obligations hereunder or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Ownership of Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares. As of the date hereof, (i) Sponsor is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens arising under applicable securities Laws, this Agreement and the Insider Letter), (ii) Sponsor has the sole voting power with respect to the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares, (iii) Sponsor has not entered into any voting agreement (other than this Agreement and the Insider Letter) with or granted any Person any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) with respect to the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares, (iv) there is no limitation on Sponsor’s ability to sell or otherwise dispose of the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares other than restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws, this Agreement and the Insider Letter, (v) the Founder Shares and the Private Placement Shares are the only equity securities in SPAC owned of record by Sponsor and (vi) Sponsor does not hold or own any rights to acquire (directly or indirectly) any equity securities of SPAC or any equity securities convertible into, or which can be exchanged for, equity securities of SPAC, other than as set forth in this Agreement or the Sponsor Loan Note.
(d) Contracts with SPAC. Except for (i) the Contracts described in Section 5(c) or otherwise disclosed in the SPAC’s disclosure schedules to the BCA and (ii) any Contract filed as an exhibit to a form, report, schedule, statement or other document that is publicly filed with the SEC, none of Sponsor, any of the Affiliates of Sponsor nor, to the Knowledge of Sponsor, any Person in which Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership of five percent (5%) or greater, is a party to, or has any rights with respect to or arising from, any Contract with SPAC.
(e) Litigation. There is no Action pending, or, to the Knowledge of Sponsor, threatened Action against Sponsor, or, to the Knowledge of Sponsor, any of its directors, managers, officers or employees (in their capacity as such) or otherwise affecting Sponsor or its assets, including any condemnation or similar proceeding, nor is any Order outstanding against or involving Sponsor, whether at law or in equity, before or by any Governmental Authority, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Sponsor. There is no unsatisfied judgment or open injunction binding upon Sponsor that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Sponsor. There is no Action that Sponsor has pending against any other Person. Sponsor is not subject to any Orders of any Governmental Authority, nor are any such Orders pending.
(f) Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 4.15 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from Sponsor, SPAC or Pubco, or any of their respective Affiliates, in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Sponsor or any of its Affiliates.
(g) Acknowledgment. Sponsor understands and acknowledges that each of SPAC and Pubco is entering into the BCA in reliance upon Sponsor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
8. Further Assurances. Sponsor hereby agrees that it shall (a) at the Closing, deliver to Pubco a duly executed copy of the Securities Exchange Agreement, (b) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such Ancillary Documents as may be necessary to satisfy any condition to the Closing under the BCA, in substantially the form previously provided to Sponsor as of the date of this Agreement, (b) undertake commercially reasonable efforts to (i) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments and (ii) take, or cause to be taken, such actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing such things, in each case, as are reasonably necessary for the purpose of effectively carrying out the Transactions.
9. Other Covenants.
(a) Binding Effect of the BCA. Sponsor hereby agrees to be bound by and comply with Sections 8.6 (No Solicitation), 8.12 (Public Announcements) and 8.13 (Confidential Information) of the BCA (and any relevant definitions contained in any such Sections of the BCA) as if Sponsor was an original signatory to the BCA with respect to such provisions to the same extent as such provisions apply to SPAC.
(b) Disclosure. Sponsor hereby authorizes Pubco and SPAC to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure, in each case, required by the SEC or Nasdaq (including all documents and schedules filed with the SEC in connection with the foregoing, including the Registration Statement), Sponsor’s identity and ownership of the SPAC Ordinary Shares and the nature of Sponsor’s commitments and agreements under this Agreement, the BCA, the Ancillary Documents and any other agreements to the extent such disclosure is required by applicable securities Laws, the SEC or Nasdaq; provided that the content of any such disclosure shall require the prior written consent of Sponsor (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
10. Waiver of Dissenters’ Rights. Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise or assert, any dissenters’ rights under Section 238 of the Cayman Act and any other similar statute in connection with the SPAC Merger and the BCA.
11. General.
(a) Termination. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) the Closing or (ii) at such time, if any, as the BCA is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing (the earliest of (i) and (ii), the “Expiration Time”), and upon such termination this Agreement shall be null and void and of no effect whatsoever, and the parties hereto shall have no obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that no termination of this Agreement shall relieve or release a party from any obligations or liabilities for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 4, 5, 8 and 11 shall survive any termination of this Agreement pursuant to clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence in accordance with their terms.
(b) Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by email during normal business hours, (iii) by overnight courier service, or (iv) after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and otherwise on the next Business Day, addressed as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
if to SPAC (prior to Closing), to it at:
Cantor Equity Partners, Inc.
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com
if to Sponsor, to it at:
Cantor EP Holdings, LLC
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com and legalnotices@cantor.com
if to Pubco or, after Closing, SPAC, to it at:
c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, BVI
Email: Legal
Attention: legal@tether.to (copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
(c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other Ancillary Documents, the BCA and each of the other documents and the instruments referred to herein, to the extent incorporated herein) constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or thereof.
(d) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance. Sections 12.6 and 12.7 of the BCA shall apply to this Agreement mutatis mutandis.
(e) Remedies. All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive of any rights or remedies otherwise available.
(f) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended or modified only with the written consent of SPAC, Pubco and Sponsor. The observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.
(g) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal 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, illegal 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.
(h) Assignment. No party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, that in the event that Sponsor transfers any of the Founder Shares or the Private Placement Shares to any permitted transferee in accordance with paragraph 7(c) of the Insider Letter (a “Permitted Transferee”), Sponsor shall, by providing notice to SPAC and Pubco prior to such transfer, transfer its rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Founder Shares and/or Private Placement Shares to such Permitted Transferee so long as such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 11(h) shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(i) Costs and Expenses. Subject to Section 12.5 of the BCA, each party hereto will pay its own costs and expenses (including legal, accounting and other fees) relating to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
(j) No Joint Venture. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed as creating a joint venture or partnership between any of the parties hereto. No party is by virtue of this Agreement authorized as an agent, employee or legal representative of any other party. Without in any way limiting the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement, prior to the Closing, (i) no party shall have the power by virtue of this Agreement to control the activities and operations of any other and (ii) no party shall have any power or authority by virtue of this Agreement to bind or commit any other party. No party shall hold itself out as having any authority or relationship in contravention of this Section 11(j).
(k) Capacity as Shareholder. Sponsor signs this Agreement solely in its capacity as a shareholder of SPAC, and not in its capacity as a director (including “director by deputization”), officer or employee of SPAC, if applicable. Nothing herein shall be construed to (i) restrict, limit, prohibit or affect any actions or inactions by Sponsor or any representative of Sponsor, as applicable, serving in the capacity of a director or officer of SPAC or any Subsidiary of SPAC, acting in such person’s capacity as a director or officer of SPAC or any Subsidiary of SPAC (it being understood and agreed that the BCA contains provisions that govern the actions or inactions by the directors and officers of SPAC with respect to the Transactions) or (ii) prohibit, limit or restrict the exercise of any fiduciary duties as director or officer of SPAC that is otherwise permitted by, and done in compliance with, the terms of the BCA (and in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), without limiting Sponsor’s obligations hereunder in its capacity as a shareholder of SPAC).
(l) Affiliates. In this Agreement, the term “Affiliates”, when used with respect to a particular Person, means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person as of the date on which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of affiliation is being made, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise, and the term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Affiliates of Sponsor shall only include Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Persons directly or indirectly controlled by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., and Sponsor and SPAC (and each of their respective Affiliates) shall be deemed not to be Affiliates of each other for purposes of this Agreement and (ii) no private investment fund (or similar vehicle) or business development company, or any other investment account, fund, vehicle or other client advised or sub-advised by Sponsor or by Sponsor’s Affiliates or any portfolio companies thereof shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Sponsor, except to the extent any such Person is expressly requested or directed by Sponsor to take any action which would constitute a breach of this Agreement if taken by Sponsor, and such Person actually takes such prohibited action (it being understood and agreed that this Agreement shall not otherwise apply to, or be binding on, any Persons described in this clause (ii)).
(m) No Recourse. Neither SPAC nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of the past, present or future SPAC Shareholders (other than Sponsor or any Permitted Transferee thereof), nor any director, officer, employee, member, partner, shareholder or other owner (whether direct or indirect), Affiliate, agent, attorney or representative of Sponsor, shall have any obligation or liability for the obligations or liabilities of Sponsor under this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, this Agreement may only be enforced against the persons or entities that have executed and delivered a counterpart to this Agreement.
(n) Headings; Interpretation. The headings and subheadings 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. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) the term “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iii) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (iv) the term “or” means “and/or”; (v) the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or thing extends, and such phrase shall not simply mean “if”; and (vi) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of executed counterparts of this Agreement transmitted by electronic transmission (including by email or in .pdf format) or facsimile as well as electronically or digitally executed counterparts (such as DocuSign) shall have the same legal effect as original signatures and shall be considered original executed counterparts of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Sponsor Support Agreement as of the date first written above.
SPAC: | ||
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Brandon Lutnick | |
Name: | Brandon Lutnick | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SPONSOR: | ||
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Brandon Lutnick | |
Name: | Brandon Lutnick | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
PUBCO: | ||
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Meehan | |
Name: | Steven Meehan | |
Title: | Secretary |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SECURITIES EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
Exhibit A
Final Form
SECURITIES EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
This SECURITIES EXCHANGE AGREEMENT, dated as of [●], 2025 (this “Agreement”), is by and between Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), and Cantor EP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the BCA (as defined herein).
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2025, (a) Pubco, (b) Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), (c) Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (d) Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), (e) Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador sociedad anónima de capital variable, (f) iFinex, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company, and (g) Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SoftBank”) (solely for certain limited purposes), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “BCA”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the BCA, among other things, on the date hereof, the Company has merged with and into Company Merger Sub (with Company Merger Sub surviving such merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco) (the “Company Merger”) and SPAC has merged with and into SPAC Merger Sub (with SPAC Merger Sub surviving such merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco) (the “SPAC Merger” and together with the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the BCA, including the Contribution, the Pre-Closing Restructuring and the PIPE Investments (each as defined in the BCA), the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the SPAC Merger and the other Transactions, on the date hereof, Pubco has issued to Sponsor [●] shares of Pubco Class A Stock, which was determined in accordance with the Sponsor Support Agreement and the BCA, in exchange for the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares of Sponsor that it received from SPAC after conversion of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by Sponsor immediately prior to the Effective Time (such shares of Pubco Class A Stock, the “Founder Shares” which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Pubco Class A Stock received by Sponsor or its Affiliates as a result of the conversion or exchange of any SPAC Loans or any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor on or prior to the transactions contemplated by the BCA);
WHEREAS, Sponsor desires to exchange a number of Founder Shares for such aggregate principal amount of 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes of Pubco due 2030, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Exchange Notes”), in each case as determined in accordance with Section 1 below, and Pubco is willing to undertake such exchange as set forth herein (such exchange, the “Securities Exchange”); and
WHEREAS, the Securities Exchange is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or such other tax free reorganization or restructuring provisions as may be available under the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Securities Exchange.
(a) At the Exchange Closing (as defined below), the parties shall effectuate the Securities Exchange in the following manner:
(i) Sponsor hereby assigns, transfers and delivers to Pubco, free and clear of all liens, adverse claims, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, options, charges or other security interests (other than restrictions under the Insider Letter, the Sponsor Support Agreement or applicable securities Laws), [●] Founder Shares (the “Pubco Shares”), which number of Founder Shares is equal to:
x – y | ||
$10.00 |
where:
x = (1) (A) 5,000,000 minus (B) 25% multiplied by the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed in connection with the SPAC Merger, multiplied by (2) $10.00
y = (1) (A) 1.5% multiplied by the aggregate amount of the Convertible Notes Gross Cash Proceeds and the Equity PIPE Gross Proceeds received by Pubco and SPAC from the PIPE Investors at the Closing pursuant to their respective PIPE Subscription Agreements, plus (B) 1.5% multiplied by the aggregate amount of gross proceeds received by Pubco and SPAC from any other investor who participates in any private investment in Pubco or SPAC that is consummated at the Closing (other than Tether, Bitfinex or any of their Affiliates), plus (C) (I) 1.5% multiplied by (II) 31,500 multiplied by (III) $84,863.57, minus (2) $39,050,000
(ii) In exchange for the transfer of the Pubco Shares, Pubco hereby issues and delivers to Sponsor, an aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes of $[●], which is equal in value to the product of (1) the total number of the Pubco Shares multiplied by (2) $10.00 per share.
(b) Pubco acknowledges and agrees that the Exchange Notes and shares of Pubco Class A Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall have the same registration rights as set forth in the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements dated April 22, 2025, among Pubco, SPAC and the Convertible Notes Investors party thereto, which registration rights shall apply mutatis mutandis.
2. Exchange Closing. The closing of the Securities Exchange (the “Exchange Closing”) shall occur simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement and immediately after the Closing of the Transactions.
3. Representations and Warranties of Pubco. Pubco represents and warrants to Sponsor as of the date hereof as follows:
(a) Due Organization. Pubco is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas.
(b) Due Authorization; Binding Agreement; No Conflicts. Pubco has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Pubco and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Sponsor) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Pubco enforceable against Pubco in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither this Agreement nor the consummation of the Securities Exchange violate, conflict with or result in a breach of or default under (i) the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Pubco, (ii) any material Contract to which Pubco is a party or by which Pubco or any of its assets are bound, or (iii) any Laws applicable to Pubco.
(c) Validity of Exchange Notes. The Exchange Notes issued pursuant to this Agreement are valid and binding obligations of Pubco enforceable against Pubco in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(d) Validity of Shares Underlying Exchange Notes. The issuance and delivery of the shares of Pubco Class A Stock upon conversion of the Exchange Note will have been duly authorized by Pubco and, when issued and delivered to Sponsor (or its nominee or custodian in accordance with the Sponsor’s delivery instructions), will be validly issued, fully paid and free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than any liens or restrictions imposed by applicable securities Laws, the BCA or the organizational documents of Pubco), and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under Pubco’s organizational documents, under the Texas Business Organizations Code or any other applicable Law.
4. Representations and Warranties of Sponsor. Sponsor hereby represents and warrants to Pubco as of the date hereof as follows:
(a) Due Organization. Sponsor is duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) Due Authorization; Binding Agreement; No Conflicts. Sponsor has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Sponsor and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Pubco) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Sponsor enforceable against Sponsor in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither this Agreement nor the consummation of the Securities Exchange violate, conflict with or result in a breach of or default under (i) the operating agreement of Sponsor, (ii) any material Contract to which Sponsor is a party or by which Sponsor or any of its assets are bound, or (iii) any Laws applicable to Sponsor.
(c) Ownership of the Pubco Shares. Sponsor is the beneficial owner of the Pubco Shares, free and clear of any lien, adverse claim, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, option, charge or other security interests (other than restrictions under the Insider Letter, the Sponsor Support Agreement or applicable securities Laws) that would prevent Sponsor’s compliance with its obligations hereunder. Sponsor has the sole right and power to vote and dispose of the Pubco Shares, and none of the Pubco Shares are subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting or transfer of any of the Pubco Shares, except for this Agreement.
(d) Investment Intent. The Exchange Notes to be acquired by Sponsor pursuant to this Agreement shall be acquired for Sponsor’s own account and not with a view to, or intention of, distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state securities Laws, and such Exchange Notes shall not be disposed of in contravention of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws.
(e) Sophisticated Investor. Sponsor is a an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 under Regulation D of the Securities Act. Sponsor is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Exchange Notes for an indefinite period of time and acknowledges that no public market exists for the Exchange Notes and that there is no assurance that a public market will ever develop for the Exchange Notes. The Exchange Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available.
(f) Information. Sponsor has reviewed, or has had the opportunity to review, with the assistance of professional and legal advisors of its choosing, sufficient information (including all documents filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Pubco) and has had sufficient access to Pubco necessary for Sponsor to decide to exchange its Pubco Shares for the Exchange Notes in accordance with this Agreement.
5. General Provisions.
(a) Amendments. No amendment, modification, termination, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by any of Sponsor or Pubco from any provision of this Agreement, shall be effective unless it shall be in writing and signed and delivered by the party sought to be bound, and then it shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given.
(b) Disclosure. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit Pubco or Sponsor from making such disclosures as may be required by Law.
(c) Notice. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by email during normal business hours, (iii) by overnight courier service, or (iv) after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and otherwise on the next Business Day, addressed as follows (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
if to Pubco, to it at:
Twenty One Capital, Inc.
c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, BVI
Email: Legal
Attention: legal@tether.to (copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
if to Sponsor, to it at:
Cantor EP Holdings, LLC
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com and legalnotices@cantor.com
(d) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
(e) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York. Each party to this Agreement hereby (i) irrevocably consents and agrees that any legal or equitable Action arising under or in connection with this Agreement may be brought in the federal or state courts located in New York County in the State of New York, (ii) by execution and delivery of this Agreement, irrevocably submits to and accepts the jurisdiction of said courts, (iii) waives any defense that such court is not a convenient forum, and (iv) consent that any service of process in any such Action may be made (x) in the manner set forth in Section 5 (c) (other than by e-mail), or (y) by any other method of service permitted by Law. EACH PARTY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LEGAL ACTION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
(f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding of Sponsor and Pubco with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
(g) Specific Performance; Enforcement. Each of the parties hereto recognizes and acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement may cause the other party to sustain damages for which it would not have an adequate remedy at Law for money damages, and therefore, each of the parties hereto agrees that in the event of any such breach the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance of such covenants and agreements and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at Law or in equity. The parties agree that they shall be entitled to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they may entitled at Law or in equity.
(h) Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures of the parties hereto.
(i) Expenses. All fees and expenses with respect to the negotiation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by the party incurring such fees and expenses.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pubco and Sponsor have caused this Securities Exchange Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the date first written above.
PUBCO: |
||
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
|
|
SPONSOR: | ||
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Securities Exchange Agreement – Project Mystery]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF EXCHANGE NOTE
(See attached)
Exhibit 10.2
Final Form
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [●], 2025 by and between Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”) and the undersigned (“Holder”). Any capitalized term used but not defined in this Agreement will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2025, Pubco, Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), [Holder] and the other parties thereto entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, among other matters, pursuant to and in accordance with applicable laws and upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”): (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Merger”) and SPAC shareholders receiving one share of Pubco Class A Stock for each Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC held by such shareholder; (b) the Company will merge with and into a newly formed Delaware corporation (“Company Merger Sub”), with Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity (the “Company Merger,” and together with SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”) and members of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Stock in exchange for their Company Interests in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; and (c) as a result of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Transactions”), among other matters, SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will become a publicly traded company;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Holder is a holder of shares of Pubco Stock in such amount as set forth underneath Holder’s name on the signature page hereto; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and the Ancillary Documents, and in view of the valuable consideration to be received by Holder thereunder, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the shares of Pubco Class A Stock received by Holder in the Transactions (all such securities, including, without limitation, any securities into which such securities are exchanged or converted, the “Restricted Securities”) shall become subject to limitations on disposition as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Lock-Up Provisions.
(a) Holder hereby agrees not to, without the prior written consent of Pubco, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) commencing from the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of (A) (i) the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Anniversary Release”); provided that, in the event the S-1 registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Pubco to register the sale of the Pubco Class A Stock underlying the convertible notes issued by Pubco at the Closing (the “Registration Statement”) has not been declared effective on or prior to the Anniversary Release, then the Anniversary Release will be deemed to be the date such Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and (B) the date on which Pubco consummates a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Stock for cash, securities or other property: (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any Restricted Securities, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Restricted Securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce the intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii) (any of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Prohibited Transfer”). The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the transfer of any or all of the Restricted Securities owned by Holder (each, a “Permitted Transferee”): (I) in the case of an entity, transfers (A) to another entity that is an Affiliate of the Holder, (B) as part of a distribution to members, partners or stockholders of Holder and (C) to officers or directors of Holder, any Affiliate or family member of any of Holder’s officers or directors, or to any members, officers, directors or employees of Holder or any of its Affiliates; (II) in the case of an individual, transfers by gift to members of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family, an Affiliate of such person; (III) to a charitable organization; (IV) in the case of an individual, transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (V) in the case of an individual, transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (VI) in the case of an entity, transfers by virtue of the laws of the state of the entity’s organization and the entity’s organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity; (VII) transfers to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, or local income tax obligations of Holder (or its direct or indirect owners) to the extent necessary to cover any tax liability as a direct result of the Transactions; (VIII) in the form of a pledge of Restricted Securities in a bona fide transaction as collateral to secure obligations pursuant to lending or other financing arrangements between a Holder (or its Affiliates), on the one hand, and a third party, on the other hand, for the benefit of such Holder and/or its Affiliates; provided, however, that during the Lock-Up Period such third party shall not be permitted to foreclose upon such Restricted Securities or otherwise be entitled to enforce its rights or remedies with respect to the Restricted Securities, including, without limitation, the right to vote, transfer or take title to or ownership of such Restricted Securities; or (IX) pursuant to that certain Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as of April 22, 2025 by and between Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador sociedad anónima de capital variable (“Tether”) and Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SoftBank”); provided, however, that it shall be a condition to any transfer pursuant to clauses (I) through (IX) above that the Permitted Transferee executes and delivers to Pubco an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the Restricted Securities subject to the provisions of this Agreement applicable to Holder, and there shall be no further transfer of such Restricted Securities except in accordance with this Agreement. Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by Pubco that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. The restrictions set forth herein shall not restrict Holder from making a request for inclusion of its Restricted Securities in any registration statement pursuant to any registration rights agreement between Pubco and the Holder, provided that no public filing or public disclosure relating to such sale of securities is made during the Lock-Up Period.
(b) If any Prohibited Transfer is made or attempted contrary to the provisions of this Agreement, such purported Prohibited Transfer shall be null and void ab initio, and Pubco shall refuse to recognize any such purported transferee of the Restricted Securities as one of its equity holders for any purpose. In order to enforce this Section 1, Pubco may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Restricted Securities of Holder (and Permitted Transferees and assigns thereof) until the end of the Lock-Up Period.
(c) During the Lock-Up Period, each certificate evidencing any Restricted Securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form, in addition to any other applicable legends:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF [●], 2025, BY AND BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “ISSUER”) AND THE ISSUER’S SECURITY HOLDER NAMED THEREIN, AS AMENDED. A COPY OF SUCH LOCK-UP AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
(d) For the avoidance of any doubt, Holder shall retain all of its rights as a stockholder of Pubco during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Restricted Securities.
2. Miscellaneous.
(a) Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. This Agreement and all obligations of Holder are personal to Holder and may not be transferred or delegated by Holder at any time without the prior written consent of Pubco, except in accordance with the procedures set forth for transfers of Restricted Securities to Permitted Transferees in Section 1(a), and any such purported transfer shall be null and void. Pubco may freely assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any successor entity (whether by merger, consolidation, equity sale, asset sale or otherwise) without obtaining the consent or approval of Holder.
(b) Third Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any person or entity that is not a party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a party.
(c) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance. Sections 12.6 and 12.7 of the Business Combination Agreement shall apply to this Agreement mutatis mutandis.
(d) Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iii) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Agreement; and (iv) the term “or” means “and/or”. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(e) Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by electronic means (including email), with affirmative confirmation of receipt, (iii) one Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to Pubco, to:
c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity |
With copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) 22 Bishopsgate EC2N 4BQ London Attn: Lorenzo Corte Telephone No.: [***] |
If to Holder, to: the address set forth below Holder’s name on the signature page to this Agreement. |
(f) Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of Pubco and Holder; provided, however, that if any waiver of any of the Lock-Up Agreements executed in connection with the Business Combination Agreement is granted by Pubco, Pubco will provide notice to Holder, and if Holder so elects, such waiver shall be deemed granted mutatis mutandis for this Agreement. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.
(g) Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
(h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Business Combination Agreement to the extent referred to herein, constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement or any Ancillary Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Pubco or any of the rights, remedies or obligations of Holder under any other agreement between Holder and Pubco or any certificate or instrument executed by Holder in favor of Pubco, and nothing in any other agreement, certificate or instrument shall limit any of the rights, remedies or obligations of Pubco or any of the rights, remedies or obligations of Holder under this Agreement.
(i) [Preferential Lock-Up. In the event that (i) any of the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement made and entered into as of [●], 2025 by and between Pubco and Tether (the “Tether Lock-Up Agreement”) are amended in a manner that is more favorable to Tether than the terms of this Agreement or (ii) any waiver is granted pursuant to the Tether Lock-Up Agreement, Pubco will provide written notice thereof to SoftBank, and if SoftBank so elects, this Agreement will be amended consistent with the amendments to the Tether Lock-Up Agreement or such waiver will be deemed granted mutatis mutandis for this Agreement (as applicable).]1
(j) Further Assurances. From time to time, at another party’s reasonable request and without further consideration (but at the requesting party’s reasonable cost and expense), each party shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by electronic signature or by email in portable document form) in two or more counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]
1 | Note to Draft: To be included in the SoftBank Lock-up Agreement and amendment to the Insider Letter. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.
Pubco: | ||
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
{Additional Signature on the Following Page}
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.
Holder: | ||
Name of Holder: |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Number and Type of Pubco Class A Stock Owned:
Pubco Class A Stock: | ||
Address for Notice:
Address: | ||
Facsimile No.: | ||
Telephone No.: | ||
Email: |
Exhibit 10.3
Final Form
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on April [●], 2025, by and among Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), and the undersigned subscriber (“Subscriber”).
WHEREAS, on or about the date hereof, (a) SPAC, (b) Pubco, (c) Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (d) Twenty One Assets LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), (e) Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador sociedad anónima de capital variable, (f) iFinex, Inc, a British Virgin Islands company, and (g) with respect to certain sections specified therein, Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a business combination agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “BCA”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the BCA, (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (such surviving company, the “SPAC Surviving Entity” and such merger, the “SPAC Merger”), and with the shareholders of SPAC receiving one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco (“Pubco Class A Common Stock”) for each Class A ordinary share of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”), held by such shareholder in accordance with the terms of the BCA, and (b) the Company will merge with an into an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SPAC to be formed after the date hereof but prior to the Mergers (as defined below) (“Company Merger Sub”), with Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “Company Surviving Entity“), and with members of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco in exchange fortheir membership interests of the Company in accordance with the terms of the BCA (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”, and together with the other transactions contemplated by the BCA, the “Transactions”), and as a result of which Mergers, the SPAC Surviving Entity and the Company Surviving Entity will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will become a publicly traded company, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the BCA and in accordance with applicable law;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, pursuant to those certain subscription agreements, dated on or around the date hereof, by and among SPAC, Pubco and the investors named therein, such investors have agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and SPAC has agreed to issue, 20,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200,000,000, with such shares to be issued and sold by SPAC immediately prior to the consummation of the SPAC Merger (the “Equity PIPE”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase from Pubco, on the Closing Date (as defined below), that principal amount of 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Subscribed Notes”) for a purchase price of $1,000.00 per note (the “Per Note Price” and the aggregate of such Per Note Price for all Subscribed Notes being referred to herein as the “Purchase Price”), and Pubco desires to issue to Subscriber the Subscribed Notes in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to Pubco; WHEREAS, on or about the date of this Subscription Agreement, SPAC and Pubco are entering into subscription agreements (the “Other Subscription Agreements” and, together with this Subscription Agreement, the “Subscription Agreements“) with certain other investors (the “Other Subscribers” and, together with Subscriber, the “Subscribers”), pursuant to which the Other Subscribers have agreed to purchase Notes on the Closing Date at the Per Note Price (the notes of the Other Subscribers, the “Other Subscribed Notes”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, Pubco also proposes to grant to the Subscribers an option to purchase up to $100,000,000 additional principal amount of Notes (the “Option Notes”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Notes on the Closing Date (as defined below), Pubco, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., as collateral agent (the “Security Agent”), will enter into an indenture in respect of the Notes in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Indenture”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Notes on the Closing Date, Pubco and the Security Agent, as securities intermediary and collateral agent, will enter into a securities accounts control and security agreement in respect of the Notes in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Security Agreement”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Subscriber hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from Pubco, and Pubco hereby agrees to issue and sell to Subscriber, upon payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to Pubco, the Subscribed Notes at the Closing (as defined below) (such subscription and issuance, the “Subscription”).
Section 2. Closing.
(a) The consummation of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the same date as the Transactions, immediately following the consummation of the Mergers (the “Closing Date”).
(b) At least five (5) Business Days before the anticipated Closing Date, Pubco shall deliver written notice to the Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) specifying (i) the anticipated Closing Date and (ii) the wire instructions for delivery of the Purchase Price to Pubco. No later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Subscriber shall deliver to Pubco such information as is reasonably requested in the Closing Notice in order for Pubco to issue the Subscribed Notes to Subscriber. Subscriber shall deliver to Pubco, prior to 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time), on the Closing Date, the Purchase Price in cash via wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified in the Closing Notice against delivery (with such delivery to occur promptly following receipt of the Purchase Price) by Pubco to Subscriber of the Subscribed Notes in book entry form pursuant to the Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) procedures of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), which will act as securities depository for the Notes, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions (other than those arising under the Indenture, the Security Agreement, this Subscription Agreement, the certificate of formation and bylaws of Pubco as may be in effect from time to time (the “Pubco Organizational Documents”) or state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber (which custodian shall have properly posted such DWAC for release by the Trustee through the facilities of DTC) or a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable.
(c) In the event that the consummation of the Transactions does not occur within two (2) Business Days after the anticipated Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by SPAC, Pubco and Subscriber, Pubco shall promptly (but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after the anticipated Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice) return the funds so delivered by Subscriber to Pubco by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, and any Subscribed Notes shall be transferred by DWAC to the Trustee and deemed cancelled and no amounts will be owed under such Subscribed Notes. Notwithstanding such return or release (x) a failure to close on the anticipated Closing Date shall not, by itself, be deemed to be a failure of any of the conditions to Closing set forth in this Section 2 to be satisfied or waived on or prior to the Closing Date, and (y) unless and until this Subscription Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6, Subscriber shall remain obligated to deliver funds to Pubco, as set forth in the Closing Notice, following Pubco’s delivery to Subscriber and SPAC of a new Closing Notice in accordance with this Section 2 and Subscriber, Pubco and SPAC shall remain obligated to consummate the Closing upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 2 following Pubco’s delivery to Subscriber and SPAC of a new Closing Notice; provided that only one new Closing Notice may be issued. For the purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (New York) or Houston (Texas) are not open for a full business day for the general transaction of business.
(d) The obligations of Subscriber, Pubco and SPAC to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable law, waiver by the parties hereto, of the conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all conditions precedent to the closing of the Transactions set forth in Article IX (Closing Conditions) of the BCA shall have been satisfied or waived by the person with the authority to give such waiver (other than any such conditions which by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at the Closing) (as determined solely by the parties to the BCA in accordance therewith); and
(ii) no governmental authority with competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose such restraint or prohibition.
(iii) On or prior to the issuance of the Notes, Pubco will deposit or procure the deposit of the Bitcoin that will constitute the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) under the Indenture and the Security Agreement into the Collateral Account as defined in the Security Agreement.
(e) The obligations of SPAC and Pubco to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or, waiver by SPAC or Pubco, of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by Subscriber of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date, but without giving effect to consummation of the Transactions, or as of such earlier date, as applicable;
(ii) Subscriber shall have wired the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2(b) and otherwise performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; and
(f) The obligations of Subscriber to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Subscriber of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality, SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect (each as defined below), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by SPAC and Pubco, as the case may be, of each of their representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date, but without giving effect to consummation of the Transactions, or as of such earlier date, as applicable, except, in each case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) no Other Subscription Agreement (or other agreements or understandings (including side letters) entered into in connection therewith or in connection with the sale of the Other Subscribed Notes) shall have been amended, modified or waived in any manner that benefits any Other Subscriber unless the Subscriber shall have been offered in writing the same benefits (other than terms particular to the legal or regulatory requirements of such Other Subscriber or its affiliates or related persons);
(iii) no amendments, modifications or waivers to the terms of the BCA (as it exists on the date hereof as provided to the Subscriber) shall have occurred that are material and adverse economically to the Subscriber (unless Subscriber has provided its written consent thereto);
(iv) all consents, waivers, authorizations or orders of, any notice required to be made to, and any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization (including the any stock exchange on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be listed (the “Stock Exchange”) and any stockholder approval required by applicable Stock Exchange rules and regulations) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Subscribed Notes) required to be made in connection with the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Notes shall have been obtained or made, except where the failure to so obtain or make would not prevent the SPAC and Pubco from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Notes to the Subscriber;
(v) SPAC and Pubco shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by SPAC or Pubco, respectively, at or prior to the Closing; and
(vi) there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the BCA) since the date of this Subscription Agreement that is continuing, which the parties to the BCA have not waived.
(g) Prior to or at the Closing, Subscriber shall deliver to SPAC and Pubco all such other information as is reasonably requested in order for Pubco to issue the Subscribed Notes to Subscriber, including, without limitation, the legal name of the person in whose name the Subscribed Notes are to be issued (or Subscriber’s nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) and a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or appropriate Form W-8.
Section 3. SPAC and Pubco Representations and Warranties. Each of SPAC, solely with respect to the representations and warranties set forth below relating to SPAC, and Pubco, solely with respect to the representations and warranties set forth below relating to Pubco, represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Subscriber as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) SPAC (i) is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to conduct its business and, if applicable, is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than its jurisdiction of incorporation) in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties or assets requires such license or qualification, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “SPAC Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to SPAC that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on SPAC’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
(b) Pubco (i) is validly existing under the laws of the State of Texas, (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing (to the extent applicable) in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Pubco Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to Pubco that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Pubco’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
(c) The issuance and sale of the Subscribed Notes, when issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (subject to the receipt of the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement and registration with Pubco’s transfer agent), and the issuance and delivery of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will have been duly authorized by Pubco and, when issued and delivered to Subscriber (or its nominee or custodian in accordance with the Subscriber’s delivery instructions), will be validly issued, fully paid and free and clear of all liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under this Subscription Agreement or the BCA, the Pubco Organizational Documents or applicable securities laws), and will not have been issued in violation of, or subject to, any preemptive or similar rights created under the Pubco Organizational Documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the Texas Business Organizations Code.
(d) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by SPAC and Pubco, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Subscriber, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of SPAC and Pubco, enforceable against each of SPAC and Pubco in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”). The Indenture has been duly authorized by Pubco and, when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Pubco, enforceable against Pubco, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Security Agreement has been duly authorized by Pubco and, when duly authorized, executed and delivered by Security Agent, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Pubco, enforceable against Pubco, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(e) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance of the Subscribed Notes hereunder, the compliance by SPAC with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement applicable to SPAC and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of SPAC pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which SPAC is a party or by which SPAC is bound or to which any of the property or assets of SPAC is subject, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, SPAC’s organizational documents, or (iii) conflict with or result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over SPAC or any of its properties except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance of the Subscribed Notes hereunder, the compliance by Pubco with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement applicable to Pubco and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Pubco pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Pubco is a party or by which Pubco is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Pubco is subject, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, the Pubco Organizational Documents, or (iii) conflict with or result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Pubco or any of its properties except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, neither SPAC nor Pubco is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other governmental authority with competent jurisdiction, self-regulatory organization (including any stock exchange on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be listed (the “Stock Exchange”) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, other than (i) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (ii) the filing of the Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to Section 5, (iii) filings required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules of United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), including the registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the Transactions and the proxy statement/prospectus included therein (the “Form S-4”), (iv) filings required by the Stock Exchange, including with respect to obtaining SPAC shareholder approval of the Transactions, (v) filings required to consummate the Transactions as provided under the BCA, (vi) filings in connection with or as a result of any publicly available written guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff under the Securities Act (the “SEC Guidance”) and (vii) those the failure of which to obtain would not have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or a Pubco Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
(h) Except for such matters as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) suit, action, proceeding or arbitration before a governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction pending, or, to the knowledge of SPAC or Pubco, threatened in writing against SPAC or Pubco or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction outstanding against SPAC or Pubco, as applicable.
(i) Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, no registration under the Securities Act or any state securities (or Blue Sky) laws is required for the offer and sale of the Subscribed Notes by Pubco to Subscriber.
(j) None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Subscribed Notes. The Subscribed Notes are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws. None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past 30 calendar days, made any offer or sale of any security or solicitation of any offer to buy any security under circumstances that would (i) eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by Pubco of the Subscribed Notes as contemplated hereby or the Other Subscribed Notes as contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements or (ii) cause the offering of the Subscribed Notes pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or the Other Subscribed Notes pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements to be integrated with prior offerings by SPAC or Pubco for purposes of the Securities Act or, other than the Equity PIPE, any applicable stockholder approval provisions. None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf (other than the Placement Agent (as defined below) and its respective persons acting on their behalf in such capacity, as to whom neither SPAC nor Pubco make any representation) has offered or sold or will offer or sell any securities, or has taken or will take any other action, which would reasonably be expected to subject the offer, issuance or sale of the Subscribed Notes or the Other Subscribed Notes, as contemplated hereby, to the registration provisions of the Securities Act.
(k) No “bad actor” disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) of the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”) is applicable to Pubco, except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii–iv) or (d)(3) of the Securities Act is applicable.
(l) SPAC is in compliance in all material respects with, and has not received any written communication from a governmental authority with competent jurisdiction that alleges that SPAC is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is in default or violation of, the applicable provisions of (i) the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) the rules and regulations of the Commission, and (iii) the rules of the Stock Exchange, except, in each case, where such non-compliance, default, or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Pubco is in compliance in all material respects with, and has not received any written communication from a governmental authority with competent jurisdiction that alleges that Pubco is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is in default or violation of, the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission, except, in each case, where such non-compliance, default, or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect. For the avoidance of doubt, this representation and warranty shall not apply to the extent any of the foregoing matters arise from or relate to the SEC Guidance.
(n) Upon consummation of the Transactions, the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and will be listed for trading on the Stock Exchange will be approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
(o) Other than compensation to be paid to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sole placement agent to SPAC and Pubco (the “Placement Agent”), no broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission solely in connection with the sale of the Subscribed Notes to Subscriber.
(p) As of the date hereof, the authorized share capital of SPAC consists of 555,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 500,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” and together with SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, the “SPAC Ordinary Shares”), and (iii) 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “SPAC Preference Shares”). As of the date hereof and prior to giving effect to the Transactions: (i) 10,300,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding; (ii) 2,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding; and (iii) no SPAC Preference Shares were issued and outstanding. All issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive or similar rights. Other than the subsidiaries of SPAC to be formed after the date hereof pursuant to the BCA, SPAC has no subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. There are no shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which SPAC is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity interests in SPAC, other than as contemplated by the BCA or as described in the forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses, and other documents filed or furnished as of the date hereof by SPAC with the Commission under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act (collectively, and together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, the “SEC Documents”). Except with respect to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, there are no securities or instruments issued by or to which SPAC is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered, and not fully waived by the holder of such securities or instruments pursuant to a written agreement or consent, by the issuance of the Subscribed Notes.
(q) The Other Subscription Agreements reflect the same Per Note Price and substantially the same other material terms and conditions with respect to the purchase of Notes that are no more favorable in the aggregate to the Other Subscribers than the material terms of this Subscription Agreement are to the Subscriber (other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such investor or its affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Notes).
(r) Pubco is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Subscribed Notes and Other Subscribed Notes and consummation of the Transactions, will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
(s) None of SPAC, Pubco, and any of their respective controlled affiliates (i) is, or will be at or immediately after the Closing, a person of a country of concern, as such term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 850.221 (a “Covered Person”), (ii) directly or indirectly hold, or will hold at or immediately after the Closing, a board seat on, a voting or equity interest in, or any contractual power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of, any Covered Person, or (iii) is engaged, or has plans to engage, or will be engaged at or immediately after the Closing, directly or indirectly, in a “covered activity,” as such term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 850.208.
Section 4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants to SPAC, Pubco and the Placement Agent, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) If Subscriber is a legal entity, Subscriber (i) has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation and (ii) has the requisite power and authority to enter into, and perform its obligations under, this Subscription Agreement. If Subscriber is an individual, Subscriber has the legal competence and capacity to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
(b) If Subscriber is a legal entity, this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by Subscriber. If Subscriber is an individual, Subscriber’s signature is genuine and the signatory has the legal competence and capacity to execute this Subscription Agreement. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by SPAC and Pubco, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, the purchase of the Subscribed Notes hereunder, the compliance by Subscriber with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject; (ii) if Subscriber is a legal entity, the organizational documents of Subscriber; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of its properties that, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to the Subscriber that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially delay the Subscriber’s performance of its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, including the purchase of the Subscribed Notes.
(d) Subscriber (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), or (7) under the Securities Act) satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Annex A hereto, (ii) is an “institutional investor” (as defined in FINRA Rule 2111), (iii) if located or resident in a member state of the European Economic Area, is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “EU Prospectus Regulation”), (iv) if located or resident in the United Kingdom, is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”) who is also (x) an investment professional falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”); (y) a high net worth entity falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (z) a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) in connection with the issue or sale of the Subscribed Notes may be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated, (v) is acquiring the Subscribed Notes only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is subscribing for the Subscribed Notes as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and Subscriber has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (vi) is not acquiring the Subscribed Notes with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws (and has provided SPAC and Pubco with the requested information on Annex A following the signature page hereto). Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Subscribed Notes.
(e) Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and that Pubco is not required to register the Subscribed Notes or the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes except as set forth in Section 5. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to Pubco or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each of clauses (i)-(ii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or account entries representing the Subscribed Notes or the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes shall contain a restrictive legend substantially in the form set forth in the Indenture. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes will be subject to these securities law transfer restrictions, and as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (”Rule 144”) until at least one year following the filing of certain required information with the Commission after the Closing Date. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Subscribed Notes and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes.
(f) Subscriber understands and agrees that Subscriber is purchasing the Subscribed Notes directly from Pubco. Subscriber further acknowledges that there have not been, and Subscriber hereby agrees that it is not relying on, any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made to Subscriber by SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or any of such person’s or its or their respective affiliates’ control persons, officers, directors, partners, members, managing members, managers, agents, employees or other representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors, accountants or agents (collectively, “Representatives”), any other party to the Transactions or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of SPAC or Pubco set forth in this Subscription Agreement and the Indenture, and Subscriber is not relying on any other purported representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or statements (including by omission), which are hereby disclaimed by Subscriber.
(g) In making its decision to purchase the Subscribed Notes, Subscriber has relied solely upon an independent investigation made by Subscriber and SPAC’s and Pubco’s respective representations in this Subscription Agreement and in the Indenture. Subscriber has not relied on any statements or other information provided by or on behalf of SPAC or Pubco (including the Placement Agent) concerning SPAC, Pubco, the Subscribed Notes or the Subscription, and has been offered the opportunity to ask questions of SPAC and Pubco and has received answers thereto, including on the financial information, as Subscriber deemed necessary in connection with its decision to purchase the Subscribed Notes. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that Subscriber has had access to, has received, and has had an adequate opportunity to review, such information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Notes, including with respect to SPAC, Pubco and the Transactions, and Subscriber has made its own assessment and is satisfied concerning the relevant financial, tax and other economic considerations relevant to Subscriber’s investment in the Subscribed Notes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber acknowledges that it has reviewed SPAC’s filings with the Commission. Subscriber represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Notes, including but not limited to information concerning SPAC, Pubco, the BCA, the Subscription, the Indenture and the Security Agreement.
(h) Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that none of SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent nor their respective affiliates or any of such person’s or its or their respective affiliates’ Representatives has provided Subscriber with any advice with respect to the Subscribed Notes. None of SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character as to SPAC, Pubco or the quality or value of the Subscribed Notes.
(i) Subscriber acknowledges that (i) SPAC, Pubco and their respective Representatives hereafter may come into possession of, information regarding SPAC or Pubco that is material non-public information and is not known to Subscriber (“Excluded Information”), (ii) Subscriber has determined to enter into this Subscription Agreement to purchase the Subscribed Notes notwithstanding Subscriber’s lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information, and (iii) none of SPAC, Pubco nor the Placement Agent shall have liability to Subscriber, and Subscriber hereby waives and releases any claims Subscriber may have against SPAC, Pubco and/or the Placement Agent, to the maximum extent permitted by law, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information.
(j) Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Subscribed Notes solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber, on the one hand, and SPAC or Pubco (and their Representatives, including the Placement Agent), on the other, and the Subscribed Notes were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber, on the one hand, and SPAC or Pubco (and their Representatives, including the Placement Agent), on the other, or their respective affiliates. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Subscribed Notes, nor were the Subscribed Notes offered to Subscriber, by any other means, and none of SPAC or Pubco or their respective Representatives (including the Placement Agent) acted as investment advisor, broker or dealer to Subscriber. Subscriber acknowledges that the Subscribed Notes (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.
(k) Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Subscribed Notes, including those set forth in the SEC Documents. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Subscribed Notes, and Subscriber has had an opportunity to seek, and has sought, such accounting, legal, business and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. Subscriber (i) is an institutional account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c) and an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, (ii) is a sophisticated institutional investor, experienced in investing in business transactions and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and (iii) has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the purchase of the Subscribed Notes.
(l) Subscriber has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Subscribed Notes and determined that the Subscribed Notes are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in Pubco. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
(m) Subscriber understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Subscribed Notes or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
(n) Neither the Subscriber nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function is (i) a person (including individual or entity) that is the target or the subject of economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by relevant governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction, including, but not limited to those administered by the U.S. government (through the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) and the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (including His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom) (collectively, “Sanctions”), (ii) a person or entity listed on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by OFAC, or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC, or any other any Sanctions-related list of sanctioned persons maintained by OFAC, the Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”), (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, or the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, as well as the non-controlled regions of the oblasts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, or the United Kingdom; (iv) directly or indirectly owned or controlled (as ownership and control are defined and interpreted under applicable sanctions), or acting on behalf or at the direction of, any such person or persons described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), except in each case as permitted under Sanctions laws; or (v) a non-U.S. institution that accepts currency for deposit and that has no physical presence in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or in which it is operating, as the case may be, and is unaffiliated with a regulated financial group that is subject to consolidated supervision (a “non-U.S. shell bank”) or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, (i) through (v), a “Prohibited Investor”). Subscriber agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that Subscriber is permitted to do so under applicable law. Subscriber represents that (i) if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that Subscriber maintains policies and procedures to ensure compliance with its obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act, and (ii) to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the anti-corruption and anti-money laundering-related laws administered and enforced by other governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction. Subscriber also represents that it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with Sanctions. Subscriber further represents and warrants that, to its knowledge, (i) none of the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Notes are or will be derived from transactions directly or indirectly with or for the benefit of any Prohibited Investor, (ii) such funds are from legitimate sources and do not constitute the proceeds of criminal conduct or criminal property, (iii) such funds do not originate from and have not been routed through an account maintained at a non-U.S. shell bank; and (iv) it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Notes were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor or from or through a non-U.S. shell bank.
(o) No foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) will acquire a substantial interest in Pubco as a result of the purchase and sale of Subscribed Notes hereunder, and no foreign person will have control (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.208) over Pubco from and after the Closing as a result of the purchase and sale of Subscribed Notes hereunder.
(p) If Subscriber is an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code, or an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”) subject to the fiduciary or prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code, Subscriber represents and warrants that (i) it has not relied on SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates (the “Transaction Parties”) for investment advice or as the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Subscribed Notes, and none of the Transaction Parties shall at any time be relied upon as the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision to acquire, continue to hold or transfer the Subscribed Notes and (ii) the acquisition and holding of the Subscribed Notes will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or section 4975 of the Code.
(q) Subscriber has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment pursuant to Section 2, Subscriber will have sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.
(r) Subscriber acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, SPAC or Pubco, or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, including the Placement Agent), other than the representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco contained in Section 3, in making its investment or decision to invest in Pubco. Subscriber agrees that none of (i) any Other Subscriber pursuant to an Other Subscription Agreement or any other agreement related to the private placement of Pubco Class A Common Stock (including the controlling persons, officers, directors, partners, agents or employees of any such Subscriber) nor (ii) the Placement Agent, shall be liable (including, without limitation, for or with respect to any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements incurred by such person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, or have any liability or obligation to Subscriber or any Other Subscriber, or any person claiming through Subscriber or any Other Subscriber, pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or related to the private placement of the Subscribed Notes, the negotiation hereof or the subject matter hereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of the foregoing in connection with the purchase of the Subscribed Notes.
(s) No broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission to be paid by Subscriber solely in connection with the sale of the Subscribed Notes to Subscriber, other than binding commitments it may have to transfer such Subscribed Notes upon Closing to a prime broker under and in accordance with its prime brokerage agreement with such broker.
(t) At all times on or prior to the Closing Date, Subscriber has no binding commitment to dispose of, or otherwise transfer (directly or indirectly), any of the Subscribed Notes.
(u) Subscriber hereby agrees that neither it, nor any person or entity acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with Subscriber, shall, directly or indirectly, engage in any hedging activities or execute any Short Sales with respect to the securities of SPAC or Pubco from the date of this Subscription Agreement until the Closing or the earlier termination of this Subscription Agreement in accordance with its terms. “Short Sales” shall mean all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all short positions effected through any direct or indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), short sales or other short transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing herein shall prohibit other entities under common management with Subscriber from entering into any Short Sales and (ii) in the case of a Subscriber that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Subscriber’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to enter into the Subscription, subject in each of clauses (i) and (ii), to the obligations of Subscriber and such other entities under applicable law.
(v) Subscriber is not currently (and at all times through Closing will refrain from being or becoming) a member of a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of equity securities of SPAC or Pubco (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act).
(w) Subscriber will not acquire a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) in Pubco or its affiliates as a result of the purchase and sale of the Subscribed Notes.
(x) Subscriber acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to SPAC and Pubco.
(y) In making its decision to purchase the Notes, Subscriber has relied solely upon independent investigation made by Subscriber and the representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber has not relied on any statements or other information provided by the Placement Agent concerning the SPAC, Pubco or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes. No disclosure or offering document has been prepared by the Placement Agent in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes. The Placement Agent and each of its members, directors, officers, employees, representatives and controlling persons have made no independent investigation with respect to SPAC, Pubco or the Notes or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information supplied to the Subscriber by or on behalf of SPAC and Pubco. In connection with the issue and purchase of the Notes the Placement Agent has not made any recommendations regarding an investment in Pubco or the Notes or acted as the Subscriber’s financial advisor or fiduciary.
(z) Subscriber covenants that neither it, nor any affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, has executed or will execute any purchases or sales of any of securities of SPAC during the period that commenced at the time that Subscriber first learned of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 9(u). Subscriber covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are publicly disclosed by SPAC pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 9(u), Subscriber will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of the Subscription and the Transactions and the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, SPAC and Pubco expressly acknowledge and agree that Subscriber shall have no duty of confidentiality as set forth in this Section 4(z) to SPAC after the issuance of the initial press release as described in Section 9(u). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case that Subscriber is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of Subscriber’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of Subscriber’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Subscribed Notes covered by this Subscription Agreement.
Section 5. Registration of Subscribed Notes and Underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock.
(a) Subject to Section 5(c), Pubco agrees that, as soon as practicable but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the Commission (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Subscribed Notes and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Subscribed Notes (such securities, the “Registrable Securities,” and such registration statement, the “Registration Statement”), and Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date (the “Effectiveness Deadline,” and such obligation, the “Registration Obligation”); provided, that the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by a maximum of ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date if the Registration Statement is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission; provided, further that Pubco shall request the Registration Statement declared effective promptly after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided, further, that (i) if the Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business and (ii) if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by the same number of calendar days as the number of calendar days during which the Commission remains closed. Pubco will provide a draft of the Registration Statement to Subscriber at least two (2) Business Days in advance of the date of filing the Registration Statement with the Commission. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Subscriber prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, Subscriber shall not be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter; provided, that if the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, Subscriber will have the opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement upon its prompt written request to Pubco. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission or its regulations prevent Pubco from including any or all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the applicable stockholders, noteholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of Registrable Securities which is equal to the maximum number of Registrable Securities as is permitted by the Commission. In such event, the number of Registrable Securities shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling stockholders and noteholders and as promptly as practicable after being permitted to register additional Registrable Securities under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, Pubco shall amend the Registration Statement or file one or more new Registration Statement(s) (with such amendment or new Registration Statement also being deemed to be a “Registration Statement” hereunder) to register such additional Registrable Securities and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment or Registration Statement(s) to become effective as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the filing of such Registration Statement (the “Additional Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, that the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of such Registration Statement, including any new Registration Statement or amended Registration Statement, if such Registration Statement is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission; provided, further, that Pubco shall request that such Registration Statement be declared effective promptly after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided, further, that (i) if such day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business and (ii) if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by the same number of calendar days as the number of calendar days during which the Commission remains closed. Any failure by Pubco to file a Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Deadline or Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall not otherwise relieve Pubco of its obligations to file or effect a Registration Statement as set forth in this Section 5.
(b) Pubco agrees that, except for such times as Pubco is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, Pubco will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to remain effective with respect to Subscriber, including to prepare and file any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus such that the prospectus will not include any untrue statement or a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which Subscriber ceases to hold any Registrable Securities issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and (ii) the first date on which Subscriber can sell all of its Registrable Securities issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (or shares received upon conversion thereof) under Rule 144 of the Securities Act without limitation as to the manner of sale or the amount of such securities that may be sold and without the requirement for Pubco to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (the earliest of clauses (i) and (ii), the “End Date”). Prior to the End Date, Pubco (i) will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable; (ii) file all reports, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable Subscriber to resell Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement; and (iii) qualify the Registrable Securities for listing on the Stock Exchange and update or amend the Registration Statement as necessary to include Registrable Securities. Pubco will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) for so long as Subscriber holds Registrable Securities, make and keep public information available (as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144) and file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Pubco under the Exchange Act so long as Pubco remains subject to such requirements to enable Subscriber to resell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, (B) at the reasonable request of Subscriber, deliver all the necessary documentation to cause Pubco’s transfer agent to remove all restrictive legends from any Registrable Securities being sold under the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 at the time of sale of the Registrable Securities, and (C) cause its legal counsel to deliver to the transfer agent the necessary legal opinions required by the transfer agent, if any, in connection with the instruction under clause (B) upon the receipt of Subscriber representation letters and such other customary supporting documentation as requested by (and in a form reasonably acceptable to) such counsel. Subscriber agrees to disclose its beneficial ownership, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of Registrable Securities to Pubco (or its successor) as may be reasonably required to enable Pubco to make the determination described above.
(c) Pubco’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to Pubco a completed selling stockholder or noteholder questionnaire in customary form that contains such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of Pubco held by Subscriber and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by Pubco to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and Subscriber shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as Pubco may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder or noteholder in similar situations, including providing that Pubco shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement (i) during any customary blackout or similar period or as permitted hereunder and (ii) as may be necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement following the filing of Pubco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its first completed fiscal year following the effective date of the Registration Statement; provided, that Pubco shall request such information from Subscriber, including the selling stockholder or noteholder questionnaire, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the anticipated date of filing the Registration Statement with the Commission. In the case of the registration effected by Pubco pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, Pubco shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration. Subscriber shall not be entitled to use the Registration Statement for an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Pubco may from time to time require Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or suspend the use or effectiveness of any such Registration Statement, if (A) it determines in good faith that in order for the registration statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed, including as a result of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information, (B) such filing or use would materially affect a bona fide business or financing transaction of Pubco or would require premature disclosure of information that would materially adversely affect Pubco, (C) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the members of Pubco’s board of directors, such filing or effectiveness or use of such Registration Statement would be seriously detrimental to Pubco, (D) the majority of the board determines to delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, a Registration Statement and such delay or suspension arises out of, or is a result of, or is related to or is in connection with the SEC Guidance or future Commission guidance directed at special purpose acquisition companies or companies that have consummated a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company, or any related disclosure or related matters, (E) as may be necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement following the filing of Pubco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its first completed fiscal year following the effective date of the Registration Statement, or (F) Subscriber agrees that (1) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Pubco agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to in Section 5(c)(A) and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Pubco that it may resume such offers and sales and (2) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Pubco unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or regulatory request or requirement (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, that, (w) Pubco shall not so delay filing or so suspend the use of the Registration Statement for a period of more than forty-five (45) consecutive days or more than ninety (90) total calendar days in any consecutive three hundred sixty (360) day period, or more than one (1) time in any consecutive three hundred sixty (360) day period and (x) Pubco shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make such registration statement available for the sale by Subscriber of such securities as soon as practicable thereafter.
(d) Upon receipt of any written notice from Pubco of the happening of (i) an issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose, which notice shall be given no later than three (3) Business Days from the date of such event, (ii) any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective, which notice shall be given no later than three (3) Business Days from the date of such Suspension Event, or (iii) if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, Subscriber agrees that (1) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Pubco agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Pubco that it may resume such offers and sales and (2) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Pubco unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or regulatory request or requirement. If so directed by Pubco, Subscriber will deliver to Pubco or, in Subscriber’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities in Subscriber’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities shall not apply (w) to the extent Subscriber is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (A) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (B) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (x) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
(e) For purposes of this Section 5 (i) “Registrable Securities” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the Registrable Securities and any other equity security issued or issuable with respect to the Registrable Securities by way of share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, or replacement, and (ii) “Subscriber” shall include any person to which the rights under this Section 5 shall have been duly assigned.
(f) Pubco shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Subscriber, (to the extent Subscriber is a seller under the Registration Statement), the officers, directors, members, managers, partners, agents and employees of Subscriber, each person who controls Subscriber (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, managers, partners, agents and employees of each such controlling person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all out-of-pocket and reasonably documented losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable and documented external attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of or caused by or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are (1) based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to Pubco by or on behalf of Subscriber expressly for use therein or Subscriber has omitted a material fact from such information or (2) result from or in connection with any offers or sales effected by or on behalf of Subscriber in violation of Section 5(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco’s indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of Pubco. Pubco shall provide Subscriber with an update on any threatened or asserted proceedings arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 5 of which Pubco receives notice whether oral or in writing.
(g) Subscriber shall, severally and not jointly with any Other Subscriber in the offering contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pubco, its directors, officers, members, managers, partners, agents and employees, each person who controls Pubco (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, members, managers, partners, agents or employees of such controlling persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to Pubco by or on behalf of Subscriber expressly for use therein. In no event shall the liability of Subscriber be greater in amount than the United States dollars amount of the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Subscriber’s indemnification obligation shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(h) Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement), which settlement shall not include a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party, and which settlement shall include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(i) The indemnification provided for under this Subscription Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.
(j) If the indemnification provided under this Section 5 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any Losses, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that the liability of Subscriber shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Subscriber from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), or on behalf of such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 5, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5(j) from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for punitive damages in connection with this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the BCA is terminated in accordance with its terms; (b) the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement; or (c) twelve (12) months from the date hereof; provided, that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach. SPAC or Pubco shall notify Subscriber of the termination of the BCA promptly after the termination thereof. Upon the termination hereof in accordance with this Section 6, any monies paid by Subscriber in connection herewith shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) be returned in full to Subscriber by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, without any deduction for or on account of any tax withholding except as required by law, charges or set-off, whether or not the Transactions shall have been consummated.
Section 7. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber hereby acknowledges that SPAC is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Subscriber further acknowledges that, as described in the final prospectus relating to SPAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”) filed with the SEC (File No. 333-280230) on August 13, 2024 (the “Prospectus”), substantially all of SPAC’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of SPAC’s IPO and a private placement of its securities and substantially all of those proceeds (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) have been deposited into a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of SPAC and its public shareholders. As described in the Prospectus, the funds held from time to time in the Trust Account may only be released upon certain conditions. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Subscriber hereby agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies or other assets in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) any Claim to, or to any monies or other assets in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or the Subscribed Notes, in or to any monies held in the Trust Account (or any distributions therefrom directly or indirectly to SPAC’s public shareholders). In the event that Subscriber has any Claim against SPAC as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements, the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or the Subscribed Notes, Subscriber agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom (it being clarified that such waiver shall not apply following the Closing to the Trust Account funds that are released from the Trust Account to SPAC or Pubco in connection with the Transactions). Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that such irrevocable waiver is a material inducement to SPAC to enter into this Subscription Agreement, and further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding, and enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with applicable law. To the extent Subscriber commences any action or proceeding based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to SPAC or its Representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against SPAC or its Representatives, Subscriber hereby acknowledges and agrees that its sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit Subscriber (or any person claiming on Subscriber’s behalf or in lieu of Subscriber) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to limit Subscriber’s right to distributions from the Trust Account in accordance with SPAC’s organizational documents in respect of any redemptions by Subscriber in respect of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 7 shall survive termination of this Subscription Agreement.
Section 8. Subscriber Option to Purchase Additional Notes.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions below and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Subscriber to purchase additional Option Notes up to the maximum amount of $100,000,000 in aggregate at the same purchase price and on the same other terms and conditions as the Subscribed Notes. This option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time or from time to time on or before the 30th day after the date of this Subscription Agreement upon written notice (in the form attached in Annex A hereto) by such Subscriber to the Company setting forth the principal amount of Option Notes as to which such Subscriber is exercising the option. Delivery of the Option Notes, and payment therefor, shall be made on the same terms and conditions and at the same time as the Subscribed Notes as provided herein. The principal amount of Option Notes that may be purchased by each Subscriber may not exceed the percentage of such Subscriber’s subscription as a fraction of the total principal amount of Option Notes (being $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Option Notes) to be purchased by all Subscribers under the Subscription Agreements. The Company may in its absolute discretion eliminate any Option Notes in denominations of less than $1,000 principal amount. The Company shall issue any unsubscribed Option Notes to any investor in the process described in Section 8(b); provided, that such Option Notes reflect the same material terms and conditions with respect to the purchase of such Option Notes that are no more favorable to the Other Subscribers than the material terms of this Subscription Agreement are to the Subscriber (other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such investor or its affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Option Notes).
(b) If any Subscribers should elect not to exercise their option to purchase Option Notes or no exercise action has been taken, in each case by 5:00 p.m. New York time on the 30th day after the date of this Subscription Agreement, such unexercised Option Notes will be offered to and may be exercised by the remaining Subscribers pro rata to their Subscribed Notes and Option Notes during and until 5:00 p.m. New York time on the 31st day after the date of this Subscription Agreement (or next business day thereafter if such day is a weekend or market holiday).
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Subscriber elects to subscribe for Option Notes pursuant to this Section, such Option Notes shall be deemed “Subscribed Notes” for all purposes of this Subscription Agreement other than this Section 8, where the distinction is used solely for clarity.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Subscriber hereby acknowledges that it shall be solely responsible for and bear the cost of all transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges arising in any jurisdiction in connection with the Subscription contemplated in this Subscription Agreement as well as the execution of this Subscription Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subscription Agreement, SPAC, Pubco and any of their Representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Registrable Securities and any other amount payable pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (in connection with a future share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, or replacement) any such taxes as may be required to be deducted and withheld from such amounts (and any other amounts treated as paid for applicable tax law) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any other applicable tax law (as determined in good faith by the party so deducting or withholding in its sole discretion). To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Subscription Agreement as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
(c) All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by electronic mail, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, on the date of transmission to such recipient, if sent on a Business Day prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, or on the Business Day following the date of transmission, if sent on a day that is not a Business Day or after 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Business Day, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient via overnight mail by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid), or (iv) four (4) Business Days after being mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, and, in each case, addressed to the intended recipient at its address specified on the signature page hereof or to such electronic mail address or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 9(c). A courtesy electronic copy of any notice sent by methods (i), (iii), or (iv) above shall also be sent to the recipient via electronic mail if an electronic mail address is provided in the applicable signature page hereof or to an electronic mail address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 9(c).
(d) Subscriber acknowledges that SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent and others, including the Company, will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause of this Section 9(d) shall not give SPAC or Pubco any rights other than those expressly set forth herein. Prior to the Closing, Subscriber agrees to promptly notify SPAC and Pubco if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. SPAC and Pubco acknowledge that Subscriber will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, SPAC and Pubco agree to promptly notify Subscriber, if they become aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of SPAC or Pubco, respectively, set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects.
(e) Each of SPAC, Pubco and Subscriber is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party as required by applicable law in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(f) Each party hereto shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(g) Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Subscriber hereunder (other than the Subscribed Notes acquired hereunder and the rights set forth in Section 5) may be transferred or assigned by Subscriber. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to SPAC or Pubco hereunder may be transferred or assigned by SPAC or Pubco without the prior written consent of Subscriber, other than in connection with the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subscriber may assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Subscription Agreement to one or more of its affiliates (including other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by the investment manager who acts on behalf of Subscriber) upon written notice to SPAC and Pubco or, with SPAC’s and Pubco’s prior written consent, to another person; provided, that in the case of any such assignment, the assignee(s) shall become a Subscriber hereunder and have the rights and obligations and be deemed to make the representations and warranties of Subscriber provided for herein to the extent of such assignment and provided further that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Subscriber of its obligations hereunder if any such assignee fails to perform such obligations, unless SPAC and Pubco has given their prior written consent to such relief. Any purported assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 9(g) shall be null and void.
(h) All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing.
(i) SPAC and Pubco may request from Subscriber such additional information as SPAC or Pubco may reasonably determine to be necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Subscribed Notes and to register the Subscribed Notes for resale, and Subscriber shall promptly provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided, that SPAC and Pubco agree to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential, except (A) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations and (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of the Stock Exchange. Subscriber acknowledges that SPAC and Pubco may file a form of this Subscription Agreement with the Commission as an exhibit to a current or periodic report of SPAC or Pubco, an annex to a proxy statement of SPAC or Pubco or as an exhibit to a registration statement of Pubco.
(j) This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto; provided that no provision of this Subscription Agreement that references the Placement Agent may be amended, modified, terminated or waived in any manner that is adverse to the Placement Agent without the written consent of the Placement Agent.
(k) This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(l) Except with respect to the Placement Agent (who is a third-party beneficiary of the representations, warranties and covenants that reference the Placement Agent set forth herein) or as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns and, except with respect to the Placement Agent or as otherwise as provided herein, is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.
(m) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money or other legal remedies would not be an adequate remedy for such damage. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to equitable relief, including in the form of an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that SPAC and Pubco shall be entitled to specifically enforce Subscriber’s obligations to fund the Subscription and the provisions of the Subscription Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The parties hereto further acknowledge and agree: (x) to waive any requirement for the security or posting of any bond in connection with any such equitable remedy; (y) not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement pursuant to this Section 9(m) is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to applicable law or inequitable for any reason; and (z) to waive any defenses in any action for specific performance, including the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(n) If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
(o) No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Subscription Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
(p) This Subscription Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail, in .pdf or other electronic submission) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(q) This Subscription Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.
(r) EACH PARTY AND ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OR RELATED TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OTHER SUCH PARTY, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT.
(s) The parties agree that all disputes, legal actions, suits and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Subscription Agreement must be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York (collectively the “Designated Courts”). Each party hereby consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Designated Courts. No legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to this Subscription Agreement may be brought in any other forum. Each party hereby irrevocably waives all claims of immunity from jurisdiction, and any objection which such party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in any Designated Court, including any right to object on the basis that any dispute, action, suit or proceeding brought in the Designated Courts has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum or venue. Each of the parties also agrees that delivery of any process, summons, notice or document to a party hereof in compliance with Section 9(c) this Subscription Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in a Designated Court with respect to any matters to which the parties have submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above.
(t) This Subscription Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim, action, suit or other legal proceeding based upon, arising out of, or related to this Subscription Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Subscription Agreement, may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto; except with respect to the provisions of this Subscription Agreement for which the Placement Agent is an express third party beneficiary.
(u) SPAC shall: (i) by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) Business Day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (ii) file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing all material terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the Transactions, and including as exhibits thereto, the form of this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreement, within the time required by the Exchange Act. From and after the issuance of such press release, SPAC represents to the Subscriber that it shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information regarding SPAC or Pubco delivered to the Subscriber by or on behalf of the SPAC, Pubco or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents (including the Placement Agent) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, Subscriber shall not issue any press release or make any other similar public statement with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of SPAC and Pubco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, each of SPAC and Pubco (i) shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers in any press release, without the prior written consent of Subscriber and (ii) shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, except (A) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations, including in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 5(a), and (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of the Stock Exchange, in which case of clause (A) or (B), SPAC or Pubco, as applicable, shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice (including by e-mail) of such permitted disclosure, and shall reasonably consult with Subscriber regarding such disclosure. Subscriber will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by SPAC or Pubco for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the Commission). To the extent that any such information is publicly disclosed pursuant to the provisions hereunder, the parties agree that no further notice or consent is required for SPAC or Pubco to further disclose such information.
(v) The obligations of Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Subscriber or any other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements, and Subscriber shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement or any Other Subscriber or other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements. The decision of Subscriber to purchase Subscribed Notes pursuant to this Subscription Agreement has been made by Subscriber independently of any Other Subscriber or any other investor and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of SPAC, Pubco or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries which may have been made or given by any Other Subscriber or investor or by any agent or employee of any Other Subscriber or investor, and neither Subscriber nor any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any Other Subscriber or investor (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any Other Subscription Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or Other Subscriber or other investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Subscriber and any Other Subscribers or other investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that Subscriber and any Other Subscribers or other investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements. Subscriber acknowledges that no Other Subscriber has acted as agent for Subscriber in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Other Subscriber will be acting as agent of Subscriber in connection with monitoring its investment in the Subscribed Notes or enforcing its rights under this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Subscription Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber or investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
(w) The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Subscription Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Subscription Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references to Sections, Exhibits or Annexes are to Sections, Exhibits or Annexes contained in or attached to this Subscription Agreement, (ii) each accounting term not otherwise defined in this Subscription Agreement has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural and pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, (iv) the use of the word “including” in this Subscription Agreement shall be by way of example rather than limitation, and (v) the word “or” shall not be exclusive (i.e., unless context requires otherwise “or” shall be interpreted to mean “and/or” rather than “either/or”).
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SPAC and Pubco have accepted this Subscription Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address for Notices:
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with a copy (not to constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York NY 10105
[***]
Attention: Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq.; Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
and
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
110 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
Email: legalnotices@cantor.com
Attention: General Counsel
[Signature Page to Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement]
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | |||
By: | |||
Name: | Steven Meehan | ||
Title: | Secretary |
Address for Notices:
c/o iFinex
c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited
Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301
Road Town, Tortola
VG1110
British Virgin Islands
Attn: Legal
Email: legal@tether.to (with a copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
with a copy (not to constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ, UK
Attention: Lorenzo Corte; Maria Protopapa
[***]
[Signature Page to Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subscriber has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.
Name of Subscriber: |
State/Country of Formation or Domicile: | |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Name in which Subscribed Notes are to be registered (if different): | Date: ________________ | |
Subscriber’s EIN: | ||
Entity Type (e.g., corporation, partnership, trust, etc.): | ||
Business Address-Street: | Mailing Address-Street (if different): | |
City, State, Zip: | City, State, Zip: | |
Attn: | Attn: | |
Telephone No.: | Telephone No.: | |
Email for notices: | Email for notices (if different): | |
Number of Notes subscribed for: | ||
Aggregate Purchase Price: $___________ |
[Signature Page to Convertible Notes Subscription Agreement]
ANNEX A
ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF SUBSCRIBER
This Annex A should be completed and signed by Subscriber and constitutes a part of the Subscription Agreement.
1. | QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS (Please check the box, if applicable) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) (a “QIB”) |
☐ | We are subscribing for the Subscribed Notes as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, and each owner of such account is a QIB. |
**OR**
2. | INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS (Please check the box, if applicable) |
☐ | Subscriber is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, and has marked and initialed the appropriate box below indicating the provision under which it qualifies as an institutional “accredited investor.” |
**AND**
3. | FINRA INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR STATUS (Please check the box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “institutional investor” (as defined in FINRA Rule 2111). |
**AND**
4. | AFFILIATE STATUS (Please check the applicable box) |
SUBSCRIBER
☐ | is: |
☐ | is not: |
an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of Pubco or acting on behalf of an affiliate of Pubco.
Rule 501(a), in relevant part, states that an “accredited investor” shall mean any person who comes within any of the below listed categories, or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the below listed categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person. Subscriber has indicated, by marking and initialing the appropriate box(es) below, the provision(s) below which apply to Subscriber and under which Subscriber accordingly qualifies as an “accredited investor.”
☐ | Any bank, registered broker or dealer, insurance company, registered investment company, business development company, small business investment company, private business development company, or rural business investment company; |
☐ | Any investment adviser registered pursuant to section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act or registered pursuant to the laws of a state; |
☐ | Any investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the Commission under section 203(l) or (m) of the Investment Advisers Act; |
☐ | Any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), if (i) the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of ERISA, which is either a bank, a savings and loan association, an insurance company, or a registered investment adviser, (ii) the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, (iii) such plan is a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are “accredited investors”; |
☐ | Any (i) corporation, limited liability company or partnership, (ii) Massachusetts or similar business trust, or (iii) organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in each case that was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered and that has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Section 230.506(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation D under the Securities Act; |
☐ | Any entity, other than an entity described in the categories of “accredited investors” above, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, owning investments in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any “family office,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act that satisfies all of the following conditions: (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that is not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, and (iii) whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; |
☐ | Any “family client,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act, of a family office meeting the requirements in the previous paragraph and whose prospective investment in the issuer is directed by such family office pursuant to the previous paragraph; or |
☐ | Any entity in which all of the equity owners are “accredited investors”. |
Specify which tests:
☐ | Any director, executive officer, or general partner of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, or general partner of a general partner of that issuer; |
☐ | Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent, exceeds $1,000,000. For purposes of calculating a natural person’s net worth: (a) the person’s primary residence shall not be included as an asset; (b) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence, up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities, shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of sale of securities exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and (c) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities shall be included as a liability; |
☐ | Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; |
☐ | Any natural person holding in good standing one or more professional certifications or designations or credentials from an accredited educational institution that the Commission has designated as qualifying an individual for accredited investor status; or |
☐ | Any natural person who is a “knowledgeable employee,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold where the issuer would be an investment company, as defined in section 3 of such act, but for the exclusion provided by either section 3(c)(1) or section 3(c)(7) of such act. |
**AND**
5. | FINRA INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT STATUS (Please check the box) |
☐ | Subscriber is an “institutional account” under FINRA Rule 4512(c). |
**AND**
6. | EEA QUALIFIED INVESTOR (Please check the applicable box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified investor” (within the meaning of Article 2 of the EU Prospectus Regulation). |
☐ | Subscriber is not a resident in a member state of the European Economic Area. |
**AND**
7. | UK QUALIFIED INVESTOR (Please check the applicable box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified investor” (within the meaning of Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) who is also (i) an investment professional falling within Article the Order; (ii) a high net worth entity falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (iii) a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the Subscribed Notes may be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated. |
☐ | Subscriber is not resident in the United Kingdom. |
This page should be completed by Subscriber
and constitutes a part
of the Subscription Agreement.
SUBSCRIBER: | ||
Print Name: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ANNEX B
FORM OF NOTICE TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8
To : | Twenty One Capital, Inc. |
Email: info@xxi.money
With a copy to:
[***]
[***]
[***]
[●], 2025
Dear Sir or Madam,
Twenty One, Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) Offering of 1.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030
We refer to the transactions contemplated in the subscription agreement dated April 22, 2025 (the “Subscription Agreement”) between the Company, Cantor Equity Partners, Inc. and the undersigned.
Pursuant to Section 8 of the Subscription Agreement, we hereby exercise the option to purchase Option Notes with an aggregate principal amount of: $[●].
Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings assigned in the Subscription Agreement.
Yours faithfully, | |
[●] | |
By: | |
Name: |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF INDENTURE
[See attached]
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT
[See attached]
Exhibit 10.4
Final Form
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on April [●], 2025, by and among Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), and the undersigned subscriber (“Subscriber”).
WHEREAS, on or about the date hereof, (a) SPAC, (b) Pubco, (c) Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (d) Twenty One Assets LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), (e) each of the holders of the outstanding membership interests of the Company (the “Sellers”), and (f) with respect to certain sections specified therein, Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a business combination agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “BCA”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the BCA, (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (such surviving company, the “SPAC Surviving Entity” and such merger, the “SPAC Merger”), and with the shareholders of SPAC receiving one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco (“Pubco Class A Common Stock”) for each Class A ordinary share of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”), held by such shareholder in accordance with the terms of the BCA, and (b) the Company will merge with and into an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SPAC to be formed after the date hereof but prior to the Mergers (as defined below) (“Company Merger Sub”), with Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “Company Surviving Entity”), and with members of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco in exchange for their membership interests of the Company in accordance with the terms of the BCA (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”, and together with the other transactions contemplated by the BCA, the “Transactions”), and as a result of which Mergers, the SPAC Surviving Entity and the Company Surviving Entity will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will become a publicly traded company, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the BCA and in accordance with applicable law;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, pursuant to (a) those certain subscription agreements, dated on or around the date hereof, by and among Pubco, SPAC and the investors named therein (the “Convertible Notes Investors”), and (b) separate agreements entered into by Pubco and SPAC with each of Cantor EP Holdings, LLC (the “Sponsor”) and the Placement Agent (as defined below), (i) the Convertible Note Investors, the Sponsor and the Placement Agent have agreed to subscribe for and purchase from Pubco convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $385,000,000 pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), for a purchase price of $1,000.00 per note, on the terms set forth in the Indenture, with such Convertible Notes to be issued and sold by Pubco immediately following the consummation of the Mergers (the “Convertible Notes PIPE”) and (ii) Pubco has agreed to grant the Convertible Note Investors, the Sponsor and the Placement Agent an option to purchase up to $100,000,000 additional principal amount of the Convertible Notes; WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase from SPAC, on the Closing Date (as defined below) and immediately prior to the consummation of the SPAC Merger, such number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Shares”) as is set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Subscribed Shares”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Share (the “Per Share Price” and the aggregate of such Per Share Price for all Subscribed Shares being referred to herein as the “Purchase Price”), and SPAC desires to issue to Subscriber the Subscribed Shares in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to SPAC simultaneously with such purchase;
WHEREAS, on or about the date of this Subscription Agreement, SPAC and Pubco are entering into subscription agreements (the “Other Subscription Agreements” and, together with this Subscription Agreement, the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain other investors (the “Other Subscribers” and, together with Subscriber, the “Subscribers”), pursuant to which the Other Subscribers have agreed to purchase Shares on the Closing Date at the Per Share Price (the Shares of the Other Subscribers, the “Other Subscribed Shares”); and
WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the SPAC Merger, each Subscribed Share shall be converted automatically into one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Subscriber hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from SPAC, and SPAC hereby agrees to issue and sell to Subscriber, upon payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to SPAC, the Subscribed Shares at the Closing (as defined below) (such subscription and issuance, the “Subscription”).
Section 2. Closing.
(a) The consummation of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the same date as the Transactions, immediately prior to the consummation of the SPAC Merger (the “Closing Date”).
(b) The Purchase Price shall be paid in either cash or Bitcoin, at the Subscriber’s sole election, in such amounts as indicated in Subscriber’s signature page of this Subscription Agreement. If Subscriber elects to pay the Purchase Price in Bitcoin, then the number of Bitcoin to be paid to SPAC shall equal (a) the Purchase Price divided by (b) $84,863.57 (the “Bitcoin Amount”).
(c) At least five (5) Business Days before the anticipated Closing Date, SPAC shall deliver written notice to the Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) specifying (i) the anticipated Closing Date and (ii) either (x) the wire instructions for delivery of the Purchase Price to SPAC or its designee, if the Purchase Price is to be paid in cash, or (y) the wallet address maintained by Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A. (“Anchorage”) in the name of Pubco, if the Purchase Price is to be paid in Bitcoin (the “Custodial Account”).
(d) No later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Subscriber shall deliver to SPAC such information as is reasonably requested in the Closing Notice in order for SPAC to issue the Subscribed Shares to Subscriber. Subscriber shall deliver the Purchase Price as follows:
(i) If Subscriber is delivering the Purchase Price in cash, Subscriber shall deliver to SPAC, prior to 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time), on the Closing Date, the Purchase Price in cash via wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified in the Closing Notice against delivery (with such delivery to occur promptly following receipt of the Purchase Price) by SPAC to Subscriber of the Subscribed Shares in book entry form, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber.
(ii) If Subscriber is delivering the Purchase Price in Bitcoin, Subscriber shall deliver to SPAC, prior to 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time) on the Closing Date, the Bitcoin Amount, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions, via transfer of the Bitcoin Amount to the Custodial Account as specified in the Closing Notice against delivery (with such delivery to occur promptly following receipt of the Purchase Price) by SPAC to Subscriber of the Subscribed Shares in book entry form, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber.
As promptly as practicable after the Closing, SPAC shall deliver to each Subscriber evidence from the SPAC’s transfer agent of the issuance to Subscriber of the Subscribed Shares (in book entry form) on and as of the Closing Date. As promptly as practicable after the completion of the Mergers, Pubco shall deliver to each Subscriber evidence from Pubco’s transfer agent of the exchange of the Subscribed Shares for equivalent shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
(e) In the event that the consummation of the Transactions does not occur within two (2) Business Days after the anticipated Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by SPAC, Pubco and Subscriber, SPAC shall promptly (but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after the anticipated Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice) return the funds so delivered by Subscriber to SPAC by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, and any book entries of Subscribed Shares shall be deemed cancelled. Notwithstanding such return or release (x) a failure to close on the anticipated Closing Date shall not, by itself, be deemed to be a failure of any of the conditions to Closing set forth in this Section 2 to be satisfied or waived on or prior to the Closing Date, and (y) unless and until this Subscription Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6, Subscriber shall remain obligated to redeliver funds to SPAC, as set forth in the Closing Notice, following SPAC’s delivery to Subscriber and Pubco of a new Closing Notice in accordance with this Section 2 and Subscriber, Pubco and SPAC shall remain obligated to consummate the Closing upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 2 following SPAC’s delivery to Subscriber and Pubco of a new Closing Notice; provided that only one new Closing Notice may be issued. For the purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (New York) or Houston (Texas) are not open for a full business day for the general transaction of business.
(f) The obligations of Subscriber, Pubco and SPAC to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable law, waiver by the parties hereto, of the conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all conditions precedent to the closing of the Transactions set forth in Article IX (Closing Conditions) of the BCA shall have been satisfied or waived by the person with the authority to give such waiver (other than any such conditions which by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at the Closing) (as determined solely by the parties to the BCA in accordance therewith); and
(ii) no governmental authority with competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose such restraint or prohibition.
(g) The obligations of SPAC and Pubco to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SPAC or Pubco, of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by Subscriber of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date, but without giving effect to consummation of the Transactions, or as of such earlier date, as applicable;
(ii) Subscriber shall have wired the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2(b) and otherwise performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; and
(h) The obligations of Subscriber to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Subscriber of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
(i) all representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality, SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect (each as defined below), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by SPAC and Pubco, as the case may be, of each of their representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date, but without giving effect to consummation of the Transactions, or as of such earlier date, as applicable, except, in each case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) no Other Subscription Agreement (or other agreements or understandings (including side letters) entered into in connection therewith or in connection with the sale of the Other Subscribed Shares) shall have been amended, modified or waived in any manner that benefits any Other Subscriber unless the Subscriber shall have been offered in writing the same benefits (other than terms particular to the legal or regulatory requirements of such Other Subscriber or its affiliates or related persons);
(iii) no amendments, modifications or waivers to the terms of the BCA (as it exists on the date hereof as provided to Subscriber) shall have occurred, in each case, in a matter that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits that Subscriber would reasonably expect to receive under this Subscription Agreement (unless Subscriber has provided its written consent thereto);
(iv) all consents, waivers, authorizations or orders of, any notice required to be made to, and any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization (including the Stock Exchange (as defined below) and any stockholder approval required by applicable Stock Exchange rules and regulations) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Subscribed Shares) required to be made in connection with the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Shares shall have been obtained or made, except where the failure to so obtain or make would not prevent the SPAC and Pubco from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Shares to the Subscriber; (i) Prior to or at the Closing, Subscriber shall deliver to SPAC and Pubco all such other information as is reasonably requested in order for SPAC to issue the Subscribed Shares to Subscriber, including, without limitation, the legal name of the person in whose name the Subscribed Shares are to be issued (or Subscriber’s nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) and a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or appropriate Form W-8.
(v) SPAC and Pubco shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by SPAC or Pubco, respectively, at or prior to the Closing; and
(vi) there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the BCA) since the date of this Subscription Agreement that is continuing, which the parties to the BCA have not waived.
Section 3. SPAC and Pubco Representations and Warranties. Each of SPAC, solely with respect to the representations and warranties set forth below relating to SPAC, and Pubco, solely with respect to the representations and warranties set forth below relating to Pubco, represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to Subscriber as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) SPAC (i) is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to conduct its business and, if applicable, is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than its jurisdiction of incorporation) in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties or assets requires such license or qualification, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “SPAC Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to SPAC that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on SPAC’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
(b) Pubco (i) is validly existing under the laws of the State of Texas, (ii) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing (to the extent applicable) in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Pubco Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to Pubco that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Pubco’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
(c) The issuance and sale of the Subscribed Shares, when issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (subject to the receipt of the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement and registration with SPAC’s transfer agent), will have been duly authorized by SPAC and, when issued and delivered to Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with the Subscriber’s delivery instructions), will be validly issued, fully paid and free and clear of all liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under this Subscription Agreement or the BCA, the SPAC Organizational Documents (as defined below) or applicable securities laws), and will not have been issued in violation of, or subject to, any preemptive or similar rights created under the SPAC Organizational Documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
(d) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by SPAC and Pubco, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Subscriber, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of SPAC and Pubco, enforceable against each of SPAC and Pubco in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
(e) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance of the Subscribed Shares hereunder, the compliance by SPAC with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement applicable to SPAC and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of SPAC pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which SPAC is a party or by which SPAC is bound or to which any of the property or assets of SPAC is subject, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, SPAC’s organizational documents (“SPAC Organizational Documents”), or (iii) conflict with or result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over SPAC or any of its properties except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance of the Subscribed Shares hereunder, the compliance by Pubco with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement applicable to Pubco and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Pubco pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Pubco is a party or by which Pubco is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Pubco is subject, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, Pubco’s organizational documents, or (iii) conflict with or result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Pubco or any of its properties except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 4, neither SPAC nor Pubco is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction, self-regulatory organization (including any stock exchange on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be listed (the “Stock Exchange”) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, other than (i) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (ii) the filing of the Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to Section 5, (iii) filings required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules of United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), including the registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the Transactions and the proxy statement/prospectus included therein (the “Form S-4”), (iv) filings required by the Stock Exchange, including with respect to obtaining SPAC shareholder approval of the Transactions, (v) filings required to consummate the Transactions as provided under the BCA, (vi) filings in connection with or as a result of any publicly available written guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff under the Securities Act (the “SEC Guidance”) and (vii) those the failure of which to obtain would not have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or a Pubco Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
(h) Except for such matters as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect or Pubco Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) suit, action, proceeding or arbitration before a governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction pending, or, to the knowledge of SPAC or Pubco, threatened in writing against SPAC or Pubco or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction outstanding against SPAC or Pubco, as applicable.
(i) Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, no registration under the Securities Act or any state securities (or Blue Sky) laws is required for the offer and sale of the Subscribed Shares by SPAC to Subscriber.
(j) None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Subscribed Shares. The Subscribed Shares are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws. None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past thirty (30) calendar days, made any offer or sale of any security or solicitation of any offer to buy any security under circumstances that would (i) eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by Pubco of the Subscribed Shares as contemplated hereby or the Other Subscribed Shares as contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements or (ii) cause the offering of the Subscribed Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or the Other Subscribed Shares pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements to be integrated with prior offerings by SPAC or Pubco for purposes of the Securities Act or, other than the Convertible Notes PIPE, any applicable stockholder approval provisions. None of SPAC, Pubco or any person acting on their behalf (other than the Placement Agent (as defined below) and its respective persons acting on their behalf in such capacity, as to whom neither SPAC nor Pubco make any representation) has offered or sold or will offer or sell any securities, or has taken or will take any other action, which would reasonably be expected to subject the offer, issuance or sale of the Subscribed Shares or the Other Subscribed Shares, as contemplated hereby, to the registration provisions of the Securities Act.
(k) No “bad actor” disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) of the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”) is applicable to SPAC, except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii–iv) or (d)(3) of the Securities Act is applicable.
(l) SPAC is in compliance in all material respects with, and has not received any written communication from a governmental authority with competent jurisdiction that alleges that SPAC is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is in default or violation of, the applicable provisions of (i) the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) the rules and regulations of the Commission, and (iii) the rules of the Stock Exchange, except, in each case, where such non-compliance, default, or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Pubco is in compliance in all material respects with, and has not received any written communication from a governmental authority with competent jurisdiction that alleges that Pubco is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is in default or violation of, the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission, except, in each case, where such non-compliance, default, or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Pubco Material Adverse Effect. For the avoidance of doubt, this representation and warranty shall not apply to the extent any of the foregoing matters arise from or relate to the SEC Guidance.
(n) Upon consummation of the Transactions, the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and will be listed for trading on the Stock Exchange, and the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be approved for listing on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
(o) Other than compensation to be paid to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sole placement agent to SPAC and Pubco (the “Placement Agent”), no broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission solely in connection with the sale of the Subscribed Shares to Subscriber.
(p) As of the date hereof, the authorized share capital of SPAC consists of 555,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 500,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” and together with SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, the “SPAC Ordinary Shares”), and (iii) 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “SPAC Preference Shares”). As of the date hereof and prior to giving effect to the Transactions: (i) 10,300,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding; (ii) 2,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares were issued and outstanding; and (iii) no SPAC Preference Shares were issued and outstanding. All issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive or similar rights. Other than the subsidiaries of SPAC to be formed after the date hereof pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC has no subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. There are no shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which SPAC is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any SPAC Ordinary Shares or other equity interests in SPAC, other than as contemplated by the BCA or as described in the forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses, and other documents filed or furnished as of the date hereof by SPAC with the Commission under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act (collectively, and together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, the “SEC Documents”). Except with respect to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, there are no securities or instruments issued by or to which SPAC is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered, and not fully waived by the holder of such securities or instruments pursuant to a written agreement or consent, by the issuance of the Subscribed Shares.
(q) The Other Subscription Agreements reflect the same Per Share Price and substantially the same other material terms and conditions with respect to the purchase of Shares that are no more favorable in the aggregate to the Other Subscribers than the material terms of this Subscription Agreement are to the Subscriber (other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such investor or its affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Shares).
(r) SPAC is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Subscribed Shares and Other Subscribed Shares and consummation of the Transactions, will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
(s) None of SPAC, Pubco, and any of their respective controlled affiliates (i) is, or will be at or immediately after the Closing, a person of a country of concern, as such term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 850.221 (a “Covered Person”), (ii) directly or indirectly hold, or will hold at or immediately after the Closing, a board seat on, a voting or equity interest in, or any contractual power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of, any Covered Person, or (iii) is engaged, or has plans to engage, or will be engaged at or immediately after the Closing, directly or indirectly, in a “covered activity,” as such term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 850.208.
Section 4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants to SPAC, Pubco and the Placement Agent, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) If Subscriber is a legal entity, Subscriber (i) has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation and (ii) has the requisite power and authority to enter into, and perform its obligations under, this Subscription Agreement. If Subscriber is an individual, Subscriber has the legal competence and capacity to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
(b) If Subscriber is a legal entity, this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by Subscriber. If Subscriber is an individual, Subscriber’s signature is genuine and the signatory has the legal competence and capacity to execute this Subscription Agreement. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by SPAC and Pubco, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(c) If Subscriber is paying the Purchase Price in Bitcoin, (i) Subscriber has all rights, title and interest in and to the Bitcoin to be contributed by it to SPAC pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, (ii) such Bitcoin is held in a digital wallet held or operated by or on behalf of Subscriber at or by an appropriately regulated custodian and/or in accordance with industry-standard security practices (the “Subscriber Digital Wallet”) and neither such Bitcoin nor such Subscriber Digital Wallet is subject to any liens, encumbrances or other restrictions, (iii) Subscriber has taken commercially reasonable steps to protect its Subscriber Digital Wallet and such Bitcoin and (iv) Subscriber has the exclusive ability to control such Subscriber Digital Wallet, including by use of “private keys” or other equivalent means or through custody arrangements or other equivalent means.
(d) The execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, the purchase of the Subscribed Shares hereunder, the compliance by Subscriber with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject; (ii) if Subscriber is a legal entity, the organizational documents of Subscriber; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of its properties that, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to the Subscriber that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially delay the Subscriber’s performance of its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, including the purchase of the Subscribed Shares.
(e) Subscriber (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), or (7) under the Securities Act) satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Annex A hereto, (ii) is an “institutional investor” (as defined in FINRA Rule 2111), (iii) if located or resident in a member state of the European Economic Area, is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “EU Prospectus Regulation”), (iv) if located or resident in the United Kingdom, is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”) who is also (x) an investment professional falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”); (y) a high net worth entity falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (z) a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) in connection with the issue or sale of the Subscribed Shares may be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated, (v) is acquiring the Subscribed Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is subscribing for the Subscribed Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and Subscriber has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (vi) is not acquiring the Subscribed Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws (and has provided SPAC and Pubco with the requested information on Annex A following the signature page hereto). Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Subscribed Shares.
(f) Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Subscribed Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and that neither SPAC nor Pubco is required to register the Subscribed Shares except as set forth in Section 5. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to SPAC, Pubco or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each of clauses (i)-(ii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or account entries representing the Subscribed Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Shares will be subject to these securities law transfer restrictions, and as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Subscribed Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Subscribed Shares for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that, unless the Subscribed Shares are earlier registered on the Form S-4 or a Registration Statement, the Subscribed Shares will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) until at least one year following the filing of certain required information with the Commission after the Closing Date. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Subscribed Shares.
(g) Subscriber understands and agrees that Subscriber is purchasing the Subscribed Shares directly from SPAC. Subscriber further acknowledges that there have not been, and Subscriber hereby agrees that it is not relying on, any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made to Subscriber by SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or any of such person’s or its or their respective affiliates’ control persons, officers, directors, partners, members, managing members, managers, agents, employees or other representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors, accountants or agents (collectively, “Representatives”), any other party to the Transactions or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of SPAC or Pubco set forth in this Subscription Agreement, and Subscriber is not relying on any other purported representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or statements (including by omission), which are hereby disclaimed by Subscriber.
(h) In making its decision to purchase the Subscribed Shares, Subscriber has relied solely upon an independent investigation made by Subscriber and SPAC’s and Pubco’s respective representations in this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber has not relied on any statements or other information provided by or on behalf of SPAC or Pubco (including the Placement Agent) concerning SPAC, Pubco, the Subscribed Shares or the Subscription, and has been offered the opportunity to ask questions of SPAC and Pubco and has received answers thereto, including on the financial information, as Subscriber deemed necessary in connection with its decision to purchase the Subscribed Shares. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that Subscriber has had access to, has received, and has had an adequate opportunity to review, such information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Shares, including with respect to SPAC, Pubco and the Transactions, and Subscriber has made its own assessment and is satisfied concerning the relevant financial, tax and other economic considerations relevant to Subscriber’s investment in the Subscribed Shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber acknowledges that it has reviewed SPAC’s filings with the Commission. Subscriber represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Shares, including but not limited to information concerning SPAC, Pubco, the BCA, and the Subscription.
(i) Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that none of SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent nor their respective affiliates or any of such person’s or its or their respective affiliates’ Representatives has provided Subscriber with any advice with respect to the Subscribed Shares. None of SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character as to SPAC, Pubco or the quality or value of the Subscribed Shares.
(j) Subscriber acknowledges that (i) SPAC, Pubco and their respective Representatives hereafter may come into possession of, information regarding SPAC or Pubco that is material non-public information and is not known to Subscriber (“Excluded Information”), (ii) Subscriber has determined to enter into this Subscription Agreement to purchase the Subscribed Shares notwithstanding Subscriber’s lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information, and (iii) none of SPAC, Pubco, nor the Placement Agent shall have liability to Subscriber, and Subscriber hereby waives and releases any claims Subscriber may have against SPAC, Pubco and/or the Placement Agent, to the maximum extent permitted by law, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information.
(k) Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Subscribed Shares solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber, on the one hand, and SPAC or Pubco (and their Representatives, including the Placement Agent), on the other, and the Subscribed Shares were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber, on the one hand, and SPAC or Pubco (and their Representatives, including the Placement Agent), on the other, or their respective affiliates. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Subscribed Shares, nor were the Subscribed Shares offered to Subscriber, by any other means, and none of SPAC or Pubco or their respective Representatives (including the Placement Agent) acted as investment advisor, broker or dealer to Subscriber. Subscriber acknowledges that the Subscribed Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.
(l) Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Subscribed Shares, including those set forth in the SEC Documents. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Subscribed Shares, and Subscriber has had an opportunity to seek, and has sought, such accounting, legal, business and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. Subscriber (i) is an institutional account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c) and an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, (ii) is a sophisticated institutional investor, experienced in investing in business transactions and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities, and (iii) has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the purchase of the Subscribed Shares.
(m) Subscriber has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Subscribed Shares and determined that the Subscribed Shares are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in Pubco. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
(n) Subscriber understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Subscribed Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
(o) Neither the Subscriber nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function is (i) a person (including individual or entity) that is the target or the subject of economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by relevant governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction, including, but not limited to those administered by the U.S. government through the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) and the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (including His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions”), (ii) a person or entity listed on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by OFAC, or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC, or any other any Sanctions-related list of sanctioned persons maintained by OFAC, the Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”), (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, or the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, as well as the non-controlled regions of the oblasts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, or the United Kingdom; (iv) directly or indirectly owned or controlled (as ownership and control are defined and interpreted under applicable sanctions), or acting on behalf or at the direction of, any such person or persons described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), except in each case as permitted under Sanctions laws; or (v) a non-U.S. institution that accepts currency for deposit and that has no physical presence in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or in which it is operating, as the case may be, and is unaffiliated with a regulated financial group that is subject to consolidated supervision (a “non-U.S. shell bank”) or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, (i) through (v), a “Prohibited Investor”). Subscriber agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that Subscriber is permitted to do so under applicable law. Subscriber represents that (i) if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that Subscriber maintains policies and procedures to ensure compliance with its obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act, and (ii) to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the anti-corruption and anti-money laundering-related laws administered and enforced by other governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction. Subscriber also represents that it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with Sanctions. Subscriber further represents and warrants that, to its knowledge, (i) none of the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Shares are or will be derived from transactions directly or indirectly with or for the benefit of any Prohibited Investor, (ii) such funds are from legitimate sources and do not constitute the proceeds of criminal conduct or criminal property, (iii) such funds do not originate from and have not been routed through an account maintained at a non-U.S. shell bank; and (iv) it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Shares were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor or from or through a non-U.S. shell bank.
(p) No foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) will acquire a substantial interest in SPAC as a result of the purchase and sale of Subscribed Shares hereunder, and no foreign person will have control (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.208) over SPAC from and after the Closing as a result of the purchase and sale of Subscribed Shares hereunder.
(q) If Subscriber is an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code, or an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”) subject to the fiduciary or prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code, Subscriber represents and warrants that (i) it has not relied on SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates (the “Transaction Parties”) for investment advice or as the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Subscribed Shares, and none of the Transaction Parties shall at any time be relied upon as the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision to acquire, continue to hold or transfer the Subscribed Shares and (ii) the acquisition and holding of the Subscribed Shares will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or section 4975 of the Code.
(r) Subscriber has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment pursuant to Section 2, Subscriber will have sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.
(s) Subscriber acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, SPAC or Pubco, or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives, including the Placement Agent), other than the representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco contained in Section 3, in making its investment or decision to invest in Pubco. Subscriber agrees that none of (i) any Other Subscriber pursuant to an Other Subscription Agreement or any other agreement related to the private placement of Shares (including the controlling persons, officers, directors, partners, agents or employees of any such Subscriber) nor (ii) the Placement Agent shall be liable (including, without limitation, for or with respect to any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements incurred by such person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, or have any liability or obligation to Subscriber or any Other Subscriber, or any person claiming through Subscriber or any Other Subscriber, pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or related to the private placement of the Subscribed Shares, the negotiation hereof or the subject matter hereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of the foregoing in connection with the purchase of the Subscribed Shares.
(t) No broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission to be paid by Subscriber solely in connection with the sale of the Subscribed Shares to Subscriber.
(u) At all times on or prior to the Closing Date, Subscriber has no binding commitment to dispose of, or otherwise transfer (directly or indirectly), any of the Subscribed Shares, other than binding commitments it may have to transfer and/or pledge such Subscribed Shares upon Closing to a prime broker under and in accordance with its prime brokerage agreement with such broker.
(v) Subscriber hereby agrees that neither it, nor any person or entity acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with Subscriber, shall, directly or indirectly, engage in any hedging activities or execute any Short Sales with respect to the securities of SPAC or Pubco from the date of this Subscription Agreement until the Closing or the earlier termination of this Subscription Agreement in accordance with its terms. “Short Sales” shall mean all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all short positions effected through any direct or indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), short sales or other short transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing herein shall prohibit other entities under common management with Subscriber from entering into any Short Sales and (ii) in the case of a Subscriber that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Subscriber’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to enter into the Subscription, subject in each of clauses (i) and (ii), to the obligations of Subscriber and such other entities under applicable law.
(w) Subscriber is not currently (and at all times through the Closing will refrain from being or becoming) a member of a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of equity securities of SPAC or Pubco (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act).
(x) Subscriber will not acquire a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) in SPAC or Pubco as a result of the purchase and sale of the Subscribed Shares.
(y) Subscriber acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to SPAC and Pubco.
(z) In making its decision to purchase the Shares, Subscriber has relied solely upon independent investigation made by Subscriber and the representations and warranties of SPAC and Pubco set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber has not relied on any statements or other information provided by the Placement Agent concerning the SPAC, Pubco or the Shares or the offer and sale of the Shares. No disclosure or offering document has been prepared by the Placement Agent in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. The Placement Agent and each of its members, directors, officers, employees, representatives and controlling persons have made no independent investigation with respect to SPAC, Pubco or the Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information supplied to the Subscriber by or on behalf of SPAC and Pubco. In connection with the issue and purchase of the Shares the Placement Agent has not made any recommendations regarding an investment in SPAC, Pubco, the Shares or shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or acted as the Subscriber’s financial advisor or fiduciary.
(aa) Subscriber covenants that neither it, nor any affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, has executed or will execute any purchases or sales of any of securities of SPAC during the period that commenced at the time that Subscriber first learned of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 8(u). Subscriber covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are publicly disclosed by SPAC pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 8(u), Subscriber will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of the Subscription and the Transactions and the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, SPAC and Pubco expressly acknowledge and agree that Subscriber shall have no duty of confidentiality as set forth in this Section 4(aa) to SPAC after the issuance of the initial press release as described in Section 8(u). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case that Subscriber is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of Subscriber’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of Subscriber’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Subscribed Shares covered by this Subscription Agreement.
Section 5. Registration of Subscribed Shares.
(a) SPAC and Pubco agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Pubco Class A Common Stock into which the Subscribed Shares will be converted upon consummation of the SPAC Merger (such securities, the “Registrable Securities”) to be registered on the Form S-4. SPAC and Pubco’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities in the Form S-4 are contingent upon Subscriber promptly furnishing any information reasonably requested by SPAC or Pubco for purposes of making applicable disclosures in the Form S-4.
(b) To the extent that any Registrable Securities are unable to be included on the Form S-4, then, subject to Section 5(c), Pubco agrees that, as soon as practicable but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the Commission (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of such Registrable Securities (such registration statement, the “Registration Statement”), and Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date (the “Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, that the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by a maximum of ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date if the Registration Statement is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission; provided, further that Pubco shall request the Registration Statement declared effective promptly after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided, further, that (i) if the Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business and (ii) if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by the same number of calendar days as the number of calendar days during which the Commission remains closed. Pubco will provide a draft of the Registration Statement to Subscriber at least two (2) Business Days in advance of the date of filing the Registration Statement with the Commission. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Subscriber prior to the filing of the Registration Statement, Subscriber shall not be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter; provided, that if the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, Subscriber will have the opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement upon its prompt written request to Pubco. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission or its regulations prevent Pubco from including any or all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the applicable stockholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of Registrable Securities which is equal to the maximum number of Registrable Securities as is permitted by the Commission. In such event, the number of Registrable Securities shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling stockholders and as promptly as practicable after being permitted to register additional Registrable Securities under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, Pubco shall amend the Registration Statement or file one or more new Registration Statement(s) (with such amendment or new Registration Statement also being deemed to be a “Registration Statement” hereunder) to register such additional Registrable Securities and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment or Registration Statement(s) to become effective as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the filing of such Registration Statement (the “Additional Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, that the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of such Registration Statement, including any new Registration Statement or amended Registration Statement, if such Registration Statement is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission; provided, further, that Pubco shall request that such Registration Statement be declared effective promptly after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided, further, that (i) if such day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business and (ii) if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by the same number of calendar days as the number of calendar days during which the Commission remains closed. Any failure by Pubco to file a Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Deadline or Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall not otherwise relieve Pubco of its obligations to file or effect a Registration Statement as set forth in this Section 5.
(c) Pubco agrees that, except for such times as Pubco is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, Pubco will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to remain effective with respect to Subscriber, including to prepare and file any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus such that the prospectus will not include any untrue statement or a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which Subscriber ceases to hold any Registrable Securities issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and (ii) the first date on which Subscriber can sell all of its Registrable Securities issued pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (or shares received in exchange therefor) under Rule 144 of the Securities Act without limitation as to the manner of sale or the amount of such securities that may be sold and without the requirement for Pubco to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (the earliest of clauses (i) and (ii), the “End Date”). Prior to the End Date, Pubco (i) will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable; (ii) file all reports, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable Subscriber to resell Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement; and (iii) qualify the Registrable Securities for listing on the Stock Exchange and update or amend the Registration Statement as necessary to include Registrable Securities. Pubco will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) for so long as Subscriber holds Registrable Securities, make and keep public information available (as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144) and file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Pubco under the Exchange Act so long as Pubco remains subject to such requirements to enable Subscriber to resell the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, (B) at the reasonable request of Subscriber, deliver all the necessary documentation to cause Pubco’s transfer agent to remove all restrictive legends from any Registrable Securities being sold under the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 at the time of sale of the Registrable Securities, and (C) cause its legal counsel to deliver to the transfer agent the necessary legal opinions required by the transfer agent, if any, in connection with the instruction under clause (B) upon the receipt of Subscriber representation letters and such other customary supporting documentation as requested by (and in a form reasonably acceptable to) such counsel. Subscriber agrees to disclose its beneficial ownership, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of Registrable Securities to Pubco (or its successor) as may be reasonably required to enable Pubco to make the determination described above.
(d) Pubco’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to Pubco a completed selling stockholder questionnaire in customary form that contains such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of Pubco held by Subscriber and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by Pubco to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and Subscriber shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as Pubco may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations, including providing that Pubco shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement (i) during any customary blackout or similar period or as permitted hereunder and (ii) as may be necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement following the filing of Pubco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its first completed fiscal year following the effective date of the Registration Statement; provided, that Pubco shall request such information from Subscriber, including the selling stockholder questionnaire, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the anticipated date of filing the Registration Statement with the Commission. In the case of the registration effected by Pubco pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, Pubco shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration. Subscriber shall not be entitled to use the Registration Statement for an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Pubco may from time to time require Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or suspend the use or effectiveness of any such Registration Statement if (A) it determines in good faith that in order for the registration statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed, including as a result of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information, (B) such filing or use would materially affect a bona fide business or financing transaction of Pubco or would require premature disclosure of information that would materially adversely affect Pubco, (C) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the members of Pubco’s board of directors, such filing or effectiveness or use of such Registration Statement would be seriously detrimental to Pubco, (D) the majority of the board determines to delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, a Registration Statement and such delay or suspension arises out of, or is a result of, or is related to or is in connection with the SEC Guidance or future Commission guidance directed at special purpose acquisition companies or companies that have consummated a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company, or any related disclosure or related matters, (E) as may be necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement following the filing of Pubco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its first completed fiscal year following the effective date of the Registration Statement, or (F) Subscriber agrees that (1) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Pubco agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to in Section 5(c)(A) and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Pubco that it may resume such offers and sales and (2) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Pubco unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or regulatory request or requirement (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, that, (w) Pubco shall not so delay filing or so suspend the use of the Registration Statement for a period of more than forty-five (45) consecutive days or more than ninety (90) total calendar days in any consecutive three hundred sixty (360) day period, or more than two (2) times in any consecutive three hundred sixty (360) day period and (x) Pubco shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make such registration statement available for the sale by Subscriber of such securities as soon as practicable thereafter.
(e) Upon receipt of any written notice from Pubco of the happening of (i) an issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose, which notice shall be given no later than three (3) Business Days from the date of such event, (ii) any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective, which notice shall be given no later than three (3) Business Days from the date of such Suspension Event, or (iii) if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, Subscriber agrees that (1) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Pubco agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Pubco that it may resume such offers and sales and (2) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Pubco unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or regulatory request or requirement. If so directed by Pubco, Subscriber will deliver to Pubco or, in Subscriber’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities in Subscriber’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities shall not apply (w) to the extent Subscriber is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (A) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (B) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (x) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
(f) For purposes of this Section 5 (i) “Registrable Securities” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the Registrable Securities and any other equity security issued or issuable with respect to the Registrable Securities by way of share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, or replacement, and (ii) “Subscriber” shall include any person to which the rights under this Section 5 shall have been duly assigned.
(g) Pubco shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Subscriber, (to the extent Subscriber is a seller under the Registration Statement), the officers, directors, members, managers, partners, agents and employees of Subscriber, each person who controls Subscriber (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, managers, partners, agents and employees of each such controlling person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all out-of-pocket and reasonably documented losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable and documented external attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of or caused by or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are (1) based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to Pubco by or on behalf of Subscriber expressly for use therein or Subscriber has omitted a material fact from such information or (2) result from or in connection with any offers or sales effected by or on behalf of Subscriber in violation of Section 5(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco’s indemnification obligations shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of Pubco. Pubco shall provide Subscriber with an update on any threatened or asserted proceedings arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 5 of which Pubco receives notice whether oral or in writing.
(h) Subscriber shall, severally and not jointly with any Other Subscriber in the offering contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pubco, its directors, officers, members, managers, partners, agents and employees, each person who controls Pubco (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, members, managers, partners, agents or employees of such controlling persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to Pubco by or on behalf of Subscriber expressly for use therein. In no event shall the liability of Subscriber be greater in amount than the United States dollars amount of the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Subscriber’s indemnification obligation shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(i) Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement), which settlement shall not include a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party, and which settlement shall include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(j) The indemnification provided for under this Subscription Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.
(k) If the indemnification provided under this Section 5 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any Losses, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that the liability of Subscriber shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Subscriber from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), or on behalf of such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 5, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5(k) from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for punitive damages in connection with this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) At any time and from time to time in connection with a bona-fide sale of Subscribed Shares effected in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or through any broker-dealer sale transactions described in the plan of distribution set forth within any prospectus and pursuant to the Registration Statement, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to the receipt of customary documentation required from the holder of the applicable Subscribed Shares and broker in connection therewith and compliance with applicable laws, (i) promptly instruct its transfer agent to remove any restrictive legends applicable to the Subscribed Shares being sold and (ii) in connection with any sale made pursuant to Rule 144, cause its legal counsel to deliver reasonably requested legal opinions, if any, to the transfer agent in connection with the instruction under subclause (i). Subscriber may request that Pubco remove any legend from the book entry position evidencing its Subscribed Shares following the earliest of such time as such Subscribed Shares (i) (x) are subject to or (y) have been or are about to be sold or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement (including the Registration Statement), or (ii) have been sold pursuant to Rule 144. Pubco shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent, its legal counsel (including for purposes of giving the opinion referenced herein) and all DTC fees associated with such issuance and the Subscriber shall be responsible for its fees or costs associated with such removal of the legend (including its legal fees or costs of its legal counsel).
(m) With a view to making available to Subscriber the benefits of Rule 144 that permit Subscriber to sell securities of Pubco to the public without registration, Pubco agrees, for so long as Subscriber holds Subscribed Shares, to:
(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144; and
(ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Pubco under the Exchange Act so long as Pubco remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents as may be required pursuant to the applicable provisions of Rule 144.
(n) Upon request, Pubco shall provide the Subscriber with contact information for the person responsible for Pubco’s account at the transfer agent to facilitate transfers made pursuant to this Section 5 and provide reasonable assistance to facilitate transfers. Pubco shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent and its legal counsel (including for purposes of giving the opinion referenced herein) associated with such issuance and the Subscriber shall be responsible for its fees or costs associated with such removal of the legend (including its legal fees or costs of its legal counsel).
Section 6. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the BCA is terminated in accordance with its terms; (b) the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement; or (c) twelve (12) months from the date of this Subscription Agreement; provided, that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach. SPAC or Pubco shall notify Subscriber of the termination of the BCA promptly after the termination thereof. Upon the termination hereof in accordance with this Section 6, any monies paid by Subscriber in connection herewith shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) be returned in full to Subscriber by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, without any deduction for or on account of any tax withholding except as required by law, charges or set-off, whether or not the Transactions shall have been consummated.
Section 7. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber hereby acknowledges that SPAC is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Subscriber further acknowledges that, as described in the final prospectus relating to SPAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”) filed with the SEC (File No. 333-280230) on August 13, 2024 (the “Prospectus”), substantially all of SPAC’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of SPAC’s IPO and a private placement of its securities and substantially all of those proceeds (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) have been deposited into a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of SPAC and its public shareholders. As described in the Prospectus, the funds held from time to time in the Trust Account may only be released upon certain conditions. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Subscriber hereby agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies or other assets in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives (on its own behalf and on behalf of its related parties) any Claim to, or to any monies or other assets in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or the Subscriber Shares, in or to any monies held in the Trust Account (or any distributions therefrom directly or indirectly to SPAC’s public shareholders). In the event that Subscriber has any Claim against SPAC as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements, the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or the Subscribed Shares, Subscriber agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom (it being clarified that such waiver shall not apply following the Closing to the Trust Account funds that are released from the Trust Account to SPAC or Pubco in connection with the Transactions). Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that such irrevocable waiver is a material inducement to SPAC to enter into this Subscription Agreement, and further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding, and enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with applicable law. To the extent Subscriber commences any action or proceeding based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to SPAC or its Representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against SPAC or its Representatives, Subscriber hereby acknowledges and agrees that its sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit Subscriber (or any person claiming on Subscriber’s behalf or in lieu of Subscriber) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to limit Subscriber’s right to distributions from the Trust Account in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents in respect of any redemptions by Subscriber in respect of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 7 shall survive termination of this Subscription Agreement.
Section 8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Subscriber hereby acknowledges that it shall be solely responsible for and bear the cost of all transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges arising in any jurisdiction in connection with the Subscription contemplated in this Subscription Agreement as well as the execution of this Subscription Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subscription Agreement, SPAC, Pubco and any of their Representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Registrable Securities and any other amount payable pursuant to this Subscription Agreement (in connection with a future share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, or replacement) any such taxes as may be required to be deducted and withheld from such amounts (and any other amounts treated as paid for applicable tax law) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any other applicable tax law (as determined in good faith by the party so deducting or withholding in its sole discretion). To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Subscription Agreement as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
(c) All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by electronic mail, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, on the date of transmission to such recipient, if sent on a Business Day prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, or on the Business Day following the date of transmission, if sent on a day that is not a Business Day or after 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Business Day, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient via overnight mail by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid), or (iv) four (4) Business Days after being mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, and, in each case, addressed to the intended recipient at its address specified on the signature page hereof or to such electronic mail address or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8(c). A courtesy electronic copy of any notice sent by methods (i), (iii), or (iv) above shall also be sent to the recipient via electronic mail if an electronic mail address is provided in the applicable signature page hereof or to an electronic mail address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8(c).
(d) Subscriber acknowledges that SPAC, Pubco, the Placement Agent and others, including the Company, will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause of this Section 8(d) shall not give SPAC or Pubco any rights other than those expressly set forth herein. Prior to the Closing, Subscriber agrees to promptly notify SPAC and Pubco if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. SPAC and Pubco acknowledge that Subscriber will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, SPAC and Pubco agree to promptly notify Subscriber, if they become aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of SPAC or Pubco, respectively, set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects.
(e) Each of SPAC, Pubco and Subscriber is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party as required by applicable law in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(f) Each party hereto shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(g) Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Subscriber hereunder (other than the Subscribed Shares acquired hereunder and the rights set forth in Section 5) may be transferred or assigned by Subscriber. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to SPAC or Pubco hereunder may be transferred or assigned by SPAC or Pubco without the prior written consent of Subscriber, other than in connection with the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subscriber may assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Subscription Agreement to one or more of its affiliates (including other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by the investment manager who acts on behalf of Subscriber) upon written notice to SPAC and Pubco or, with SPAC’s and Pubco’s prior written consent, to another person; provided, that in the case of any such assignment, the assignee(s) shall become a Subscriber hereunder and have the rights and obligations and be deemed to make the representations and warranties of Subscriber provided for herein to the extent of such assignment and provided further that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Subscriber of its obligations hereunder if any such assignee fails to perform such obligations, unless SPAC and Pubco has given their prior written consent to such relief. Any purported assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 8(g) shall be null and void.
(h) All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing.
(i) SPAC and Pubco may request from Subscriber such additional information as SPAC or Pubco may reasonably determine to be necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Subscribed Shares and to register the Subscribed Shares for resale, and Subscriber shall promptly provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided, that SPAC and Pubco agree to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential, except (A) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations and (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of the Stock Exchange. Subscriber acknowledges that SPAC and Pubco may file a form of this Subscription Agreement with the Commission as an exhibit to a current or periodic report of SPAC or Pubco, an annex to a proxy statement of SPAC or Pubco or as an exhibit to a registration statement of Pubco.
(j) This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto; provided that no provision of this Agreement that references the Placement Agent may be amended, modified, terminated or waived in any manner that is adverse to the Placement Agent without the written consent of the Placement Agent.
(k) This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(l) Except with respect to the Placement Agent (who is a third-party beneficiary of the representations, warranties and covenants that reference the Placement Agent set forth herein) or as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns and, except with respect to the Placement Agent or as otherwise as provided herein, is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.
(m) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money or other legal remedies would not be an adequate remedy for such damage. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to equitable relief, including in the form of an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that SPAC and Pubco shall be entitled to specifically enforce Subscriber’s obligations to fund the Subscription and the provisions of the Subscription Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The parties hereto further acknowledge and agree: (x) to waive any requirement for the security or posting of any bond in connection with any such equitable remedy; (y) not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement pursuant to this Section 8(m) is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to applicable law or inequitable for any reason; and (z) to waive any defenses in any action for specific performance, including the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(n) If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
(o) No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Subscription Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
(p) This Subscription Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail, in .pdf or other electronic submission) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(q) This Subscription Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.
(r) EACH PARTY AND ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OR RELATED TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OTHER SUCH PARTY, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT.
(s) The parties agree that all disputes, legal actions, suits and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Subscription Agreement must be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York (collectively the “Designated Courts”). Each party hereby consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Designated Courts. No legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to this Subscription Agreement may be brought in any other forum. Each party hereby irrevocably waives all claims of immunity from jurisdiction, and any objection which such party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in any Designated Court, including any right to object on the basis that any dispute, action, suit or proceeding brought in the Designated Courts has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum or venue. Each of the parties also agrees that delivery of any process, summons, notice or document to a party hereof in compliance with Section 8(c) of this Subscription Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in a Designated Court with respect to any matters to which the parties have submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above.
(t) This Subscription Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim, action, suit or other legal proceeding based upon, arising out of, or related to this Subscription Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Subscription Agreement, may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto; except with respect to the provisions of this Agreement for which the Placement Agent is an express third party beneficiary.
(u) SPAC shall (i) by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) Business Day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing all material terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the Transactions, and including as exhibits thereto, the form of this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreement, within the time required by the Exchange Act. From and after the issuance of such press release, SPAC represents to the Subscriber that it shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information regarding SPAC or Pubco delivered to the Subscriber by or on behalf of the SPAC, Pubco or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents (including the Placement Agent) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, Subscriber shall not issue any press release or make any other similar public statement with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of SPAC and Pubco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, each of SPAC and Pubco (i) shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers in any press release, without the prior written consent of Subscriber and (ii) shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or advisers in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, except (A) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations, including in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 5(a), and (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of the Stock Exchange, in which case of clause (A) or (B), SPAC or Pubco, as applicable, shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice (including by e-mail) of such permitted disclosure, and shall reasonably consult with Subscriber regarding such disclosure. Subscriber will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by SPAC or Pubco for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the Commission). To the extent that any such information is publicly disclosed pursuant to the provisions hereunder, the parties agree that no further notice or consent is required for SPAC or Pubco to further disclose such information.
(v) The obligations of Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Subscriber or any other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements, and Subscriber shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement or any Other Subscriber or other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements. The decision of Subscriber to purchase Subscribed Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement has been made by Subscriber independently of any Other Subscriber or any other investor and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of SPAC, Pubco or any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries which may have been made or given by any Other Subscriber or investor or by any agent or employee of any Other Subscriber or investor, and neither Subscriber nor any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any Other Subscriber or investor (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any Other Subscription Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or Other Subscriber or other investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Subscriber and any Other Subscribers or other investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that Subscriber and any Other Subscribers or other investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements. Subscriber acknowledges that no Other Subscriber has acted as agent for Subscriber in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Other Subscriber will be acting as agent of Subscriber in connection with monitoring its investment in the Subscribed Shares or enforcing its rights under this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Subscription Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber or investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
(w) The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Subscription Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Subscription Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references to Sections or Annexes are to Sections or Annexes contained in or attached to this Subscription Agreement, (ii) each accounting term not otherwise defined in this Subscription Agreement has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural and pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, (iv) the use of the word “including” in this Subscription Agreement shall be by way of example rather than limitation, and (v) the word “or” shall not be exclusive (i.e., unless context requires otherwise “or” shall be interpreted to mean “and/or” rather than “either/or”).
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SPAC and Pubco have accepted this Subscription Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address for Notices:
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Email: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with a copy (not to constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York NY 10105
Email: [***]
Attention: Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq.; Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
and
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
110 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
Email: legalnotices@cantor.com
Attention: General Counsel
[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement – Equity]
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Address for Notices:
c/o iFinex
c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited
Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301
Road Town, Tortola
VG1110
British Virgin Islands
Attn: Legal
Email: legal@tether.to (with a copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
with a copy (not to constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4BQ, UK
Attention: Lorenzo Corte; Maria Protopapa
[***]
[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement – Equity]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subscriber has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.
Name of Subscriber: | ______________________________ | State/Country of Formation or Domicile: | ____ | |
By: __________________________________________ | ||||
Name: ________________________________________ | ||||
Title: _________________________________________ | ||||
Name in which Subscribed Shares are to be registered (if different): |
Date:_________________ | |||
_____________________________________________ | ||||
Subscriber’s EIN: _______________________________ | ||||
Entity Type (e.g., corporation, partnership, trust, etc.): _________________________________________ |
||||
Business Address-Street: | Mailing Address-Street (if different): | |||
_____________________________________________ | ______________________________ | |||
City, State, Zip: _________________________________ | City, State, Zip: __________________ | |||
Attn: ________________________________________ | Attn: | |||
Telephone No.: ________________________________ | Telephone No.: __________________ | |||
Email for notices: _______________________________ | Email for notices (if different): _______ | |||
Number of Shares subscribed for: __________________ | ||||
Aggregate Purchase Price: $[●]
Form of Payment:
☐ Cash: $_______ for ______ Shares
☐ Bitcoin: ______ BTC for _____ Shares
|
[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement – Equity]
ANNEX A
ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF SUBSCRIBER
This Annex A should be completed and signed by Subscriber and constitutes a part of the Subscription Agreement.
1. | QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS (Please check the box, if applicable) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) (a “QIB”) |
☐ | We are subscribing for the Subscribed Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, and each owner of such account is a QIB. |
**OR**
2. | INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS (Please check the box, if applicable) |
☐ | Subscriber is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, and has marked and initialed the appropriate box below indicating the provision under which it qualifies as an institutional “accredited investor.” |
**AND**
3. | FINRA INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR STATUS (Please check the box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “institutional investor” (as defined in FINRA Rule 2111). |
**AND**
4. | AFFILIATE STATUS (Please check the applicable box) |
SUBSCRIBER
☐ | is: |
☐ | is not: |
an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of SPAC, the Company or Pubco or acting on behalf of an affiliate of SPAC, the Company or Pubco.
Rule 501(a), in relevant part, states that an “accredited investor” shall mean any person who comes within any of the below listed categories, or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the below listed categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person. Subscriber has indicated, by marking and initialing the appropriate box(es) below, the provision(s) below which apply to Subscriber and under which Subscriber accordingly qualifies as an “accredited investor.”
☐ | Any bank, registered broker or dealer, insurance company, registered investment company, business development company, small business investment company, private business development company, or rural business investment company; |
☐ | Any investment adviser registered pursuant to section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act or registered pursuant to the laws of a state; |
☐ | Any investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the Commission under section 203(l) or (m) of the Investment Advisers Act; |
☐ | Any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), if (i) the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of ERISA, which is either a bank, a savings and loan association, an insurance company, or a registered investment adviser, (ii) the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, (iii) such plan is a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are “accredited investors”; |
☐ | Any (i) corporation, limited liability company or partnership, (ii) Massachusetts or similar business trust, or (iii) organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in each case that was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered and that has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Section 230.506(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation D under the Securities Act; |
☐ | Any entity, other than an entity described in the categories of “accredited investors” above, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, owning investments in excess of $5,000,000; |
☐ | Any “family office,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act that satisfies all of the following conditions: (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that is not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, and (iii) whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; |
☐ | Any “family client,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act, of a family office meeting the requirements in the previous paragraph and whose prospective investment in the issuer is directed by such family office pursuant to the previous paragraph; or |
☐ | Any entity in which all of the equity owners are “accredited investors”. |
Specify which tests:
☐ | Any director, executive officer, or general partner of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, or general partner of a general partner of that issuer; |
☐ | Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent, exceeds $1,000,000. For purposes of calculating a natural person’s net worth: (a) the person’s primary residence shall not be included as an asset; (b) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence, up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities, shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of sale of securities exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and (c) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities shall be included as a liability; |
☐ | Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; |
☐ | Any natural person holding in good standing one or more professional certifications or designations or credentials from an accredited educational institution that the Commission has designated as qualifying an individual for accredited investor status; or |
☐ | Any natural person who is a “knowledgeable employee,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold where the issuer would be an investment company, as defined in section 3 of such act, but for the exclusion provided by either section 3(c)(1) or section 3(c)(7) of such act. |
**AND**
5. | FINRA INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT STATUS (Please check the box) |
☐ | Subscriber is an “institutional account” under FINRA Rule 4512(c). |
**AND**
6. | EEA QUALIFIED INVESTOR (Please check the applicable box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified investor” (within the meaning of Article 2 of the EU Prospectus Regulation). |
☐ | Subscriber is not a resident in a member state of the European Economic Area. |
**AND**
7. | UK QUALIFIED INVESTOR (Please check the applicable box) |
☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified investor” (within the meaning of Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) who is also (i) an investment professional falling within Article the Order; (ii) a high net worth entity falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (iii) a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the Subscribed Shares may be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated. |
☐ | Subscriber is not resident in the United Kingdom. |
This page should be completed by Subscriber
and constitutes a part
of the Subscription Agreement.
SUBSCRIBER: | ||
Print Name: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.5
Final Form
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2025, is made and entered into by and among Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), Cantor EP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), each of the undersigned holders listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Specified Holders” (such persons, the “Specified Holders”), each of the undersigned holders listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Other Holders” (and together with the Specified Holders, their Permitted Transferees holding Registrable Securities, the Sponsor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, each a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings set forth in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on August 12, 2024, (a) SPAC and the Sponsor entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024 (the “Original Registration Rights Agreement”) and (b) SPAC, the Sponsor and the then current directors and executive officers of SPAC entered into that certain letter agreement (the “Insider Letter”);
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2025, SPAC, Pubco, Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (for certain limited purposes) and the Specified Holders entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, among other matters, upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub with SPAC Merger Sub surviving such merger (the “SPAC Merger”) and SPAC shareholders receiving one share of Pubco Class A Stock for each SPAC Class A ordinary share held by such shareholder; (b) the Company will merge with and into Company Merger Sub with Company Merger Sub surviving such merger (the “Company Merger,” and together with SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”) and members of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Common Stock in exchange for their Company Interests in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; and (c) as a result of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, among other matters, SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will become a publicly traded company;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, each of the Specified Holders are entering into a Lock-Up Agreement with Pubco (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Original Registration Rights Agreement, the provisions, covenants, and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of SPAC and the holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original Registration Rights Agreement) at the time in question, and the Sponsor is holder of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original Registration Rights Agreement) as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, SPAC and the Sponsor desire to amend and restate the Original Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety and enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which Pubco shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of Pubco as set forth in this Agreement and terminate the Original Registration Rights 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 Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of Pubco, after consultation with counsel to Pubco, (a) 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, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) Pubco has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of Pubco.
“Business Combination Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Class A Ordinary Shares” shall mean Class A ordinary shares of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Class B Ordinary Shares” shall mean Class B ordinary shares of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date of the Closing.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Business Combination Agreement.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Specified Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Sponsor Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.
“Founder Shares” shall mean the shares of Pubco Common Stock issued to the Sponsor in the SPAC Merger in exchange for the Class A ordinary shares issued to the Sponsor upon conversion of the 2,500,000 Class B ordinary shares held by the Sponsor immediately prior to the SPAC Merger in accordance with SPAC’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
“Founder Shares Lock-Up Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Insider Letter.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Lock-Up Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Lock-Up Period” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders, the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period and Private Placement Lock-Up Period and (b) with respect to the Specified Holders, the lock-up period specified in the Lock-Up Agreements.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“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 any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Original Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom a Holder is permitted to transfer their Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period pursuant to, as applicable, the Insider Letter, the Lock-Up Agreement or any other applicable agreement between such Holder, on the one hand, and Pubco or SPAC, on the other hand, and (b) after the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-Up Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Insider Letter.
“Private Placement Shares” shall mean the 300,000 shares of Pubco Common Stock issued to the Sponsor in the SPAC Merger in exchange for the 300,000 Class A ordinary shares purchased by the Sponsor for $3,000,000 at the closing of SPAC’s initial public offering.
“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“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.
“Pubco” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Pubco Common Stock” shall mean shares of Class A common stock of Pubco, par value $0.01 per share.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the shares of Pubco Common Stock issued in the Company Merger; (b) the Founder Shares; (c) the Private Placement Shares; (d) any outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock or any other equity security (including shares of Pubco Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of Pubco held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement or held as of the Closing Date including any securities purchased in connection therewith; (e) any outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock (or any other equity security (including shares of Pubco Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of Pubco acquired by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (“Rule 144”) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of Pubco and (f) any other equity security of Pubco issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Pubco Common Stock by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, re-domestication, reorganization, or other similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) 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; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates or book entry notations for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered or noted by Pubco and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities have been sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144; or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“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:
(i) 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 shares of Pubco Common Stock are then listed;
(ii) 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);
(iii) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Pubco;
(v) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of Pubco incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(vi) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by each Significant Specified Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act 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.
“Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Significant Specified Holder” shall mean any Specified Holder holding at least 10% of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Specified Holders.
“SPAC” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“SPAC Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“SPAC Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Specified Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Holders” shall mean the Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees who hold Registrable Securities.
“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 Pubco are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the Closing Date, (i) the Sponsor Holders holding a majority in interest of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities held by all Sponsor Holders (the “Demanding Sponsor Holders”) or (ii) any Significant Specified Holder (a “Demanding Specified Holder” and the Demanding Sponsor Holders or Demanding Specified Holders, as applicable, being “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall 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”). Pubco shall, within ten (10) calendar days of Pubco’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 Pubco, in writing, within five (5) calendar days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from Pubco. Upon receipt by Pubco of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to Pubco, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and Pubco shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holder(s) and Requesting Holder(s) pursuant to such Demand Registration, including by (x) filing or confidentially submitting a Registration Statement relating thereto as soon as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) calendar days immediately after Pubco’s receipt of the Demand Registration, and (y) using its reasonable best efforts to have such Registration Statement become effective as soon as practicable after Pubco’s receipt of the Demand Registration but in any event no later than within ninety (90) calendar days or, if the Registration Statement is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission, within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days; provided further that Pubco shall request the Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable but in any event no later than within five (5) business days after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Under no circumstances shall Pubco be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration by the Sponsor Holders or more than an aggregate of two (2) Registrations in any twelve (12)-month period pursuant to a Demand Registration by the Specified Holders, in each case under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities held by such Holders; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, each Significant Specified Holder shall have the right to request at least one (1) Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration in any twelve (12)-month period; provided, further, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a 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) Pubco 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 Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (a) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (b) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify Pubco in writing, but in no event later than five (5) calendar days, of such election; and provided, further, that Pubco 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.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if (x) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders or (y) a Significant Specified Holder so advise Pubco as part of their 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 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by (x) Pubco in consultation with the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration, or (y) a Significant Specified Holder if such Holder has requested the Underwritten Offering and the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Registrable Securities by all Holders requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering are reasonably expected by such Significant Specified Holder to be at least $[25,000,000]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco is not obligated to effect (i) more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 in any twelve (12)-month period; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, each Significant Specified Holder shall have the right to request at least one (1) Underwritten Offering in each such twelve (12)-month period, (ii) an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 within ninety (90) calendar days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering or (iii) an Underwritten Offering unless the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of all Registrable Securities (regardless of Holder) requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering is reasonably expected by the Requesting Holder to be at least $[25,000,000].
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises Pubco, 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 Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities that Pubco desires to sell and shares of Pubco Common 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 Pubco shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders 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 Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder 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; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities that Pubco 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), shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that Pubco is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. Prior to (i) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration under subsection 2.1.1 (other than an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.3), a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any) and (ii) the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.3, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering, in each case of (i) and (ii), shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such applicable Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to Pubco and, if applicable, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Pubco shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to any withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5; provided that if Pubco pays such expenses related to a Demand Registration initiated by the Sponsor, such registration shall count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 3.6.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the Closing Date, Pubco proposes to file or confidentially submit 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 Pubco (or by Pubco and by the stockholders of Pubco including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (a) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (b) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (c) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to Pubco’s existing stockholders, (d) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of Pubco or (e) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then Pubco shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) calendar days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (i) 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 (ii) 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 (a) five (5) calendar days in the case of filing a registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement and (b) three (3) calendar days in the case of an Underwritten Offering (unless such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering, then one (1) calendar day), in each case after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). Pubco shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable 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 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of Pubco 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. If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by Pubco.
2.2.2 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 Pubco and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Pubco Common Stock that Pubco desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Pubco Common 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 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Pubco Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of Pubco, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for Pubco’s account, Pubco shall include in any such Registration (i) first, the shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities that Pubco desires to sell, which 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 Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested, which can be sold 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 shares of Pubco Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of Pubco, 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 Pubco shall include in any such Registration (i) first, the shares of Pubco Common 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; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities that Pubco 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 shares Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that Pubco 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.
2.2.3 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 Pubco and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the earlier of (x) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or (y) the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing the Underwritten Offering with respect to such Piggyback Registration. Pubco (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 or abandon an Underwritten Offering in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Pubco shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to any withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Shelf Registrations.
2.3.1 Shelf Registration Rights. Any Holder of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that Pubco, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis on a shelf registration statement on Form S-1 or any similar registration statement that may be available at such time (a “Form S-1 Shelf”) or a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (a “Form S-3 Shelf”, and together with a Form S-1 Shelf, a “Shelf Registration Statement”), if PubCo is then eligible to use a Form S-3 Shelf; provided, however, Pubco shall be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering only pursuant to subsection 2.3.2. Within five (5) calendar days of the Pubco’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for such a Registration, Pubco shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration shall so notify Pubco, in writing, within ten (10) calendar days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from Pubco. In the case of (A) a Form S-3 Shelf, as soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than thirty (30) calendar days after Pubco’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, Pubco shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that Pubco shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration if (x) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (y) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of Pubco entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public expected by such Holders to be less than $[10,000,000], and (B) a Form S-1 Shelf, Pubco shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by such Holders, including by (x) filing or confidentially submitting a Form S-1 Shelf relating thereto as soon as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) calendar days immediately after Pubco’s receipt of such written request for a Registration on a Form S-1 Shelf, and (y) shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such Form S-1 Shelf become effective as soon as practicable after Pubco’s receipt of such notice but in any event no later than within ninety (90) calendar days or, if the Form S-1 Shelf is reviewed by, and comments thereto are provided from, the Commission, within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days; provided, further that Pubco shall request the Form S-1 Shelf declared effective as soon as practicable but in any event no later than within five (5) business days after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that the Form S-1 Shelf will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided, however, that Pubco shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration if the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of Pubco entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public expected by such Holders to be less than $[10,000,000]. For the avoidance of doubt, any Registration pursuant to this Section 2.3.1 shall not count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 2.1.1.
2.3.2 Underwritten Shelf Offerings. At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if any Significant Specified Holder delivers a notice to PubCo stating that it intends to sell all or part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering, then PubCo shall promptly amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement, as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to an Underwritten Offering; provided, that subsections 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and (a) Pubco and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer, (b) the filing, initial effectiveness, or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of such Underwritten Offering at any time would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to Pubco for reasons beyond Pubco’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to Pubco 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 Pubco shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to Pubco for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, Pubco shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) calendar days; provided, however, that Pubco shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.
ARTICLE III
PUBCO PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Closing Date, Pubco is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable 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 Pubco shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission, within the time frame required by Section 2.1.1, a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding (such period, the “Effectiveness Period”);
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 used in connection therewith as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities thereby for its Effectiveness Period;
3.1.3 prior to filing or confidentially submitting 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 each such Holder’s 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 reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided, that, Pubco will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) 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 (b) 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 Pubco 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 Pubco 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;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by Pubco are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 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 prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) calendar days prior to the filing or confidentially submitting 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;
3.1.9 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 such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof; 3.1.10 permit a representative of the Significant Specified Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause Pubco’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Pubco, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided further, Pubco may not include the name of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from Pubco’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration which the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to each participating Significant Specified Holder;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing Pubco for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to each participating Significant Specified Holder;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of Pubco’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of Pubco to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by Pubco. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of Pubco pursuant to a Registration initiated by Pubco hereunder unless such person (a) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in form, scope and substance customary for such offerings and approved by Pubco and such person and (b) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from Pubco that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that Pubco hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by Pubco that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require Pubco to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to Pubco for reasons beyond Pubco’s control, Pubco may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) calendar days, determined in good faith by Pubco to be necessary for such purpose. In the event Pubco exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. Pubco shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4. If so directed by Pubco, the Holders will deliver to Pubco or, in Holders’ sole discretion destroy, all copies of each Prospectus for which the Holders have suspended use pursuant to this Section 3.4 covering Registrable Securities in Holders’ possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy shall not apply (A) to the extent the Holders are required to retain a copy of such Prospectus (x) to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (y) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Pubco shall not provide any Holder with any material, nonpublic information regarding Pubco other than to the extent that providing notice under this Section 3.4 to such Holder constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding Pubco.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, Pubco, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by Pubco after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. Pubco further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell the shares of Pubco Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, Pubco shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6 Limitations on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) the Sponsor may not exercise its rights solely in respect of the Private Placement Shares under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after August 12, 2029 and August 12, 2031 respectively and (b) the Sponsor may not exercise its rights solely in respect of the Private Placement Shares under Section 2.1 more than one time.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 Pubco agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its affiliates, officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Persons”) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to Pubco by such Holder Indemnified Person expressly for use therein.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to Pubco in writing such information and affidavits as Pubco reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify Pubco, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls Pubco (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (b) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party if the indemnifying party provides notice of such to the indemnified party within 30 calendar days of the indemnifying party’s receipt of notice of such claim. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action or counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in each case, within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action; in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction (plus local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 4 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an express and unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (a) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (b) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (c) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to Pubco, to: c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, BVI for the attention of Legal , and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in Pubco’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) calendar days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of Pubco hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by Pubco in whole or in part.
5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, including Section 4.1 and Section 5.2 hereof.
5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate Pubco unless and until Pubco shall have received (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Pubco, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile, PDF or other electronic counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (A) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (B) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5.5 Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of Pubco, the Sponsor and Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities held by all Specified Holders at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects either the Sponsor Holders as a group or the Specified Holders as a group (regardless, in each case, whether the Sponsor Holders or Specified Holders, respectively, are adversely affected (as a group) to the same extent) shall require the consent of at least (x) a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities held by such Sponsor Holders or (y) each Specified Holder, as applicable, at the time in question so affected; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder or group of affiliated Holders, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of Pubco, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder or group of affiliated Holders so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or Pubco and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or Pubco in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or Pubco. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.7 Other Registration Rights.1 Pubco represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require Pubco to register any securities of Pubco for sale or to include such securities of Pubco in any Registration filed by Pubco for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, Pubco represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof and the matters addressed or governed hereby, whether oral or written, including, without limitation, the Original Registration Rights Agreement.
5.9 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (b) the date as of which (i) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (ii) with respect to any Holder, such Holder ceasing to hold Registrable Securities.
5.10 Termination of Business Combination Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon each party upon such party’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall only become effective upon the Closing. In the event that the Business Combination Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and become null and void and be of no further force or effect, and the parties shall have no obligations hereunder and the provisions of the Original Registration Rights Agreement shall be automatically reinstated and in effect.
[Signature Page Follows]
1 | Section 5.7 to be updated as necessary. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
PUBCO: | ||
TWENTY ONE CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
SPAC: | ||
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
SPECIFIED HOLDERS: | ||
TETHER INVESTMENTS, S.A. DE C.V. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
IFINEX, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
STELLAR BEACON, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
OTHER HOLDERS: | ||
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
CONFIDENTIAL
Final Form
SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [●] 2025, between (i) Tether Investments S.A. de C.V., a corporation (Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) organized and existing under the laws of El Salvador (“Tether”) and (ii) Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”). Tether and Pubco are sometimes referred to in this Agreement collectively as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Parties desire, by their execution of this Agreement, to evidence the terms and conditions upon which Tether will provide certain services to Pubco and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) (the “Pubco Entities”).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, the term “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling,” “controlled,” or “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Privacy Laws” means all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and rules relating to the collection, use, disclosure, storage, security, or processing of personal information (or any corollary term).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of capital stock or share capital entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity.
ARTICLE II SERVICES
2.1 Provision of Administrative Services. Tether shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Pubco Entities certain centralized administrative and operational services, including the services listed on Schedule I hereto, and such other services as may be agreed upon by Tether and Pubco from time to time in writing (the “Services”). Tether shall perform the Services with reasonable skill, care and diligence, and in accordance with applicable law.
2. 2 Third Party Advisors. Attached hereto as Schedule II is an indicative organizational chart indicating, among other things, the Services intended to be provided by Tether and the Tether employees or service providers intended to be used by Tether in the performance of the Services (the “Organizational Chart”). Subject to the discretion of Pubco regarding the retention and dismissal of any Person, the Parties agree that Tether is authorized in the performance of the Services to engage or retain, as agent on behalf of the Pubco Entities, any reasonably necessary third party, including consultants, advisers, accountants, auditors and attorneys (“Third Party Advisors”) to assist in providing the Services. Each such Third Party Advisor shall possess appropriate experience and qualifications. Tether shall coordinate with and assist the Pubco Entities to manage and supervise such Third Party Advisors. The Pubco Entities shall reimburse Tether for any reasonable and documented costs and expenses arising from or related to such engagement or retention of any Third Party Advisors that have been paid with funds of Tether or its Affiliates rather than funds of the Pubco Entities (“Third Party Expenses”); provided, that, the Pubco Entities shall not be obligated to reimburse any such Third Party Expenses if such Services are indicated in the Organizational Chart as being covered under the Tether Services Agreement at the time of Closing unless such reimbursement is approved by the Audit Committee of Pubco in accordance with its related party transaction approval policy or policies as may be in effect from time to time (without regard to the amount of such Third Party Expenses).
2.3 Payment for Services. As remuneration for the provision to Pubco of the Services, Tether shall be entitled to receive, and the Pubco Entities agree to pay to Tether, an amount equal to $30,000 per calendar quarter or such other amount as may be agreed by the Parties in writing (the “Services Fee”). In addition, the Pubco Entities shall pay all sales, use, excise, value added or similar taxes, if any, that may be applicable from time to time in respect of the Services provided to such entities by Tether. It is the intention of the Parties that the Services Fee represents fair and reasonable compensation to Tether for the services rendered, having regard to the nature and scope of the Services.
2.4 Invoice and Payment. Within one (1) month following the end of each calendar quarter, Tether shall invoice the Pubco Entities for the Services Fee and Third Party Expenses (if applicable) for such calendar quarter. All invoices shall be payable to Tether by the Pubco Entities within 30 days of receipt. If any amount is disputed, Pubco shall notify Tether within 10 days of receipt, specifying the basis of the dispute, and the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to resolve the matter.
2.5 Term; Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect unless and until terminated by either Party in accordance with this Section 2.5. Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without cause, by providing 30 days’ prior written notice to the other Party. Termination shall not affect any rights or obligations that have accrued prior to the effective date of termination.
2.6 Survival. The provisions of this Agreement that by their nature should survive termination or expiration shall survive, including without limitation those relating to confidentiality, payment, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution.
ARTICLE III CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROCESSING
3.1 Confidentiality Obligations. Each Party agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public, proprietary, or confidential information disclosed by the other party (the “Disclosing Party”) in connection with the performance of the Parties’ obligations under this Agreement (“Confidential Information”), whether oral, written, electronic, or in any other form, and whether or not marked as confidential. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, information relating to business operations, strategies, financials, legal matters, intellectual property, health, safety, environmental practices, personal data, and other information relating to the Disclosing Party’s business or clients. The Party receiving any Confidential Information, and its employees, attorneys, financial advisors, officers, directors, shareholders and members who receive Confidential Information, shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party, (i) use Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party for any purpose other than those purposes permitted under this Agreement, whether for itself or for the benefit of another, or (ii) divulge, disclose, publish or communicate, to any person, firm, corporation or entity, in any manner whatsoever, the terms of this Agreement or any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party; provided, however, that Tether may use, divulge, disclose or communicate the terms of this Agreement or Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party to its Affiliates, Third Party Advisors, employees, attorneys, financial advisors, officers, directors, to the extent required for the performance by Tether of any of its obligations under this Agreement, without first obtaining Pubco’s written consent. Each Party further agrees to use the same degree of care to maintain as confidential and to avoid non-permitted use or disclosure of the Confidential Information disclosed to it under this Agreement as it employs with respect to its own confidential information, but at all times at least reasonable care to protect against a non-permitted use or disclosure. Confidential Information does not and shall not include information that:
(a) was already known to the receiving Party at the time such Confidential Information is disclosed by the other Party;
(b) was or became publicly known through no wrongful act of the receiving Party;
(c) was rightfully received by the receiving Party from a third party without restriction;
(d) was independently developed by the receiving Party; or
(e) was required for legal or financial reporting purposes to be disclosed; provided, however, that the Party being required to disclose shall, if circumstances permit, provide advance notice to the other Party and shall allow the other Party a reasonable opportunity to oppose such disclosure, if appropriate.
3.2 Data Security. The receiving Party shall implement and maintain commercially reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect the security and integrity of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information, including against unauthorized access, use or disclosure, which, where required, comply with applicable Privacy Laws.
3.3 Personal Information. To the extent the Services involve the processing of personal information, each Party shall comply with all applicable Privacy Laws. If required by applicable Privacy Laws, the Parties shall promptly enter into a separate data processing agreement or similar contractual arrangement to address the processing of such information.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the Party granting such waiver. No failure or delay of any Party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.
4.2 Amendment. No amendment or modification of any provision of this Agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Parties.
4.3 Assignment. No Party shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other Party. 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 4.3 shall be null and void, ab initio.
4.4 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting by 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 Tether, to:
Final Av. La Revolucion, Colonia San Benito, Edif. Centro,
Corporativo Presidente Plaza, Nivel 12, Oficina 2, Distrito de San
Salvador, Municipio de San Salvador
Centro, Republica de El Salvador
Attention: Investments Legal
Email: investments.legal@tether.to (copy to legal@tether.to)
(b) If to Pubco, to:
c/o iFinex c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited,
Trinity Chambers, PO Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, BVI
Attention: Legal
Email: legal@tether.to (with a copy to investments.legal@tether.to)
or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing.
4.5 Further Assurances. The Parties agree to execute such additional instruments, agreements and documents, and to take such other actions, as may be necessary to effect the purposes of this Agreement.
4.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. 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.
4.7 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Party or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Parties or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Each Party may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
4.9 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement 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.
4.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes and expresses the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. All previous discussions, promises, representations and understandings relative thereto, are hereby merged in and superseded by this Agreement.
4.11 Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL TETHER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES BE LIABLE TO ANY OF THE PERSONS RECEIVING ANY SERVICES OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY ERROR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON PROVIDING SUCH SERVICE, ITS AFFILIATES, OR OTHERS MAY BE WHOLLY, CONCURRENTLY, PARTIALLY, OR SOLELY NEGLIGENT OR OTHERWISE AT FAULT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARE PAID BY THE PARTY INCURRING SUCH DAMAGES TO A THIRD PARTY.
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the date first written above by their duly authorized representatives.
Tether Investments S.A. de C.V. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Twenty One Capital, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
Administrative and Operational Services
1. | Information technology services consisting of development, maintenance, and oversight of IT systems, including cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and other technology platforms critical to the operation of the business. |
2. | Legal services consisting of regulatory compliance and control, corporate governance, contract review and negotiation, intellectual property protection and management, and digital asset-related legal matters such as custody arrangements. |
3. | Health, safety and environmental services consisting of implementation and monitoring of workplace health and safety practices (including remote and hybrid work environments), and environmental sustainability initiatives. |
4. | Management, registration, enforcement, and commercialization of intellectual property, including proprietary code, algorithms, trademarks, and any other relevant IP developed or used by Pubco. |
5. | Treasury & Risk Management, including support with strategic initiatives such as capital raising, market entry, and partnership development; Bitcoin Trading; and related risk management and risk assessment services. |
6. | Human Resources services, including payroll and benefits services consisting of payroll processing, tax reporting, and benefits administration services. |
7. | Investor Relations services, including investor outreach services. |
Exhibit 10.7
EXECUTION VERSION
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
April 22, 2025
THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the date first written above by and among Twenty One Assets, LLC., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Tether Investments S.A. de C.V., a corporation (sociedad anónima de capital variable) organized and existing under the laws of El Salvador (“Tether”), and iFinex, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (“Bitfinex” and together with the Company and Tether, the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, concurrently with the entry into this Agreement, the Parties are entering into that certain Business Combination Agreement, by and among the Parties and the other parties thereto (as may be amended from time to time, the “BCA”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.3(d) of the BCA, completion of the Contribution (as defined herein) is a condition in favor of Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the BCA (the “BCA Closing”);
WHEREAS, Tether desires to contribute to the Company, and the Company desires to accept from Tether, the rights of Tether in and to 24,500 Bitcoin (the “Tether Bitcoin”), in exchange for the Tether Interest (as defined below), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Bitfinex desires to contribute to the Company, and the Company desires to accept from Bitfinex, the rights of Bitfinex in and to 7,000 Bitcoin (the “Bitfinex Bitcoin”), in exchange for the Bitfinex Interest (as defined below), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Contributions. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing:
(a) Tether shall transfer and contribute to the Company all of Tether’s legal and beneficial rights, title, and interest in and to the Tether Bitcoin (the “Tether Contribution”); and
(b) Bitfinex shall transfer and contribute to the Company all of Bitfinex’s legal and beneficial rights, title, and interest in and to the Bitfinex Bitcoin (the “Bitfinex Contribution” and together with the Tether Contribution, the “Contributions”).
2. Consideration. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing:
(a) in consideration for the Tether Contribution, the Company shall issue to Tether (i) 208 units of class A common membership interest of the Company (the “Company Class A Interest”) and (ii) 208 units of class B membership interest of the Company (the “Company Class B Interest”) (such units of Company Class A Interest and Company Class B Interest, collectively, the “Tether Interest”); and
(b) in consideration for the Bitfinex Contribution, the Company shall issue to Bitfinex (i) 59 units of Company Class A Interest and (ii) 59 units of Company Class B Interest (such units of Company Class A Interest and Company Class B Interest, collectively, the “Bitfinex Interest”).
3. Closing Date. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall occur on the same date and immediately prior to the BCA Closing, remotely by and upon the electronic exchange and release of signature pages to this Agreement, or at such other place that the parties may mutually agree. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to as the “Closing Date.”
4. Closing Deliverables. At the Closing:
(a) the Company shall deliver (i) to Tether, evidence of the issuance of the Tether Interest in accordance with Section 2(a), and (ii) to Bitfinex, evidence of the issuance of the Bitfinex Interest in accordance with Section 2(b);
(b) Tether shall deliver to the Company evidence of the transfer of the Tether Bitcoin to the custodial account maintained by Anchorage in the name of the Company at a wallet, details of which to be communicated to the Parties prior to Closing (the “Custodial Account”); and
(c) Bitfinex shall deliver to the Company evidence of the transfer of the Bitfinex Bitcoin to the Custodial Account.
5. Conditions to Closing. The obligation of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions (which may be waived by the Parties in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a) Each of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the BCA (other than Sections 9.1(e) and 9.3(d) of the BCA) shall have been satisfied or waived pursuant to and in accordance with the terms set forth therein.
(b) No Law will have been enacted and no Order will have been issued by a Governmental Authority after the date hereof that enjoins, restrains, prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Closing or makes the consummation of the Closing illegal.
6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as follows: (a) by the mutual written consent of the Parties, SPAC and Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SoftBank”); or (b) automatically with no further action required by the Parties if the BCA is terminated in accordance with its terms. If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Section 6, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force and effect.
7. Further Assurances. Each Party hereto shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such other instruments as may be reasonably requested by the other Party or reasonably required to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out the purposes of the Contributions and this Agreement.
8. Representations and Warranties. No Party makes any representations or warranties under or with respect to this Agreement.
9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
10. Amendments, Supplements, etc. This Agreement may be amended or supplemented only with the prior written consent of each Party, SPAC and SoftBank. No term of this Agreement, nor performance hereof or compliance herewith, may be waived except by a writing signed by the Party giving such waiver.
11. Third-Party Beneficiary. The Parties agree and acknowledge that SPAC and SoftBank are intended third-party beneficiaries of Sections 6 and 10 and shall have the right to enforce Sections 6 and 10 as if an original party hereto.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of law principles.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the Parties and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings or agreements by or among the Parties, written or oral, that may relate to the subject matter hereof.
15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Contribution Agreement as of the date first written above.
Twenty One Assets, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Steven Meehan | |
Name: | Steven Meehan | |
Title: | Secretary | |
Tether Investments S.A. de C.V. | ||
By: | /s/ Giancarlo Devasini | |
Name: | Giancarlo Devasini | |
Title: | Sole Administrator | |
iFinex, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Paolo Ardoino | |
Name: | Paolo Ardoino | |
Title: | Director |
Exhibit 99.1
EXECUTION VERSION
Certain personally identifiable information has been omitted from this exhibit pursuant to item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K. [***] indicates that information has been redacted.
SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on April 22, 2025, by and among Tether Investments, S.A. de C.V., an El Salvador sociedad anónima de capital variable (the “Seller”), and Stellar Beacon LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”). Seller and Purchaser are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the BCA (as defined below).
WHEREAS, on or about the date hereof, (a) Seller, (b) Purchaser (solely for the limited purposes described therein), (c) Cantor Equity Partners, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), (d) Twenty One Capital, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Pubco”), (e) Twenty One Merger Sub D, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (f) Twenty One Assets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and (g) the other parties thereto entered into a business combination agreement (the “BCA”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the BCA, (a) SPAC will merge with and into SPAC Merger Sub, with SPAC Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (such surviving company, the “SPAC Surviving Entity” and such merger, the “SPAC Merger”), and with the shareholders of SPAC receiving one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco (“Pubco Class A Common Stock”) for each Class A ordinary share of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share (including the shares of Class A common stock of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share), issued in exchange therefore (“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”), held by such shareholder in accordance with the terms of the BCA and (b) Company will merge with and into a newly formed Delaware corporation (“Company Merger Sub”), with the Company Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company (the “Company Surviving Entity”), and with shareholders of the Company receiving shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Pubco Class B Common Stock”), of Pubco in exchange for interests of the Company (“Company Interests”) in accordance with the terms of the BCA (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”, and together with the other transactions contemplated by the BCA, the “Transactions”), and as a result of which Mergers, the SPAC Surviving Entity and the Company Surviving Entity will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will become a publicly traded company, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the BCA and in accordance with applicable law;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, Seller, iFinex, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (“Bitfinex”), and the Company have entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which, immediately prior to the closing of the BCA, (a) Seller shall contribute to the Company 24,500 Bitcoin, (b) Bitfinex shall contribute to the Company 7,000 Bitcoin, for an aggregate contribution of 31,500 Bitcoin (clauses (a) and (b) collectively, the “Contribution”) and (c) in exchange for the Contribution, the Company shall issue to each of Seller and Bitfinex a number of Company Interests to be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement; WHEREAS, on or about the date hereof, (a) the Convertible Notes Investors (as defined in the BCA) have agreed to make a private investment in Pubco by purchasing convertible notes with an aggregate principal amount equal to the Convertible Note Gross Proceeds (as defined in the BCA), which may be increased by up to One Hundred Million United States Dollars ($100,000,000) to the extent the Convertible Notes Investors exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Notes at any time before the 30th day after the date of this Agreement (the “Option Period”) and (b) the Equity PIPE Investors (as defined in the BCA) have agreed to make a private investment in SPAC by purchasing SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in the aggregate amount equal to the Equity PIPE Gross Proceeds (as defined in the BCA), in each case, pursuant to (x) subscription agreements substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit D of the BCA for the Convertible Notes PIPE (the “Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements”) and (y) subscription agreements substantially in the form set forth on Exhibit E of the BCA for the Equity PIPE (the “Equity PIPE Subscription Agreements” and, together with the Convertible Notes Subscription Agreements, the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the BCA (i) within ten (10) Business Days following the date of signing of the BCA, Seller will purchase Bitcoin in an aggregate principal amount equal to the sum of (a) the Convertible Notes Gross Cash Proceeds (as defined in the BCA) and (b) the Equity PIPE Gross Cash Proceeds (as defined in the BCA) minus the Initial Holdback Amount (as defined in the BCA) (the sum of clauses (a) and (b), the “Initial PIPE Net Proceeds”) and (ii) within ten (10) Business Days following the end of the Option Period, Seller will purchase Bitcoin in an aggregate principal amount equal to (a) the Option Note Gross Proceeds (as defined in the BCA) minus the Option Holdback Amount (as defined in the BCA) (the “Option Note Net Proceeds” and together with the Initial PIPE Net Proceeds, the “PIPE Bitcoin Amount”); and
WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to acquire from Seller, and Seller desires to transfer to Purchaser, the SoftBank Shares (as defined below) that Seller will receive upon the closing of the BCA, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at Closing (as defined below), Seller hereby agrees to sell and transfer to Purchaser, and Purchaser agrees to purchase and accept from Seller, the SoftBank Shares (as defined below) in exchange for the Purchase Price (as defined below).
(a) The consideration to be paid by Purchaser for the purchase of the SoftBank Shares (the “Purchase Price”) shall be the sum of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below:
(i) An amount equal to the lesser of (A) 10,500 multiplied by the Bitcoin Price (as defined below) on the Business Day (as defined below) immediately prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein) (such amount, the “SoftBank Bitcoin Amount”), and (B) One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000);
(ii) An amount equal to (A) the lesser of (x) the SoftBank Bitcoin Amount and (y) One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000) multiplied by (B) the Applicable Rate (such amount, the “SoftBank Bitcoin Cost Amount”); and
(iii) An amount equal to (A) the PIPE Bitcoin Amount valued at the Bitcoin Price on the Business Day immediately prior to the Closing Date divided by three, multiplied by (B) the Applicable Rate (such amount, the “PIPE Bitcoin Cost Amount”).
(b) The Purchaser may, at its election, pay the SoftBank Bitcoin Cost Amount and the PIPE Bitcoin Cost Amount either (i) in cash or (ii) by reducing the number of SoftBank Shares that would otherwise be transferred by Seller to Purchaser at Closing by a number of shares equal to (A) the SoftBank Bitcoin Cost Amount plus the PIPE Bitcoin Cost Amount, divided by (B) $10.00 (rounded to the next whole share) (such shares, the “Net Settlement Shares”).
(c) In exchange for the payment of the Purchase Price, at Closing, Seller will transfer to Purchaser an equal number of shares of Pubco’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (such Pubco Common Stock, the “SoftBank Shares”), in each case calculated as:
(i) (A) the lesser of (x) 10,500 multiplied by the Bitcoin Price on the Business Day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, and (y) One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000), divided by (B) $10.00 (rounded to the next whole share), minus
(ii) the Net Settlement Shares (if any), minus
(iii) the Withholding Shares (if any), minus
(iv) if the SoftBank Bitcoin Amount exceeds One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000), a number of shares equal to (A) the difference between the SoftBank Bitcoin Amount and One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000), divided by (B) $10.00 (rounded to the next whole share).
(d) For the purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Accrual Period” means the actual number of calendar days for the period beginning on and including the applicable Accrual Start Date to, but excluding, the Closing Date.
(ii) “Applicable Rate” means a percentage (rounded to the nearest five decimal places) obtained by multiplying the Accrual Rate by (A) the Accrual Period, divided by (B) 365 (as mutually agreed by Purchaser and Seller).
(iii) “Bitcoin Price” shall mean United States Dollar price of one bitcoin as determined by the average of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant for the ten (10) day period ending on the day prior to any applicable Business Day.
(iv) “Accrual Rate” shall mean the sum of (A) the arithmetic average (rounded to the nearest five decimal places) of the Term SOFR Screen Rate on each U.S. Government Securities Business Day during the Accrual Period and (B) 3.00%.
(v) “Term SOFR Screen Rate” shall mean the forward-looking SOFR term rate for a 3-month tenor administered by CME (or any successor administrator determined by Purchaser in consultation with Seller) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by Purchaser in consultation with Seller).
(vi) “CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
(vii) “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City (New York) or Houston (Texas) or the Secretary of State of Delaware are not open for a full business day for the general transaction of business.
(viii) “U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.
(ix) “Accrual Start Date”, means the applicable date or dates on which Seller has purchased the PIPE Bitcoin Amount, as certified by Seller to Purchaser in writing.
Section 2. Closing.
(a) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the same date as the closing of the Transactions, immediately after the consummation of the Company Merger (the “Closing Date”).
(b) At least five (5) Business Days before the anticipated Closing Date, Seller shall deliver written notice to Purchaser specifying the anticipated Closing Date. Seller shall deliver the wire instructions for delivery of the Purchase Price to Purchaser or its designee.
(c) The obligations of Purchaser to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable law, waiver by Purchaser, of the conditions that on or prior to the Closing Date:
(i) The Business Combination shall have closed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the BCA in effect as of the date hereof unless amended or otherwise modified consistent with the terms thereof and hereof, including, for the avoidance of doubt with Purchaser’s prior written consent;
(ii) No waiver or amendment of any provision of any of the BCA, any PIPE Subscription Agreement, or any of the Ancillary Documents (as defined in the BCA) (the “Ancillary Documents,” which for greater certainty shall include the forms of such Ancillary Documents (whether attached to the BCA or otherwise) to the extent such Ancillary Documents are not entered into substantially concurrently with this Agreement) shall have occurred without Purchaser’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed);
(iii) No governmental authority with competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose such restraint or prohibition; and
(iv) All representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Seller Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date); and
(v) Seller shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Seller at or prior to the Closing.
(d) The obligations of Seller to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Closing) are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable law, waiver by the Parties, of the conditions that on or prior to the Closing Date:
(i) The Business Combination shall have closed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the BCA in effect as of the date hereof unless amended or otherwise modified consistent with the terms thereof and hereof, including, for the avoidance of doubt with Purchaser’s prior written consent;
(ii) No governmental authority with competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose such restraint or prohibition; (iii) All representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than (A) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Purchaser Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) which representations shall be true in all respects or (B) representations and warranties that speak as of a specified earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date);
(iv) Purchaser has wired the Purchase Price (less the value of any Net Settlement Shares, if applicable) to an account designated Seller; and
(v) Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Seller at or prior to the Closing.
(e) Prior to or at the Closing, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller and Pubco all such other information as is reasonably requested in order for Pubco or its transfer agent to facilitate the transfer of the SoftBank Shares to Purchaser.
Section 3. Seller Representations and Warranties. Seller, solely with respect to the representations and warranties set forth below relating to Seller, represents and warrants to Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) Seller (i) is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and (ii) has the requisite corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) The sale of the SoftBank Shares, when sold pursuant to this Agreement (subject to the receipt by Seller of the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and registration with Pubco’s transfer agent), will have been duly authorized by Pubco and, when delivered to Purchaser (or its nominee in accordance with Purchaser’s delivery instructions), will be validly issued, fully paid and free and clear of all liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under this Agreement or the BCA, the Pubco Organizational Documents (as defined below) or applicable securities laws), and will not have been issued in violation of, or subject to, any preemptive or similar rights created under the Pubco Organizational Documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the laws of Pubco’s jurisdiction.
(c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by Seller, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Purchaser, this Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
(d) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Section 4(d), 4(e) and 4(f), the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the compliance by Seller with all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to Seller and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Seller pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Seller is a party or by which Seller is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, Pubco’s organizational documents (“Pubco Organizational Documents”), or (iii) conflict with or result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Seller or any of its properties except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), for such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Seller Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to Seller that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Seller’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Section 4(d), 4(e) and 4(f), Seller is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction, self-regulatory organization (including any stock exchange on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock will be listed (the “Stock Exchange”) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, other than those the failure of which to obtain would not have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Except for such matters as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) suit, action, proceeding or arbitration before a governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction pending, or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened in writing against Seller or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental authority or arbitrator with competent jurisdiction outstanding against Seller, as applicable.
(g) Assuming the accuracy of Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4(d), no registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or any state securities (or Blue Sky) laws is required for the offer and sale of the SoftBank Shares by Seller to Purchaser.
(h) None of the Seller or any person acting on Seller’s behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the SoftBank Shares. The SoftBank Shares are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws. None of the Seller or any person acting on Seller’s behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past thirty (30) calendar days, made any offer or sale of any security or solicitation of any offer to buy any security under circumstances that would (i) eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by Seller of the SoftBank Shares as contemplated hereby or (ii) cause the sale of the SoftBank Shares pursuant to this Agreement to be integrated with prior sales by Seller, Pubco or any of their affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions. None of the Seller or any person acting on their behalf has offered or sold or will offer or sell any securities, or has taken or will take any other action, which would reasonably be expected to subject the offer or sale of the SoftBank Shares, as contemplated hereby, to the registration provisions of the Securities Act.
(i) Seller is not subject to an event that would disqualify an issuer or other covered person under Rule 506(d)(1) of the Securities Act and is not subject to a statutory disqualification described under Section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
(j) Seller is in compliance in all material respects with, and has not received any written communication from a governmental authority with competent jurisdiction that alleges that Seller is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is in default or violation of, the applicable provisions of (i) the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), except, in each case, where such non-compliance, default, or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
(k) No broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission solely in connection with the sale of the SoftBank Shares to Purchaser.
(l) Pubco is not, and immediately after consummation of the Transactions, will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
Section 4. Purchaser Representations and Warranties. Purchaser represents and warrants to Seller, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, that:
(a) Purchaser (i) has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation and (ii) has the requisite power and authority to enter into, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by Purchaser. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Seller, this Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the purchase of the SoftBank Shares hereunder, the compliance by Purchaser with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Purchaser pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Purchaser is subject; (ii) the organizational documents of Purchaser; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental authority with competent jurisdiction over Purchaser or any of its properties that, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to Purchaser that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially delay Purchaser’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the purchase of the SoftBank Shares.
(d) Purchaser (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3), (7) or (8) under the Securities Act), (ii) is acquiring the SoftBank Shares only for its own or its affiliates’ account and not for the account of others, and (iii) is not acquiring the SoftBank Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the SoftBank Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the SoftBank Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act.
(e) Neither Purchaser nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function is (i) a person (including individual or entity) that is the target or the subject of economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by relevant governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction, including, but not limited to those administered by the U.S. government through the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) and the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (including His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions”), (ii) a person or entity listed on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by OFAC, or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC, or any other any Sanctions-related list of sanctioned persons maintained by OFAC, the Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU member state, or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”), (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, or the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, as well as the non-controlled regions of the oblasts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, or the United Kingdom; (iv) directly or indirectly owned or controlled (as ownership and control are defined and interpreted under applicable sanctions), or acting on behalf or at the direction of, any such person or persons described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv); or (v) a non-U.S. institution that accepts currency for deposit and that has no physical presence in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or in which it is operating, as the case may be, and is unaffiliated with a regulated financial group that is subject to consolidated supervision (a “non-U.S. shell bank”) or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, (i) through (v), a “Prohibited Investor”). Purchaser agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that Purchaser is permitted to do so under applicable law. Purchaser represents that (i) if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that Purchaser maintains policies and procedures to ensure compliance with its obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act, and (ii) to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the anti-corruption and anti-money laundering-related laws administered and enforced by other governmental authorities with competent jurisdiction. Purchaser also represents that it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with Sanctions. Purchaser further represents and warrants that (i) none of the funds held by Purchaser and used to purchase the Shares are or will be derived from transactions directly or indirectly with or for the benefit of any Prohibited Investor, (ii) such funds are from legitimate sources and do not constitute the proceeds of criminal conduct or criminal property, (iii) such funds do not originate from and have not been routed through an account maintained at a non-U.S. shell bank; and (iv) it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure the funds held by Purchaser and used to purchase the SoftBank Shares were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor or from or through a non-U.S. shell bank.
(f) No foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) will acquire a substantial interest in Pubco as a result of the purchase and sale of the SoftBank Shares hereunder.
(g) Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the SoftBank Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the SoftBank Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and that Pubco is not required to register the SoftBank Shares, except pursuant to any registration rights agreement entered into between Pubco and Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the SoftBank Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Purchaser absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or account entries representing the SoftBank Shares will contain a restrictive legend to this effect. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the SoftBank Shares will be subject to these securities law transfer restrictions, and as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the SoftBank Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the SoftBank Shares for an indefinite period of time. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the SoftBank Shares.
(h) Purchaser acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the SoftBank Shares. Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the SoftBank Shares, and Purchaser has had an opportunity to seek, and has sought, such accounting, legal, business and tax advice as Purchaser has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.
(i) Purchaser has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the SoftBank Shares and determined that the SoftBank Shares are a suitable investment for Purchaser and that Purchaser is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Purchaser’s investment in SoftBank Shares. Purchaser acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
(j) Purchaser understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the SoftBank Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
(k) Purchaser acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to SPAC and Pubco.
Section 5. Certain Obligations.
(a) From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Seller will not, without the written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), consent to, ratify, support, execute, approve or otherwise take actions that would result in (x) Pubco engaging in a business that is inconsistent with the operations reflected in the business plan attached hereto as Exhibit A and approved by the board of Pubco (the “Business Plan”) or (y) a communication with respect to the anticipated business operations of Pubco and its subsidiaries being made to Nasdaq, any Stock Exchange or the SEC that is different from the Business Plan; provided, that (a) any amendments, revisions, updates or changes to the Business Plan which are consented to by Purchaser in writing in advance of any such amendments, revisions, updates or changes will be deemed to be part of the Business Plan, and (b) for greater certainty, in no event shall Seller’s consent be deemed unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed if it is withheld, conditioned or delayed subject to or during the prior circulation of any revisions to the Business Plan to Convertible Notes Investors and Equity PIPE Investors;
(b) From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Seller will provide, and as of the Closing Date, has provided, Purchaser with all notices and/or copies of all notices, materials, and documents that Seller provides or receives pursuant to or in accordance with the BCA and/or the other Ancillary Documents.
(c) From the date hereof until the Closing, Seller will provide notice to Purchaser if it has actual knowledge of any alleged violation of Sections 8.9, 8.22 and 8.23 and Article 9 of the BCA by any party to the BCA, and at Purchaser’s election, will use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce any rights it has with respect to such violation pursuant to the terms of the BCA (including commercially reasonable efforts to seek specific performance).
(d) From the date hereof until the Closing, Seller will cooperate with Purchaser and provide Purchaser (and its counsel) with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement (as defined in the BCA) as if Purchaser was a party to Section 8.11 of the BCA. Seller will further provide notice to Purchaser if it has actual knowledge of any alleged violation of Section 8.11 of the BCA by any party to the BCA, and in consultation with Purchaser, will use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce any rights it has with respect to such violation pursuant to the terms of the BCA (including commercially reasonable efforts to seek specific performance).
Section 6. Tax Matters.
(a) Seller shall deliver to Purchaser prior to the Closing a certificate, duly executed by Pubco and issued in accordance with U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3)(i), dated no more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, and signed under penalty of perjury (the “FIRPTA Certificate”). The FIPRTA Certificate shall certify that (A) Pubco is not, and has not been at any time during the five (5)-year period ending on the date of such certificate, a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and (B) none of the SoftBank Shares constitutes a “United States real property interest” as defined in Section 897(c) of the Code and the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(b) Seller shall provide Purchaser with all applicable tax documentation reasonably requested by Purchaser at the Closing, including a valid and properly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, Form W-8BEN, or Form W-8BEN-E , or any other form or information reasonably necessary to establish an exemption from, or reduction in, any applicable withholding tax obligations (each, a “Tax Form”).
(c) Purchaser shall not withhold from the consideration payable to Seller under this Agreement if Seller delivers to Purchaser the FIRPTA Certificate and the relevant Tax Form prior to Closing, except to the extent required as a result of a change in law after the date of this Agreement. To the extent required as a result of such a change in law, Purchaser shall be entitled to withhold from the consideration payable to Seller under this Agreement. To the extent that any amounts are so withheld by Purchaser and are not withheld as a result of Seller’s failure to provide a Tax Form (the “Withheld Amounts”), (i) Seller shall reduce the number of SoftBank Shares that would otherwise be transferred by Seller to Purchaser at Closing by a number of shares equal to (A) the Withheld Amounts, divided by (B) $10.00 (rounded to the next whole share) (such shares, the “Withholding Shares”), and Purchaser shall have no right to such Withholding Shares, and (ii) Purchaser shall in a timely manner pay such Withheld Amounts to the appropriate governmental authority. If Purchaser believes that it is so required to make such withholding (x) Purchaser shall notify Seller at least five (5) days before any such withholding, and (y) the Parties shall use reasonable efforts to cooperate prior to Closing to reduce or eliminate any such withholding.
(d) Seller has had opportunity to review with Seller’s own tax advisors the federal, state and local tax consequences of the sale of the SoftBank Shares and the Transactions. Except for the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement, Seller is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of Purchaser or any of its representatives, agents, advisors or legal counsel. Seller understands that Seller (and not Purchaser) shall be responsible for Seller’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of the Transactions.
Section 7. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the Parties shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the BCA is terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) the mutual written agreement of the Parties to terminate this Agreement, and (c) by (x) Purchaser in the event of any material breach of Section 5(a) or (y) either Seller or Purchaser, in the event of a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of this Agreement (other than Section 5(a), which is governed by the foregoing clause (x) of this Section 7(c)) which would result in a failure of the conditions set forth in Section 2(c)(iv) or Section 2(d)(iii), as applicable, to be satisfied and such breach is not able to be cured within twenty (20) days of the other party hereto giving notice of such breach, or if there has been any waiver or amendment of any material provision of any of the BCA, any PIPE Subscription Agreement or any of the Ancillary Documents without Purchaser’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), provided, that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach. If Closing does not occur, Purchaser’s only obligation, subject to the foregoing proviso, shall be payment of the SoftBank Bitcoin Cost Amount and the PIPE Bitcoin Cost Amount in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the period beginning at and including the date hereof to, but excluding, the date of termination of this Agreement; provided, that (x) for purposes of this Section 7, the SoftBank Bitcoin Amount and the PIPE Bitcoin Amount shall be the amounts actually paid by Seller as certified in good faith by Seller to Purchaser in writing containing reasonable supporting documentation (in Purchaser’s reasonable determination) of such amounts (in each case, not to exceed One Billion United States Dollars ($1,000,000,000)), and (y) if the BCA terminates by mutual written consent or as a result of the breach of a material representation, warranty, covenant or obligation by Seller, Purchaser shall have no such payment obligation.
Section 8. Indemnification.
(a) Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser and any person who controls Purchaser (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, members or employees (each, a “Purchaser Indemnified Person”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Purchaser Indemnified Person may become subject, resulting from or arising out of any breach of the representations and warranties made by Seller hereunder and any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement hereunder except to the extent the same are caused by the negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Purchaser Indemnified Person (collectively, the “Purchaser Indemnification Rights”).
(b) Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and any person who controls Seller (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, members or employees (each, a “Seller Indemnified Person” and with the Purchaser Indemnified Person, the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Seller Indemnified Person may become subject, resulting from or arising out of any breach of the representations and warranties made by Purchaser hereunder and any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement hereunder except to the extent the same are caused by the negligence, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such Seller Indemnified Person (collectively, the “Seller Indemnification Rights” and with the Purchaser Indemnification Rights, the “Indemnification Rights”).
(c) If for any reason any of the Indemnification Rights are unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient to hold it harmless, then the other Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such Indemnified Person on the one hand and the other Party hereto on the other hand in the matters contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by Indemnified Person on the one hand and the other Party hereto on the other hand in the matters contemplated by this Agreement but also the relative fault of such Indemnified Person and the other Party hereto with respect to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities and any other relevant equitable considerations. The obligations with respect to the Indemnification Rights shall be in addition to any liability that either Indemnified Person may otherwise have.
(d) Section 8(a) and Section 8(b) shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Purchaser hereby acknowledges that it shall be responsible for and bear the cost of all transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges arising in any jurisdiction in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement as well as the execution of this Agreement.
(b) Purchaser acknowledges that Seller will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause of this Section 9(b) shall not give Seller any rights other than those expressly set forth herein. Prior to the Closing, Purchaser agrees to promptly notify Seller if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. Seller acknowledges that Purchaser will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause of this Section 9(b) shall not give Purchaser any rights other than those expressly set forth herein. Prior to the Closing, Seller agrees to promptly notify Purchaser, if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Seller set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects.
(c) Each of the Seller and the Purchaser is irrevocably authorized to produce this Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(d) Each Party shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(e) Neither this Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Purchaser hereunder (other than with respect to the SoftBank Shares acquired hereunder) may be transferred or assigned by Purchaser. Neither this Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Seller hereunder may be transferred or assigned by Seller. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser may assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more of its affiliates upon written notice to Seller.
(f) All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each Party in this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of twelve (12) months.
(g) This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the Parties.
(h) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(i) The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money or other legal remedies would not be an adequate remedy for such damage. It is accordingly agreed that the parties are entitled to seek equitable relief, including in the form of an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. The parties further acknowledge and agree to waive any requirement for the security or posting of any bond in connection with any such equitable remedy.
(j) If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
(k) No failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a Party, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a Party shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
(l) This Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail, in .pdf or other electronic submission) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(m) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.
(n) EACH PARTY AND ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OTHER SUCH PARTY, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(o) The parties agree that all disputes, legal actions, suits and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement must be brought exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court within the State of Delaware or, in the event each federal court within the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state court within the State of Delaware) (collectively the “Designated Courts”). Each party hereby consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Designated Courts. No legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to this Agreement may be brought in any other forum. Each party hereby irrevocably waives all claims of immunity from jurisdiction, and any objection which such party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in any Designated Court, including any right to object on the basis that any dispute, action, suit or proceeding brought in the Designated Courts has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum or venue. Each of the parties also agrees that delivery of any process, summons, notice or document to a party hereof in compliance with Section 9(r) of this Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in a Designated Court with respect to any matters to which the parties have submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above.
(p) This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim, action, suit or other legal proceeding based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as parties.
(q) The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references to Sections or Annexes are to Sections or Annexes contained in or attached to this Agreement, (ii) each accounting term not otherwise defined in this Agreement has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural and pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, (iv) the use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than limitation, and (v) the word “or” shall not be exclusive (i.e., unless context requires otherwise “or” shall be interpreted to mean “and/or” rather than “either/or”).
(r) All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (a) in person, (b) by facsimile, email or other electronic means, with affirmative confirmation of receipt (excluding out-of-office replies or other automatically generated responses), (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) four (4) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice:
If to the Seller, to:
Final Av. La Revolucion, Colonia San Benito, Edif. Centro,
Corporativo
Presidente Plaza, Nivel 12, Oficina 2, Distrito de San Salvador, Municipio
de San Salvador Centro, Republica de El Salvador
Attn: Investments Legal
Email: investments.legal@tether.to (copy to legal@tether.to)
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate,
EC2N 4BQ London
Attn: Lorenzo Corte
Maria Protopapa
[***]
[***]
If to SoftBank at, prior to or after the Closing, to:
Stellar Beacon LLC
300 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Attn: Legal Department
Email: dl-sbsp-notice@softbank.com
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Sullivan and Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Matthew B. Goodman
Mario Schollmeyer
[***]
[***]
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.
TETHER INVESTMENTS, S.A. de C.V. | ||
By: | /s/ Giancarlo Devasini | |
Name: | Giancarlo Devasini | |
Title: | Sole Administrator |
[Signature Page to SoftBank Sale and Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Purchaser has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.
STELLAR BEACON LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to SoftBank Sale and Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit A
Business Plan
[Signature Page to SoftBank Sale and Purchase Agreement]