UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16
OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of December 2025
Commission File Number 001-42379
Founder Group Limited
No. 17, Jalan Astana 1D, Bandar Bukit Raja,
41050 Klang,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Convertible Note Financing
On December 11, 2025, Founder Group Limited, a business company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (the “Company”), entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (the “Investor”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Investor agreed to purchase from the Company, and the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investor, a secured convertible promissory note (the “Note”) in the original principal amount of $16,070,000, which included an original issue discount of $1,050,000 and transaction expenses amount of $20,000, and carried a simple interest rate of six percent (6%) per annum. The Note is convertible into the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares of no par value (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) at the conversion price equal to 82.5% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price during ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the applicable measurement date. In the event that the conversion price is lower than $0.06874, the Investor has the right to have the applicable conversion amount paid in cash rather than conversion shares. On December 11, 2025, the Company issued the Note to the Investor and the transaction was consummated.
At the closing, the Investor paid $3,000,000 to the Company and $12,000,000 into a deposit account (the “Deposit Account”) of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (“Founder Capital”). Founder Capital entered into a Deposit Account Control Agreement (the “DACA”) with the Investor and Lakeside Bank, an Illinois banking corporation, to secure the Note. In addition, the Company’s obligations under the Note are secured by (i) a guaranty from Founder Capital (the “Guaranty”) and (ii) a pledge of the equity interests in Founder Capital by the Company pursuant to a pledge agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”), in each case, in favor of the Investor.
The Securities Purchase Agreement also provided that the Company would file a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days from December 11, 2025 registering at least 230,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares for the Investor’s resale of the conversion shares issuable under the Note.
The foregoing description of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Note, the DACA, the Guaranty, the Pledge Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to Exhibits 10.1, 4.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 6-K, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.
Exhibits
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, thereunto duly authorized.
| FOUNDER GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Name: | Lee Seng Chi | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
|
Date: December 18, 2025
Exhibit 4.1
SECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE
| Effective Date: December 11, 2025 | U.S. $16,070,000.00 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Founder Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Borrower”), promises to pay to Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, or its successors or assigns (“Lender”), $16,070,000.00 and any interest, fees, charges, and late fees accrued hereunder on the date that is twelve (12) months after the Purchase Price Date (the “Maturity Date”) in accordance with the terms set forth herein and to pay interest on the Outstanding Balance at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum simple interest from the Purchase Price Date until the same is paid in full. All interest calculations hereunder shall be computed based on a 360-day year comprised of twelve (12) thirty (30) day months and shall be payable in accordance with the terms of this Note. This Secured Convertible Promissory Note (this “Note”) is issued and made effective as of December 11, 2025 (the “Effective Date”). This Note is issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 11, 2025, as the same may be amended from time to time, by and between Borrower and Lender (the “Purchase Agreement”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Attachment 1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
This Note carries an original issue discount of $1,050,000.00 (the “OID”). In addition, Borrower agrees to pay $20,000.00 to Lender to cover Lender’s legal fees, accounting costs, due diligence, monitoring, and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of this Note (the “Transaction Expense Amount”). The OID and the Transaction Expense Amount are included in the initial principal balance of this Note and are deemed to be fully earned and non-refundable as of the Purchase Price Date. The purchase price for this Note shall be $15,000,000.00 (the “Purchase Price”), computed as follows: $16,070,000.00 original principal balance, less the OID, less the Transaction Expense Amount. The Purchase Price shall be payable by Lender by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
1. Payment; Prepayment.
1.1. Payment. All payments owing hereunder shall be in lawful money of the United States of America or Conversion Shares (as defined below), as provided for herein, and delivered to Lender at the address or bank account furnished to Borrower for that purpose. All payments shall be applied first to (a) costs of collection, if any, then to (b) fees and charges, if any, then to (c) accrued and unpaid interest, and thereafter, to (d) principal.
1.2. Prepayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with ten (10) Trading Days’ prior written notice Borrower may prepay all or any portion of the Outstanding Balance (less such portion of the Outstanding Balance for which Borrower has received a Conversion Notice (as defined below) from Lender where the applicable Conversion Shares have not yet been delivered). For the avoidance of doubt, during the ten (10) Trading Day prepayment notice period Lender shall retain the right to submit Conversion Notices, if applicable. If Borrower exercises its right to prepay this Note, Borrower shall make payment to Lender of an amount in cash equal to 110% multiplied by the portion of the Outstanding Balance Borrower elects to prepay. Borrower will lose the right to prepay this Note if: (a) an Event of Default (as defined below) occurs hereunder; or (b) Borrower elects to prepay this Note and fails to do so on the date set forth in the prepayment notice sent to Lender.
2. Security. This Note is secured by the collateral set forth in the DACA (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), the Guaranty (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), and the Pledge Agreement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement). Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Lender is authorized to send a Lender Instruction Notice (as defined in the DACA) to the Bank (as defined in the DACA) directing the disposition of the funds held in the Deposit Account (as defined in the DACA): (a) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined below); or (b) upon Lender’s receipt of a notice from Borrower pursuant to Section 4(vii) of the Purchase Agreement (or otherwise becoming aware of such an action described therein) if Lender believes in its sole discretion that the funds in the Deposit Account are threatened by the action described in the notice. Upon sending a Lender Instruction Notice, Lender will have the right without further notice or demand, to apply all or any portion of the funds held in the Deposit Account to offset the Outstanding Balance. In the event that funds held in the Deposit Account are applied by Lender to reduce the Outstanding Balance, the Outstanding Balance will be further reduced by an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the OID attributable to the amount being offset.
3. Conversions. Lender has the right at any time beginning on the Purchase Price Date until the Outstanding Balance has been paid in full, at its election, to convert (each instance of conversion is referred to herein as a “Conversion”) all or any portion of the Outstanding Balance into fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares (“Conversion Shares”) as per the following conversion formula: the number of Conversion Shares equals the amount of the Outstanding Balance being converted (the “Conversion Amount”) divided by the Conversion Price. Conversion notices in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “Conversion Notice”) may be effectively delivered to Borrower by any method set forth in the “Notices” section of the Purchase Agreement, and all Conversions shall be cashless and not require further payment from Lender. Borrower shall deliver the Conversion Shares from any Conversion to Lender in accordance with Section 8 below. In the event the Conversion Price is below the Floor Price, Lender will have the right to have the applicable Conversion Amount paid in cash rather than Conversion Shares.
4. Events of Default and Remedies.
4.1. Events of Default. The following are events of default under this Note (each, an “Event of Default”): (a) Borrower fails to pay any principal, interest, fees, charges, or any other amount when due and payable hereunder; (b) a receiver, trustee or other similar official shall be appointed over Borrower or a material part of its assets and such appointment shall remain uncontested for twenty (20) days or shall not be dismissed or discharged within sixty (60) days; (c) Borrower becomes insolvent or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due; (d) Borrower makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (e) Borrower files a petition for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law (domestic or foreign); (f) an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding is commenced or filed against Borrower; (g) Borrower fails to timely establish and maintain the Share Reserve (as defined in the Purchase Agreement); (h) Borrower fails to observe or perform any covenant set forth in Section 4 of the Purchase Agreement; (i) the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction without Lender’s prior written consent; (j) the Ordinary Shares are not listed or quoted for trading on Nasdaq or NYSE; (k) trading in Company’s Ordinary Shares is suspended, halted, chilled, frozen, reaches zero bid or otherwise ceases trading on Company’s principal trading market; (l) Borrower receives notice from Nasdaq that the Ordinary Shares are being entered into delisting protocol; (m) at any time beginning on the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and ending on the date that is six (6) months from the Purchase Price Date, Borrower fails to maintain an effective registration statement pursuant to which Lender is authorized to sell registered Conversion Shares; (n) Borrower fails to deliver any Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms hereof for any reason; (o) Borrower or any pledgor, trustor, or guarantor of this Note defaults or otherwise fails to observe or perform any covenant, obligation, condition or agreement of Borrower or such pledgor, trustor, or guarantor contained herein or in any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), other than those specifically set forth in this Section 4.1 and Section 4 of the Purchase Agreement; (p) any representation, warranty or other statement made or furnished by or on behalf of Borrower or any pledgor, trustor, or guarantor of this Note to Lender herein, in any Transaction Document, or otherwise in connection with the issuance of this Note is false, incorrect, incomplete or misleading in any material respect when made or furnished; (q) Borrower effectuates a reverse split, ratio change or other similar event with respect to its Ordinary Shares without twenty (20) Trading Days prior written notice to Lender; (r) any money judgment or writ is entered or granted on a final, non-appealable basis against Borrower or any subsidiary of Borrower or any of its property or other assets for more than $500,000.00, and shall remain unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of twenty (20) calendar days unless otherwise consented to by Lender; (s) a non-management supported preliminary proxy is filed against Borrower; (t) Borrower fails to be DWAC Eligible; or (u) Borrower, any subsidiary of Borrower, or any pledgor, trustor, or guarantor of this Note breaches any covenant or other term or condition contained in any Other Agreements.
4.2. Default Remedies. At any time and from time to time following the occurrence of any Event of Default, Lender may accelerate this Note by written notice to Borrower, with the Outstanding Balance becoming immediately due and payable in cash at the Mandatory Default Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time following the occurrence of any Event of Default, Lender may, at its option, elect to increase the Outstanding Balance by applying the Default Effect (subject to the limitation set forth below) via written notice to Borrower without accelerating the Outstanding Balance, in which event the Outstanding Balance shall be increased as of the date of the occurrence of the applicable Event of Default pursuant to the Default Effect, but the Outstanding Balance shall not be immediately due and payable unless so declared by Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, if Lender elects to apply the Default Effect pursuant to this sentence, it shall reserve the right to declare the Outstanding Balance immediately due and payable at any time and no such election by Lender shall be deemed to be a waiver of its right to declare the Outstanding Balance immediately due and payable as set forth herein unless otherwise agreed to by Lender in writing). Lender may only apply the Default Effect up to three (3) separate times. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clauses (b) – (f) of Section 4.1, an Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred and the Outstanding Balance as of the date of the occurrence of such Event of Default shall become immediately and automatically due and payable in cash at the Mandatory Default Amount, without any written notice required by Lender for the Event of Default to become an Event of Default. At any time following the occurrence of any Event of Default, upon written notice given by Lender to Borrower, interest shall accrue on the Outstanding Balance beginning on the date the applicable Event of Default occurred at an interest rate equal to the lesser of eighteen percent (18%) per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law (“Default Interest”). For the avoidance of doubt, Lender may continue making Conversions at any time following an Event of Default or Event of Default until such time as the Outstanding Balance is paid in full. In connection with acceleration described herein, Lender need not provide, and Borrower hereby waives, any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, and Lender may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce all its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. Such acceleration may be rescinded and annulled by Lender at any time prior to payment hereunder and Lender shall have all rights as a holder of the Note until such time, if any, as Lender receives full payment of this Note. No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Nothing herein shall limit Lender’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to Borrower’s failure to timely deliver Conversion Shares upon Conversion of the Note as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
5. Unconditional Obligation; No Offset. Borrower acknowledges that this Note is an unconditional, valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of Borrower not subject to offset, deduction or counterclaim of any kind. Borrower hereby waives any rights of offset it now has or may have hereafter against Lender, its successors, and assigns, and agrees to make the payments or Conversions called for herein in accordance with the terms of this Note.
6. Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Note shall be effective unless it is in the form of a writing signed by the party granting the waiver. No waiver of any provision or consent to any prohibited action shall constitute a waiver of any other provision or consent to any other prohibited action, whether or not similar. No waiver or consent shall constitute a continuing waiver or consent or commit a party to provide a waiver or consent in the future except to the extent specifically set forth in writing.
7. Rights Upon Issuance of Securities. Without limiting any provision hereof, if Borrower at any time on or after the Effective Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding Ordinary Shares into a greater number of Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. Without limiting any provision hereof, if Borrower at any time on or after the Effective Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split, or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding Ordinary Shares into a smaller number of Ordinary Shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 7 shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this Section 7 occurs during the period that a Conversion Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Conversion Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.
8. Method of Conversion Share Delivery. On or before the close of business on the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of delivery of a Conversion Notice (the “Delivery Date”), Borrower shall, provided it is DWAC Eligible at such time and such Conversion Shares are eligible for delivery via DWAC, deliver or cause its transfer agent to issue and deliver the applicable Conversion Shares electronically via DWAC to the account designated by Lender in the applicable Conversion Notice. If Borrower is not DWAC Eligible or such Conversion Shares are not eligible for delivery via DWAC, it shall deliver to Lender or its broker (as designated in the Conversion Notice), via reputable overnight courier, a certificate representing the number of Ordinary Shares equal to the number of Conversion Shares to which Lender shall be entitled, registered in the name of Lender or its designee. For the avoidance of doubt, Borrower has not met its obligation to deliver Conversion Shares by the Delivery Date unless Lender or its broker, as applicable, has actually received the certificate representing the applicable Conversion Shares no later than the close of business on the relevant Delivery Date pursuant to the terms set forth above. Moreover, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, in the event Borrower or its transfer agent refuses to deliver any Conversion Shares without a restrictive securities legend to Lender on grounds that such issuance is in violation of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 144”), Borrower shall deliver or cause its transfer agent to deliver the applicable Conversion Shares to Lender with a restricted securities legend, but otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8. In conjunction therewith, Borrower will also deliver to Lender a written explanation from its counsel or its transfer agent’s counsel opining as to why the issuance of the applicable Conversion Shares violates Rule 144.
9. Conversion Delays. If Borrower fails to deliver Conversion Shares in accordance with the timeframe stated in Section 8, Lender may at any time prior to receiving the applicable Conversion Shares rescind in whole or in part such Conversion, with a corresponding increase to the Outstanding Balance (any returned amount will tack back to the Purchase Price Date for purposes of determining the holding period under Rule 144). In addition, for each Conversion, in the event that Conversion Shares are not delivered by the Delivery Date, a late fee equal to 2% of the applicable Conversion Share Value rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.00 but with a floor of $500.00 per day (but in any event the cumulative amount of such late fees for each Conversion shall not exceed 200% of the applicable Conversion Share Value) will be assessed for each day after the Delivery Date until Conversion Share delivery is made; and such late fees will be added to the Outstanding Balance (such fees, the “Conversion Delay Late Fees”).
10. Sales Limitation. Investor agrees not to sell, during any calendar week, Ordinary Shares in an amount exceeding fifteen (15%) of the total weekly trading volume of the Ordinary Shares on all trading markets (including regular and extended trading) for such week (the “Weekly Sales Cap”). In the event Investor breaches such covenant, Company’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the reduction of the Outstanding Balance by the amount that Investor’s sales of Ordinary Shares exceeded the Weekly Sales Cap. For the avoidance of doubt, both the Weekly Sales Cap and Company’s remedy related to such limitation shall expire thirty (30) days after repayment of the Note in full.
11. Ownership Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note or the other Transaction Documents, Borrower shall not effect any conversion of this Note to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion would cause Lender (together with its affiliates) to beneficially own a number of Ordinary Shares exceeding 9.99% of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding on such date (including for such purpose the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such issuance) (the “Maximum Percentage”). For purposes of this section, beneficial ownership of Ordinary Shares will be determined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. The Maximum Percentage is enforceable, unconditional, and non-waivable and shall apply to all affiliates and assigns of Lender.
12. Opinion of Counsel. If an opinion of counsel is needed for any Conversion under this Note, Lender has the right to have any such opinion provided by its counsel.
13. Governing Law; Venue. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Utah, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Utah or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Utah. The provisions set forth in the Purchase Agreement to determine the proper venue for any disputes are incorporated herein by this reference.
14. Arbitration of Disputes. By its issuance or acceptance of this Note, each party agrees to be bound by the Arbitration Provisions (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) set forth as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement.
15. Cancellation. After repayment or conversion of the entire Outstanding Balance, this Note shall be deemed paid in full, shall automatically be deemed canceled, and shall not be reissued.
16. Amendments. The prior written consent of both parties hereto shall be required for any change or amendment to this Note.
17. Assignments. Borrower may not assign this Note without the prior written consent of Lender. This Note and any Conversion Shares issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned, or transferred by Lender without the consent of Borrower, so long as such transfer is in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
18. Notices. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with the subsection of the Purchase Agreement titled “Notices.”
19. Liquidated Damages. Lender and Borrower agree that in the event Borrower fails to comply with any of the terms or provisions of this Note, Lender’s damages would be uncertain and difficult (if not impossible) to accurately estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates, future share prices, future trading volumes and other relevant factors. Accordingly, Lender and Borrower agree that any fees, balance adjustments, Default Interest or other charges assessed under this Note are not penalties but instead are intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, liquidated damages (under Lender’s and Borrower’s expectations that any such liquidated damages will tack back to the Purchase Price Date for purposes of determining the holding period under Rule 144). Therefore, no additional penalty claims, lost profits or liquidated damages shall be claimed more than agreed liquidated damage amounts under this Note.
20. Severability. If any part of this Note is construed to be in violation of any law, such part shall be modified to fully achieve the objective of Borrower and Lender permitted by law and the balance of this Note shall remain in full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Effective Date.
| BORROWER: | ||
| Founder Group Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Lee Seng Chi, Chief Executive Officer | ||
| ACKNOWLEDGED, ACCEPTED AND AGREED: | ||
| LENDER: | ||
| Streeterville Capital, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ John M. Fife | |
| John M. Fife, President | ||
[Signature Page to Secured Convertible Promissory Note]
ATTACHMENT 1
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
A1. “Ordinary Shares” means Borrower’s Class A ordinary shares, no par value per share.
A2. “Conversion Price” means a price per share equal to 82.5% of the lowest daily VWAP during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the applicable measurement date.
A3. “Conversion Share Value” means the product of the number of Conversion Shares deliverable pursuant to any Conversion Notice multiplied by the daily VWAP of the Ordinary Shares on the Delivery Date for such Conversion.
A4. “Default Effect” means multiplying the Outstanding Balance as of the date the applicable Event of Default occurred by ten percent (10%) and then adding the resulting product to the Outstanding Balance as of the date the applicable Event of Default occurred, with the sum of the foregoing then becoming the Outstanding Balance under this Note as of the date the applicable Event of Default occurred.
A5. “DTC” means the Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
A6. “DTC/FAST Program” means the DTC’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer program.
A7. “DWAC” means the DTC’s Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system.
A8. “DWAC Eligible” means that (a) Borrower’s Ordinary Shares are eligible at DTC for full services pursuant to DTC’s operational arrangements, including without limitation transfer through DTC’s DWAC system; (b) Borrower has been approved (without revocation) by DTC’s underwriting department; (c) Borrower’s transfer agent is approved as an agent in the DTC/FAST Program; (d) the Conversion Shares are otherwise eligible for delivery via DWAC; and (e) Borrower’s transfer agent does not have a policy prohibiting or limiting delivery of the Conversion Shares via DWAC.
A9. “Floor Price” means $0.06874 per share.
A10. “Fundamental Transaction” means that (a) (i) Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not Borrower or any of its subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other person or entity, (ii) Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other person or entity, (iii) Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, allow any other person or entity to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of Borrower (not including any shares of voting stock of Borrower held by the person or persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the persons or entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), (iv) Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other person or entity whereby such other person or entity acquires more than 50% of the total voting power of Borrower (not including any shares of voting stock of Borrower held by the other persons or entities making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other persons or entities making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), (v) Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares, other than an increase in the number of authorized shares of Borrower’s Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares, (vi) Borrower transfers any material asset to any subsidiary, affiliate, person or entity under common ownership or control with Borrower, or (vii) Borrower pays or makes any monetary or non-monetary dividend or distribution to its shareholders; or (b) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the total voting power represented by issued and outstanding voting stock of Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, Borrower or any if its subsidiaries entering into a definitive agreement that contemplates a Fundamental Transaction will be deemed to be a Fundamental Transaction unless such agreement contains a closing condition that this Note is repaid in full upon consummation of the transaction.
Attachment 1 to Secured Convertible Promissory Note, Page 1
A11. “Mandatory Default Amount” means the Outstanding Balance following the application of the Default Effect.
A12. “Other Agreements” means, collectively, (a) all existing and future agreements and instruments between, among or by Borrower (or a subsidiary), on the one hand, and Lender (or an affiliate), on the other hand, and (b) any financing agreement or a material agreement that affects Borrower’s ongoing business operations.
A13. “Outstanding Balance” means as of any date of determination, the Purchase Price, as reduced or increased, as the case may be, pursuant to the terms hereof for payment, Conversion, offset, or otherwise, plus the OID, plus accrued but unpaid interest, collection and enforcements costs (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Lender, transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes and fees related to Conversions, and any other fees or charges (including without limitation Conversion Delay Late Fees) incurred under this Note.
A14. “Purchase Price Date” means the date the Purchase Price is delivered by Lender to Borrower.
A15. “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
A16. “Trading Day” means any day on which Nasdaq (or such other principal market for the Ordinary Shares) is open for trading. For the avoidance doubt, Trading Day means all trades occurring on a given calendar day, including pre- and post-market trading on such day.
A17. “VWAP” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares on the principal market for a particular Trading Day or set of Trading Days, as the case may be, as reported by Bloomberg.
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Attachment 1 to Secured Convertible Promissory Note, Page 2
EXHIBIT A
CONVERSION NOTICE
Streeterville Capital, LLC (“Lender”) hereby gives notice to Founder Group Limited (the “Borrower”), pursuant to that certain Secured Convertible Promissory Note made by Borrower in favor of Lender on December 11, 2025 (the “Note”), that Lender elects to convert the portion of the Outstanding Balance of the Note set forth below into fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares of Borrower as of the date of conversion specified below. Said conversion shall be based on the Conversion Price set forth below. In the event of a conflict between this Conversion Notice and the Note, the Note shall govern, or, in the alternative, at the election of Lender in its sole discretion, Lender may provide a new form of Conversion Notice to conform to the Note. Capitalized terms used in this notice without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Note.
| A. | Date of Conversion: ____________ |
| B. | Conversion #: ____________ |
| C. | Conversion Amount: ____________ |
| D. | Conversion Price: _______________ |
| E. | Conversion Shares: _______________ (C divided by D) |
| F. | Remaining Outstanding Balance of Note: ____________* |
| * | Subject to adjustments for corrections, defaults, interest and other adjustments permitted by the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), the terms of which shall control in the event of any dispute between the terms of this Conversion Notice and such Transaction Documents. |
Please transfer the Conversion Shares electronically (via DWAC) to the following account:
| Broker: ______________________ | Address: ______________________ | |
| DTC#: ______________________ | ______________________ | |
| Account #: ___________________ | _______________________ | |
| Account Name: _________________ |
| Lender: | ||
| Streeterville Capital, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| John M. Fife, President | ||
Exhibit 10.1
Securities Purchase Agreement
This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 11, 2025, is entered into by and between Founder Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Company”), and Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, its successors and/or assigns (“Investor”).
A. Company and Investor are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon an exemption from securities registration afforded by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
B. Investor desires to purchase and Company desires to issue and sell, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, a Secured Convertible Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $16,070,000.00 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Note”), convertible into Company’s Class A ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”).
C. This Agreement, the Note, the DACA (as defined below), the Guaranty (as defined below), the Pledge Agreement (as defined below), and all other certificates, documents, agreements, resolutions and instruments delivered to any party under or in connection with this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents”.
D. For purposes of this Agreement: “Conversion Shares” means all Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of all or any portion of the Note; and “Securities” means the Note and the Conversion Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Company and Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1. Note. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Company shall issue and sell to Investor and Investor shall purchase from Company the Note. In consideration thereof, Investor shall pay the Purchase Price (as defined below) to Company.
1.2. Form of Payment. On the Closing Date (as defined below), Investor shall pay the Purchase Price (as defined below) to Company via wire transfer of immediately available funds against delivery of the Note as follows: (i) $3,000,000.00 of the Purchase Price will be sent to Company; and (ii) $12,000,000.00 of the Purchase Price will be sent to the Deposit Account (as defined below) at Lakeside Bank, an Illinois banking corporation (“Bank”), owned and controlled by Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (“Founder Capital”).
1.3. Closing Date. Subject to the satisfaction (or written waiver) of the conditions set forth in Section 5 and Section 6 below, the date of the issuance and sale of the Note pursuant to this Agreement (the “Closing Date”) shall be December 11, 2025 or a mutually agreed upon date. The closing of the issuance of the Note (the “Closing”) shall occur on the Closing Date by means of the exchange of electronic signatures, but shall be deemed for all purposes to have occurred at the offices of Hansen Black Anderson Ashcraft PLLC in Lehi, Utah.
1.4. Purchase Price. The Note includes an original issue discount of $1,050,000.00 (the “OID”). In addition, Company agrees to pay $20,000.00 to Investor to cover Investor’s legal fees, accounting costs, due diligence, monitoring and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities (the “Transaction Expense Amount”). The OID and the Transaction Expense Amount will be included in the initial principal balance of the Note. The “Purchase Price”, therefore, shall be $15,000,000.00, computed as follows: $16,070,000.00 initial principal balance, less the OID, less the Transaction Expense Amount.
1.5. DACA. The Note will be secured by a Deposit Account Control Agreement among Founder Capital, Bank, and Investor, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “DACA”). Initially, the cash collateral requirement for the Deposit Account will be the lesser of (i) $12,000,000.00 (or $11,000,000.00 upon or after filing of the Registration Statement (as defined below)), and (ii) eighty percent (80%) of the then-current Outstanding Balance (as defined in the Note) (the “Minimum Balance Amount”). The Minimum Balance Amount will be held in a deposit account described in the DACA in the name of Founder Capital (“Deposit Account”). Company shall have the right to use the cash in the Deposit Account to repay any portion of the Outstanding Balance (but only so long as such payment does not cause the total cash amount in the Deposit Account to drop below the Minimum Balance Amount), and so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Note) under the Note has occurred and with Investor’s consent, to withdraw from the Deposit Account any funds in excess of the Minimum Balance Amount. Upon filing of the Registration Statement, Investor agrees to release, or cause to be released, $1,000,000.00 from the Deposit Account to Company.
1.6. Collateral for the Note. In addition to the DACA, Company’s obligations under the Note will be secured by: (i) a Guaranty from Founder Capital in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Guaranty”); and (ii) a pledge of the equity interests in Founder Capital pursuant to a Pledge Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Pledge Agreement”).
2. Investor’s Representations and Warranties. Investor represents and warrants to Company that as of the Closing Date: (i) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Investor; (ii) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Investor enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (iii) Investor is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the 1933 Act.
3. Company’s Representations and Warranties. Company represents and warrants to Investor that as of the Closing Date: (i) Company is a company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted; (ii) Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary; (iii) Company has registered its Ordinary Shares under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and is obligated to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act; (iv) each of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by Company and all necessary actions have been taken; (v) this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of Company enforceable in accordance with their terms; (vi) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by Company, the issuance of the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and the consummation by Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach by Company of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under (a) Company’s formation documents, as currently in effect, or other applicable organizational documents, (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, or other material agreement or instrument to which Company is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are bound, including, without limitation, any listing agreement for the Ordinary Shares, or (c) any existing applicable law, rule, or regulation or any applicable decree, judgment, or order of any court, United States federal, state or foreign regulatory body, administrative agency, or other governmental body having jurisdiction over Company or any of Company’s properties or assets; (vii) except as have been obtained prior to the Closing, no further authorization, approval or consent of any court, governmental body, regulatory agency, self-regulatory organization, or stock exchange or market or the shareholders or any lender of Company is required to be obtained by Company for the issuance of the Securities to Investor or the entering into of the Transaction Documents; (viii) none of Company’s filings with the SEC contained, at the time they were filed, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ix) Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by Company with the SEC under the 1934 Act on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such report, schedule, form, statement or other document prior to the expiration of any such extension; (x) there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation with a claim amount in excess of US$500,000 before or by any court, public board or body pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened against or affecting Company before or by any governmental authority or non-governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality or any other person; (xi) Company has not consummated any financing transaction that has not been disclosed in a periodic filing or current report with the SEC under the 1934 Act; (xii) Company is not, nor has it been at any time in the previous twelve (12) months, a “Shell Company,” as such type of “issuer” is described in Rule 144(i)(1) under the 1933 Act; (xiii) with respect to any commissions, placement agent or finder’s fees or similar payments that will or would become due and owing by Company to any person or entity as a result of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Broker Fees”), any such Broker Fees will be made in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and only to a person or entity that is a registered investment adviser or registered broker-dealer; (xiv) Investor shall have no obligation with respect to any Broker Fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other persons for fees of a type contemplated in this subsection that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each of Investor, Investor’s employees, officers, directors, stockholders, members, managers, agents, and partners, and their respective affiliates, from and against all claims, losses, damages, costs (including the costs of preparation and attorneys’ fees) and expenses suffered in respect of any such claimed Broker Fees; (xv) neither Investor nor any of its officers, directors, stockholders, members, managers, employees, agents or representatives has made any representations or warranties to Company or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents and, in making its decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, Company is not relying on any representation, warranty, covenant or promise of Investor or its officers, directors, members, managers, employees, agents or representatives other than as set forth in the Transaction Documents; (xvi) Company acknowledges that the State of Utah has a reasonable relationship and sufficient contacts to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and any dispute that may arise related thereto such that the laws and venue of the State of Utah, as set forth more specifically in Section 12.2 below, shall be applicable to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated therein; (xvii) Company acknowledges that Investor is not registered as a ‘dealer’ under the 1934 Act; (xviii) Company has performed due diligence and background research on Investor and its affiliates and has received and reviewed the due diligence packet provided by Investor; and (xix) Company has previously filed with the SEC electing to be governed by home country rules, such that Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) will not apply to Company, and has notified Nasdaq of its intention to be subject to home country rules in lieu of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d). Company, being aware of the matters and legal issues described in subsections (xvii) and (xviii) above, acknowledges and agrees that such matters, or any similar matters, have no bearing on the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and covenants and agrees it will not use any such information or legal theory as a defense to performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or in any attempt to avoid, modify, reduce, rescind or void such obligations.
4. Company Covenants. Until all of Company’s obligations under all of the Transaction Documents are paid and performed in full, or within the timeframes otherwise specifically set forth below, Company will at all times comply with the following covenants: (i) so long as Investor beneficially owns any of the Securities and for at least twenty (20) Trading Days (as defined in the Note) thereafter, Company will timely file on the applicable deadline all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, and will take all reasonable action under its control to ensure that adequate current public information with respect to Company, as required in accordance with Rule 144 of the 1933 Act, is publicly available, and will not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would permit such termination; (ii) when issued, the Conversion Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances; (iii) Company will not make any Restricted Issuance (as defined below) without Investor’s prior written consent, which consent may be granted or withheld in Investor’s sole and absolute discretion; (iv) Company will not enter into any agreement or otherwise agree to any covenant, condition, or obligation that locks up, restricts in any way or otherwise prohibits Company: (a) from entering into a variable rate transaction with Investor or any affiliate of Investor, or (b) from issuing Ordinary Shares, preferred stock, warrants, convertible notes, other debt securities, or any other Company securities to Investor or any affiliate of Investor; (v) Company will file within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date a Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the “Registration Statement”) registering at least 230,000,000 Ordinary Shares for Investor’s resale of the Conversion Shares issuable under the Note; (vi) Company will grant Investor online access to monitor the Deposit Account and maintain such access until the Note is paid in full; (vii) Company will notify Investor in writing of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation filed or initiated against Founder Capital or any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation filed or initiated against Company with either an undefined claim amount or a claim amount in excess of $US500,000, in each case, within three (3) Trading Days of the initiation of the same; (viii) neither Company nor Founder Capital will grant any security interest, lien, pledge or other encumbrance in any of Founder Capital’s assets or in any equity interest in Founder Capital without Investor’s prior written consent, which consent may be granted or withheld in Investor’s sole and absolute discretion; (ix) neither Company nor Founder Capital will sell, transfer, or issue any equity or grant any rights to any equity interest or voting rights in Founder Capital without Investor’s prior written consent, which consent may be granted or withheld in Investor’s sole and absolute discretion; and (x) Company will not allow Founder Capital to issue or incur any debt or conduct any business operations without Investor’s prior written consent, which consent may be granted or withheld in Investor’s sole and absolute discretion.
For purposes hereof, the term “Restricted Issuance” means the issuance, incurrence or guaranty of any debt obligations, other than loans in connection with receivable or revenue sales, performance and payment bonds, trade payables, and bank loans, in each case entered into or incurred in the ordinary course of business, or the issuance of any securities that (1) have or may have conversion rights of any kind, contingent, conditional or otherwise, in which the number of shares that may be issued pursuant to such conversion right varies with the market price of the Ordinary Shares; (2) are or may become convertible into Ordinary Shares (including without limitation convertible debt, warrants or convertible preferred shares), with a conversion price that varies with the market price of the Ordinary Shares, even if such security only becomes convertible following an event of default, the passage of time, or another trigger event or condition; (3) have a fixed conversion price, exercise price or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security (A) due to a change in the market price of Company’s Ordinary Shares since the date of the initial issuance or (B) upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of Company (including, without limitation, any “full ratchet” or “weighted average” anti-dilution provisions, but not including any standard anti-dilution protection for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split or other similar transaction), or such debt security contains a fixed conversion price with a provision to increase the outstanding balance upon a breach or default by more than 33%; or (4) are issued or will be issued in connection with a Section 3(a)(9) exchange, a Section 3(a)(10) settlement, or any other similar settlement or exchange (excluding Company’s issuance of securities upon the exercise or conversion of any securities issued by Company prior to the date of this Agreement, so long as the terms of such securities have not been amended on or after the date of this Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to any of the following will not be considered Restricted Issuances: (i) ATM facilities; (ii) primary offerings without variable price mechanics, other than variable priced warrants that have no provision that will increase the number of warrant shares issued at closing or increase the number of shares issuable under each warrant to a ratio of more than 1:1; (iii) stock issuances to non-US persons; (iv) the issuance of Ordinary Shares in conjunction with acquisitions provided that such issuances do not cause a change of control or have variable price mechanisms; and (v) any transaction if the Note is fully repaid and extinguished contemporaneously with the execution of the transaction documents for the respective transaction.
5. Conditions to Company’s Obligation to Sell. The obligation of Company hereunder to issue and sell the Note to Investor at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
5.1. Investor shall have executed all applicable Transaction Documents and delivered the same to Company.
5.2. Investor shall have delivered the Purchase Price to Company.
6. Conditions to Investor’s Obligation to Purchase. The obligation of Investor hereunder to purchase the Note is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for Investor’s sole benefit and may be waived by Investor at any time in its sole discretion:
6.1. Company shall have executed all applicable Transaction Documents and delivered the same to Investor.
6.2. Founder Capital shall have executed and delivered the DACA and the Guaranty to Investor.
6.3. The Bank shall have executed and delivered to Investor the DACA.
6.4. Founder Capital shall have opened the Deposit Account with the Bank.
6.5. Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) shall have executed an Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instruction Letter substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
6.6. Company shall have delivered to Investor a fully executed Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F evidencing Company’s approval of the Transaction Documents.
6.7. Company shall have delivered to Investor a fully executed Share Issuance Resolution substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G to be delivered to the Transfer Agent.
7. Reservation of Shares. On the date hereof, Company will reserve 175,000,000 Ordinary Shares of Company from its authorized and unissued Ordinary Shares to provide for all issuances of Conversion Shares under the Note (the “Share Reserve”). Company further agrees to add additional Ordinary Shares to the Share Reserve in increments of 1,000,000 shares as and when requested by Investor if as of the date of any such request the number of Ordinary Shares being held in the Share Reserve is less than three (3) times the number of Ordinary Shares obtained by dividing the outstanding balance of the Note as of the date of the request by the Conversion Price (as defined in the Note). Company shall further require its Transfer Agent to hold the Ordinary Shares reserved pursuant to the Share Reserve exclusively for the benefit of Investor and to issue such shares to Investor promptly upon Investor’s delivery of a Conversion Notice (as defined in the Note) under the Note. Company shall require the Transfer Agent to issue Ordinary Shares to Investor out of its authorized and unissued shares, and not the Share Reserve, to the extent Ordinary Shares have been authorized, but not issued, and are not included in the Share Reserve. The Transfer Agent shall only issue Ordinary Shares out of the Share Reserve to the extent there are no other authorized shares available for issuance and then only with Investor’s written consent.
8. Most Favored Nation. So long as the Note is outstanding, upon any issuance by Company of any debt security with any economic term or condition more favorable to the holder of such debt security or with a term in favor of the holder of such security that was not similarly provided to Investor in the Transaction Documents, then Company shall notify Investor of such additional or more favorable term and such term, at Investor’s option, shall become a part of the Transaction Documents for the benefit of Investor. Additionally, if Company fails to notify Investor of any such additional or more favorable term, but Investor becomes aware that Company has granted such a term to any third party, Investor may notify Company of such additional or more favorable term and such term shall become a part of the Transaction Documents retroactive to the date on which such term was granted to the applicable third party. The types of terms contained in another security that may be more favorable to the holder of such security include, but are not limited to, terms addressing conversion discounts, conversion lookback periods, interest rates, original issue discounts, floor prices, stock sale prices, conversion prices, warrant coverage, warrant exercise prices, and anti-dilution/conversion and exercise price resets.
9. Participation Right. Beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that the Note has been paid in full, Company hereby grants to Investor a participation right, whereby Investor shall have the right to participate at Investor’s discretion in up to fifteen percent (15%) of the amount sold in any debt or equity offering (the “Participation Right”). Within two (2) Trading Days following the consummation of an offering (provided, however, that with respect to any public offering of the Company’s securities, the aforementioned time frame shall instead be upon the commencement of offers to the public), Company will provide Investor with written notice of the consummation of such offering, along with copies of the transaction documents. Investor will then have up to five (5) Trading Days (provided, however, that with respect to any public offering of the Company’s securities, the aforementioned time frame shall instead be up to the deadline for the public to indicate such participation in the public offering) to elect to purchase up to fifteen percent (15%) of the amount of debt or equity securities issued in such transaction on the most favorable terms and conditions offered to any other purchaser of the same securities. The parties agree that in the event Company breaches its obligations with respect to the Participation Right, Investor’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to receive, as liquidated damages, an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the amount Investor would have been entitled to invest under the Participation Right. For the avoidance of doubt, Company’s breach of its obligations with respect to the Participation Right will not be considered an Event of Default under the Note.
10. Sales Limitation. Investor agrees not to sell, during any calendar week, Ordinary Shares in an amount exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of the total weekly trading volume of the Ordinary Shares on all trading markets (including regular and extended trading) for such week (the “Weekly Sales Cap”). In the event Investor breaches such covenant, Company’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the reduction of the Outstanding Balance by the amount that Investor’s sales of Ordinary Shares exceeded the Weekly Sales Cap. For the avoidance of doubt, both the Weekly Sales Cap and Company’s remedy related to such limitation shall expire thirty (30) days after the termination of the Commitment Period.
11. OFAC; Patriot Act.
11.1. OFAC Certification. Company certifies that (i) it is not acting on behalf of any person, group, entity, or nation named by any Executive Order or the United States Treasury Department, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or otherwise, as a terrorist, “Specially Designated Nation”, “Blocked Person”, or other banned or blocked person, entity, nation, or transaction pursuant to any law, order, rule or regulation that is enforced or administered by OFAC or another department of the United States government, and (ii) Company is not engaged in this transaction on behalf of, or instigating or facilitating this transaction on behalf of, any such person, group, entity or nation.
11.2. Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of Company or any subsidiary has, in the course of his actions for, or on behalf of, Company, used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.
11.3. Patriot Act. Company shall not (i) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any government agency (including, without limitation, the OFAC) that prohibits or limits Investor from making any advance or extension of credit to Company or from otherwise conducting business with Company, or (ii) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of Company’s identity as may be requested by Investor at any time to enable Investor to verify Company’s identity or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C. Section 5318. Company shall comply with all requirements of law relating to money laundering, anti-terrorism, trade embargos and economic sanctions, now or hereafter in effect. Upon Investor’s request from time to time, Company shall certify in writing to Investor that Company’s representations, warranties and obligations under this Section 11.3 remain true and correct and have not been breached. Company shall immediately notify Investor in writing if any of such representations, warranties or covenants are no longer true or have been breached or if Company has a reasonable basis to believe that they may no longer be true or have been breached. In connection with such an event, Company shall comply with all requirements of law and directives of governmental authorities and, at Investor’s request, provide to Investor copies of all notices, reports and other communications exchanged with, or received from, governmental authorities relating to such an event. Company shall also reimburse Investor any expense incurred by Investor in evaluating the effect of such an event on the loan secured hereby, in obtaining any necessary license from governmental authorities as may be necessary for Investor to enforce its rights under the Transaction Documents, and in complying with all requirements of law applicable to Investor as the result of the existence of such an event and for any penalties or fines imposed upon Investor as a result thereof.
12. Miscellaneous. The provisions set forth in this Section 12 shall apply to this Agreement, as well as all other Transaction Documents as if these terms were fully set forth therein; provided, however, that in the event there is a conflict between any provision set forth in this Section 12 and any provision in any other Transaction Document, the provision in such other Transaction Document shall govern.
12.1. Arbitration of Claims. The parties shall submit all Claims (as defined in Exhibit H) arising under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any other agreement between the parties and their affiliates or any Claim relating to the relationship of the parties to binding arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions set forth in Exhibit H attached hereto (the “Arbitration Provisions”). For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the injunction described in Section 12.3 below may be pursued in an arbitration that is separate and apart from any other arbitration regarding all other Claims arising under the Transaction Documents. The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the Arbitration Provisions are unconditionally binding on the parties hereto and are severable from all other provisions of this Agreement. By executing this Agreement, Company represents, warrants and covenants that Company has reviewed the Arbitration Provisions carefully, consulted with legal counsel about such provisions (or waived its right to do so), understands that the Arbitration Provisions are intended to allow for the expeditious and efficient resolution of any dispute hereunder, agrees to the terms and limitations set forth in the Arbitration Provisions, and that Company will not take a position contrary to the foregoing representations. Company acknowledges and agrees that Investor may rely upon the foregoing representations and covenants of Company regarding the Arbitration Provisions.
12.2. Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Utah, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Utah or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Utah. Each party consents to and expressly agrees that the exclusive venue for arbitration of any dispute arising out of or relating to any Transaction Document or the relationship of the parties or their affiliates shall be in Salt Lake County, Utah. Without modifying the parties’ obligations to resolve disputes hereunder pursuant to the Arbitration Provisions, for any litigation arising in connection with any of the Transaction Documents (and notwithstanding the terms (specifically including any governing law and venue terms) of any transfer agent services agreement or other agreement between the Transfer Agent and Company, such litigation specifically includes, without limitation any action between or involving Company and the Transfer Agent or otherwise related to Investor in any way (specifically including, without limitation, any action where Company seeks to obtain an injunction, temporary restraining order, or otherwise prohibit the Transfer Agent from issuing Ordinary Shares to Investor for any reason)), each party hereto hereby (i) consents to and expressly submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah, (ii) expressly submits to the exclusive venue of any such court for the purposes hereof, (iii) agrees to not bring any such action (specifically including, without limitation, any action where Company seeks to obtain an injunction, temporary restraining order, or otherwise prohibit the Transfer Agent from issuing Ordinary Shares to Investor for any reason) outside of any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah, and (iv) waives any claim of improper venue and any claim or objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or any other claim, defense or objection to the bringing of any such proceeding in such jurisdiction or to any claim that such venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Finally, Company covenants and agrees to name Investor as a party in interest in, and provide written notice to Investor in accordance with Section 12.10 below prior to bringing or filing, any action (including without limitation any filing or action against any person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement, including without limitation the Transfer Agent) that is related in any way to the Transaction Documents or any transaction contemplated herein or therein, including without limitation any action brought by Company to enjoin or prevent the issuance of any Ordinary Shares to Investor by the Transfer Agent, and further agrees to timely name Investor as a party to any such action. Company acknowledges that the governing law and venue provisions set forth in this Section 12.2 are material terms to induce Investor to enter into the Transaction Documents and that but for Company’s agreements set forth in this Section 12.2 Investor would not have entered into the Transaction Documents.
12.3. Specific Performance. Company acknowledges and agrees that Investor may suffer irreparable harm in the event that Company fails to perform any material provision of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents in accordance with its specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that Investor shall be entitled to one or more injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement or such other Transaction Document and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which Investor may be entitled under the Transaction Documents, at law or in equity. Company specifically agrees that: (i) following an Event of Default under the Note, Investor shall have the right to seek and receive injunctive relief from a court or an arbitrator prohibiting Company from issuing any of its Ordinary Shares or preferred stock to any party unless fifty percent (50%) of the gross proceeds received by Company in connection with such issuance are simultaneously used by Company to make a payment under the Note; (ii) following a breach of Section 4(iv) above, Investor shall have the right to seek and receive injunctive relief from a court or arbitrator invalidating such lock-up; and (iii) if Company enters into a definitive agreement that contemplates a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Note), unless such agreement contains a closing condition that the Note is repaid in full upon consummation of the transaction or Investor has provided its written consent in writing to such Fundamental Transaction, Investor shall have the right to seek and receive injunctive relief from a court or arbitrator preventing the consummation of such transaction. Company specifically acknowledges that Investor’s right to obtain specific performance constitutes bargained for leverage and that the loss of such leverage would result in irreparable harm to Investor. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event Investor seeks to obtain an injunction from a court or an arbitrator against Company or specific performance of any provision of any Transaction Document, such action shall not be a waiver of any right of Investor under any Transaction Document, at law, or in equity, including without limitation its rights to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Documents, nor shall Investor’s pursuit of an injunction prevent Investor, under the doctrines of claim preclusion, issues preclusion, res judicata or other similar legal doctrines, from pursuing other Claims in the future in a separate arbitration.
12.4. Calculation Disputes. Notwithstanding the Arbitration Provisions, in the case of a dispute as to any determination or arithmetic calculation under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation, calculating the outstanding balance, Conversion Price, Conversion Shares, or VWAP (as defined in the Note) (each, a “Calculation”), Company or Investor (as the case may be) shall submit any disputed Calculation via email or facsimile with confirmation of receipt (i) within two (2) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to Company or Investor (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after Investor learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If Investor and Company are unable to agree upon such Calculation within two (2) Trading Days of such disputed Calculation being submitted to Company or Investor (as the case may be), then Investor will promptly submit via email or facsimile the disputed Calculation to Unkar Systems Inc. (“Unkar Systems”). Investor shall cause Unkar Systems to perform the Calculation and notify Company and Investor of the results no later than ten (10) Trading Days from the time it receives such disputed Calculation. Unkar Systems’ determination of the disputed Calculation shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. Unkar Systems’ fee for performing such Calculation shall be paid by the incorrect party, or if both parties are incorrect, by the party whose Calculation is furthest from the correct Calculation as determined by Unkar Systems. In the event Company is the losing party, no extension of the Delivery Date (as defined in the Note) shall be granted and Company shall incur all effects for failing to deliver the applicable shares in a timely manner as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Investor may, in its sole discretion, designate an independent, reputable investment bank or accounting firm other than Unkar Systems to resolve any such dispute and in such event, all references to “Unkar Systems” herein will be replaced with references to such independent, reputable investment bank or accounting firm so designated by Investor.
12.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via exchange of electronic signatures (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
12.6. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
12.7. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform to such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
12.8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents, contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither Company nor Investor makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. For the avoidance of doubt, all prior term sheets or other documents between Company and Investor, or any affiliate thereof, related to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (collectively, “Prior Agreements”), that may have been entered into between Company and Investor, or any affiliate thereof, are hereby null and void and deemed to be replaced in their entirety by the Transaction Documents. To the extent there is a conflict between any term set forth in any Prior Agreement and the term(s) of the Transaction Documents, the Transaction Documents shall govern.
12.9. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.
12.10. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing (unless otherwise specified herein) and shall be deemed effectively given on the earliest of: (i) the date delivered, if delivered by personal delivery as against written receipt therefor or by email to an executive officer named below or such officer’s successor, or by facsimile (with successful transmission confirmation which is kept by sending party), (ii) the earlier of the date delivered or the third Trading Day after deposit, postage prepaid, in the United States Postal Service by certified mail or with an international courier, or (iii) the earlier of the date delivered or the third Trading Day after mailing by express courier, with delivery costs and fees prepaid, in each case, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as such party may designate by five (5) calendar days’ advance written notice similarly given to each of the other parties hereto):
If to Company:
Founder Group Limited
Attn: Lee Seng Chi
No. 17, Jalan Astana 1B, Bandar Bukit Raja
41050 Klang, Salangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia
If to Investor:
Streeterville Capital, LLC
Attn: John M. Fife
297 Auto Mall Drive #4
St. George, Utah 84770
With a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):
Hansen Black Anderson Ashcraft PLLC
Attn: Jonathan Hansen
3051 West Maple Loop Drive, Suite 325
Lehi, Utah 84043
12.11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement or any of the severable rights and obligations inuring to the benefit of or to be performed by Investor hereunder may be assigned by Investor to a third party, including its affiliates, in whole or in part, without the need to obtain Company’s consent thereto. Company may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement or delegate its duties hereunder, whether directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Investor, and any such attempted assignment or delegation shall be null and void.
12.12. Survival. The representations and warranties of Company and the agreements and covenants set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing hereunder notwithstanding any due diligence investigation conducted by or on behalf of Investor. Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Investor and all its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and agents for loss or damage arising as a result of or related to any breach or alleged breach by Company of any of its representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement or any of its covenants and obligations under this Agreement, including advancement of expenses as they are incurred.
12.13. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
12.14. Investor’s Rights and Remedies Cumulative. All rights, remedies, and powers conferred in this Agreement and the Transaction Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies, and shall be in addition to every other right, power, and remedy that Investor may have, whether specifically granted in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or existing at law, in equity, or by statute, and any and all such rights and remedies may be exercised from time to time and as often and in such order as Investor may deem expedient.
12.15. Attorneys’ Fees and Cost of Collection. In the event any suit, action or arbitration is filed by either party against the other to interpret or enforce any of the Transaction Documents, the unsuccessful party to such action agrees to pay to the prevailing party all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred therein, including the same with respect to an appeal. The “prevailing party” shall be the party in whose favor a judgment is entered, regardless of whether judgment is entered on all claims asserted by such party and regardless of the amount of the judgment; or where, due to the assertion of counterclaims, judgments are entered in favor of and against both parties, then the arbitrator shall determine the “prevailing party” by taking into account the relative dollar amounts of the judgments or, if the judgments involve nonmonetary relief, the relative importance and value of such relief. Nothing herein shall restrict or impair an arbitrator’s or a court’s power to award fees and expenses for frivolous or bad faith pleading. If (i) the Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement prior to commencing arbitration or legal proceedings, or is collected or enforced through any arbitration or legal proceeding, or Investor otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under the Note or to enforce the provisions of the Note, or (ii) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of Company or other proceedings affecting Company’s creditors’ rights and involving a claim under the Note; then Company shall pay the costs incurred by Investor for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses, deposition costs, and disbursements.
12.16. Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in the form of a writing signed by the party granting the waiver. No waiver of any provision or consent to any prohibited action shall constitute a waiver of any other provision or consent to any other prohibited action, whether or not similar. No waiver or consent shall constitute a continuing waiver or consent or commit a party to provide a waiver or consent in the future except to the extent specifically set forth in writing.
12.17. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO DEMAND THAT ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, OR THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PARTIES HERETO BE TRIED BY JURY. THIS WAIVER EXTENDS TO ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO DEMAND A TRIAL BY JURY ARISING UNDER COMMON LAW OR ANY APPLICABLE STATUTE, LAW, RULE OR REGULATION. FURTHER, EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUCH PARTY IS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVING SUCH PARTY’S RIGHT TO DEMAND TRIAL BY JURY.
12.18. Time is of the Essence. Time is expressly made of the essence with respect to each and every provision of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
12.19. Voluntary Agreement. Company has carefully read this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and has asked any questions needed for Company to understand the terms, consequences and binding effect of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and fully understand them. Company has had the opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney of Company’s choosing, or has waived the right to do so, and is executing this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence by Investor or anyone else.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Investor and Company have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| INVESTOR: | ||
| Streeterville Capital, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ John M. Fife | |
| John M. Fife, President | ||
| COMPANY: | ||
| Founder Group Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Lee Seng Chi, Chief Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
ATTACHED EXHIBITS:
| Exhibit A | Note |
| Exhibit B | DACA |
| Exhibit C | Guaranty |
| Exhibit D | Pledge Agreement |
| Exhibit E | TA Letter |
| Exhibit F | Officer’s Certificate |
| Exhibit G | Share Issuance Resolution |
| Exhibit H | Arbitration Provisions |
EXHIBIT H
ARBITRATION PROVISIONS
1. Dispute Resolution. For purposes of these arbitration provisions (the “Arbitration Provisions”), the term “Claims” means any disputes, claims, demands, causes of action, requests for injunctive relief, requests for specific performance, liabilities, damages, losses, or controversies whatsoever arising from, related to, or connected with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents and any communications between the parties related thereto, including without limitation any claims of mutual mistake, mistake, fraud, misrepresentation, failure of formation, failure of consideration, promissory estoppel, unconscionability, failure of condition precedent, rescission, and any statutory claims, tort claims, contract claims, or claims to void, invalidate or terminate the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions (defined below)) or any of the other Transaction Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, Investor’s pursuit of an injunction or other Claim pursuant to these Arbitration Provisions or with a court will not later prevent Investor under the doctrines of claim preclusion, issue preclusion, res judicata or other similar legal doctrines from pursuing other Claims in a separate arbitration in the future. The parties to the Agreement (the “parties”) hereby agree that the Claims may be arbitrated in one or more arbitrations pursuant to these Arbitration Provisions (one for an injunction or injunctions and a separate one for all other Claims). The term “Claims” specifically excludes a dispute over Calculations. The parties to the Agreement hereby agree that these Arbitration Provisions are binding on each of them. As a result, any attempt to rescind the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions) or any other Transaction Document) or declare the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions) or any other Transaction Document invalid or unenforceable pursuant to Section 29 of the 1934 Act or for any other reason is subject to these Arbitration Provisions. Any capitalized term not defined in these Arbitration Provisions shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.
2. Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided herein, all Claims must be submitted to arbitration (“Arbitration”) to be conducted exclusively in Salt Lake County, Utah and pursuant to the terms set forth in these Arbitration Provisions. Subject to the arbitration appeal right provided for in Paragraph 5 below (the “Appeal Right”), the parties agree that the award of the arbitrator rendered pursuant to Paragraph 4 below (the “Arbitration Award”) shall be (a) final and binding upon the parties, (b) the sole and exclusive remedy between them regarding any Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded to the arbitrator, and (c) promptly payable in United States dollars free of any tax, deduction or offset (with respect to monetary awards). Subject to the Appeal Right, any costs or fees, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with or incident to enforcing the Arbitration Award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be charged against the party resisting such enforcement. The Arbitration Award shall include default interest (as defined or otherwise provided for in the Note, “Default Interest”) (with respect to monetary awards) at the rate specified in the Note for Default Interest both before and after the Arbitration Award. Judgment upon the Arbitration Award will be entered and enforced by any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah.
3. The Arbitration Act. The parties hereby incorporate herein the provisions and procedures set forth in the Utah Uniform Arbitration Act, U.C.A. § 78B-11-101 et seq. (as amended or superseded from time to time, the “Arbitration Act”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to, and to the maximum extent permitted by, Section 105 of the Arbitration Act, in the event of conflict or variation between the terms of these Arbitration Provisions and the provisions of the Arbitration Act, the terms of these Arbitration Provisions shall control and the parties hereby waive or otherwise agree to vary the effect of all requirements of the Arbitration Act that may conflict with or vary from these Arbitration Provisions.
4. Arbitration Proceedings. Arbitration between the parties will be subject to the following:
4.1 Initiation of Arbitration. Pursuant to Section 110 of the Arbitration Act, the parties agree that a party may initiate Arbitration by giving written notice to the other party (“Arbitration Notice”) in the same manner that notice is permitted under Section 12.10 of the Agreement (the “Notice Provision”); provided, however, that the Arbitration Notice may not be given by email or fax. Arbitration will be deemed initiated as of the date that the Arbitration Notice is deemed delivered to such other party under the Notice Provision (the “Service Date”). After the Service Date, information may be delivered, and notices may be given, by email or fax pursuant to the Notice Provision or any other method permitted thereunder. The Arbitration Notice must describe the nature of the controversy, the remedies sought, and the election to commence Arbitration proceedings. All Claims in the Arbitration Notice must be pleaded consistent with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
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4.2 Selection and Payment of Arbitrator.
(a) Within ten (10) calendar days after the Service Date, Investor shall select and submit to Company the names of three (3) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Services (http://www.utahadrservices.com) (such three (3) designated persons hereunder are referred to herein as the “Proposed Arbitrators”). For the avoidance of doubt, each Proposed Arbitrator must be qualified as a “neutral” with Utah ADR Services. Within five (5) calendar days after Investor has submitted to Company the names of the Proposed Arbitrators, Company must select, by written notice to Investor, one (1) of the Proposed Arbitrators to act as the arbitrator for the parties under these Arbitration Provisions. If Company fails to select one of the Proposed Arbitrators in writing within such 5-day period, then Investor may select the arbitrator from the Proposed Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to Company.
(b) If Investor fails to submit to Company the Proposed Arbitrators within ten (10) calendar days after the Service Date pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, then Company may at any time prior to Investor so designating the Proposed Arbitrators, identify the names of three (3) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Service by written notice to Investor. Investor may then, within five (5) calendar days after Company has submitted notice of its Proposed Arbitrators to Investor, select, by written notice to Company, one (1) of the Proposed Arbitrators to act as the arbitrator for the parties under these Arbitration Provisions. If Investor fails to select in writing and within such 5-day period one (1) of the three (3) Proposed Arbitrators selected by Company, then Company may select the arbitrator from its three (3) previously selected Proposed Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to Investor.
(c) If a Proposed Arbitrator chosen to serve as arbitrator declines or is otherwise unable to serve as arbitrator, then the party that selected such Proposed Arbitrator may select one (1) of the other three (3) Proposed Arbitrators within three (3) calendar days of the date the chosen Proposed Arbitrator declines or notifies the parties he or she is unable to serve as arbitrator. If all three (3) Proposed Arbitrators decline or are otherwise unable to serve as arbitrator, then the arbitrator selection process shall begin again in accordance with this Paragraph 4.2.
(d) The date that the Proposed Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Paragraph 4.2 agrees in writing (including via email) delivered to both parties to serve as the arbitrator hereunder is referred to herein as the “Arbitration Commencement Date”. If an arbitrator resigns or is unable to act during the Arbitration, a replacement arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with this Paragraph 4.2 to continue the Arbitration. If Utah ADR Services ceases to exist or to provide a list of neutrals and there is no successor thereto, then the arbitrator shall be selected under then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association.
(e) Subject to Paragraph 4.10 below, the cost of the arbitrator must be paid equally by both parties. Subject to Paragraph 4.10 below, if one party refuses or fails to pay its portion of the arbitrator fee, then the other party can advance such unpaid amount (subject to the accrual of Default Interest thereupon), with such amount being added to or subtracted from, as applicable, the Arbitration Award.
4.3 Applicability of Certain Utah Rules. The parties agree that the Arbitration shall be conducted generally in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and the Utah Rules of Evidence. More specifically, the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply, without limitation, to the filing of any pleadings, motions or memoranda, the conducting of discovery, and the taking of any depositions. The Utah Rules of Evidence shall apply to any hearings, whether telephonic or in person, held by the arbitrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the parties’ intent that the incorporation of such rules will in no event supersede these Arbitration Provisions. In the event of any conflict between the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure or the Utah Rules of Evidence and these Arbitration Provisions, these Arbitration Provisions shall control.
4.4 Answer and Default. An answer and any counterclaims to the Arbitration Notice shall be required to be delivered to the party initiating the Arbitration within twenty (20) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date. If an answer is not delivered by the required deadline, the arbitrator must provide written notice to the defaulting party stating that the arbitrator will enter a default award against such party if such party does not file an answer within five (5) calendar days of receipt of such notice. If an answer is not filed within the five (5) day extension period, the arbitrator must render a default award, consistent with the relief requested in the Arbitration Notice, against a party that fails to submit an answer within such time period.
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4.5 Related Litigation. The party that delivers the Arbitration Notice to the other party shall have the option to also commence concurrent legal proceedings with any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah (“Litigation Proceedings”), subject to the following: (a) the complaint in the Litigation Proceedings is to be substantially similar to the claims set forth in the Arbitration Notice, provided that an additional cause of action to compel arbitration will also be included therein, (b) so long as the other party files an answer to the complaint in the Litigation Proceedings and an answer to the Arbitration Notice, the Litigation Proceedings will be stayed pending an Arbitration Award (or Appeal Panel Award (defined below), as applicable) hereunder, (c) if the other party fails to file an answer in the Litigation Proceedings or an answer in the Arbitration proceedings, then the party initiating Arbitration shall be entitled to a default judgment consistent with the relief requested, to be entered in the Litigation Proceedings, and (d) any legal or procedural issue arising under the Arbitration Act that requires a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction may be determined in the Litigation Proceedings. Any award of the arbitrator (or of the Appeal Panel (defined below)) may be entered in such Litigation Proceedings pursuant to the Arbitration Act. In the event either party successfully petitions a court to compel arbitration, the losing party in such action shall be required to pay the prevailing party’s attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with such action.
4.6 Discovery. Pursuant to Section 118(8) of the Arbitration Act, the parties agree that discovery shall be conducted as follows:
(a) Written discovery will only be allowed if the likely benefits of the proposed written discovery outweigh the burden or expense thereof, and the written discovery sought is likely to reveal information that will satisfy a specific element of a claim or defense already pleaded in the Arbitration. The party seeking written discovery shall always have the burden of showing that all of the standards and limitations set forth in these Arbitration Provisions are satisfied. The scope of discovery in the Arbitration proceedings shall also be limited as follows:
(i) To facts directly connected with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.
(ii) To facts and information that cannot be obtained from another source or in another manner that is more convenient, less burdensome or less expensive than in the manner requested.
(b) No party shall be allowed (i) more than fifteen (15) interrogatories (including discrete subparts), (ii) more than fifteen (15) requests for admission (including discrete subparts), (iii) more than ten (10) document requests (including discrete subparts), or (iv) more than three (3) depositions (excluding expert depositions) for a maximum of seven (7) hours per deposition. The costs associated with depositions will be borne by the party taking the deposition. The party defending the deposition will submit a notice to the party taking the deposition of the estimated attorneys’ fees that such party expects to incur in connection with defending the deposition. If the party defending the deposition fails to submit an estimate of attorneys’ fees within five (5) calendar days of its receipt of a deposition notice, then such party shall be deemed to have waived its right to the estimated attorneys’ fees. The party taking the deposition must pay the party defending the deposition the estimated attorneys’ fees prior to taking the deposition, unless such obligation is deemed to be waived as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence. If the party taking the deposition believes that the estimated attorneys’ fees are unreasonable, such party may submit the issue to the arbitrator for a decision. All depositions will be taken in Utah.
(c) All discovery requests (including document production requests included in deposition notices) must be submitted in writing to the arbitrator and the other party. The party submitting the written discovery requests must include with such discovery requests a detailed explanation of how the proposed discovery requests satisfy the requirements of these Arbitration Provisions and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. The receiving party will then be allowed, within five (5) calendar days of receiving the proposed discovery requests, to submit to the arbitrator an estimate of the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to such written discovery requests and a written challenge to each applicable discovery request. After receipt of an estimate of attorneys’ fees and costs and/or challenge(s) to one or more discovery requests, consistent with subparagraph (c) above, the arbitrator will within three (3) calendar days make a finding as to the likely attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to the discovery requests and issue an order that (i) requires the requesting party to prepay the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to the discovery requests, and (ii) requires the responding party to respond to the discovery requests as limited by the arbitrator within twenty-five (25) calendar days of the arbitrator’s finding with respect to such discovery requests. If a party entitled to submit an estimate of attorneys’ fees and costs and/or a challenge to discovery requests fails to do so within such 5-day period, the arbitrator will make a finding that (A) there are no attorneys’ fees or costs associated with responding to such discovery requests, and (B) the responding party must respond to such discovery requests (as may be limited by the arbitrator) within twenty-five (25) calendar days of the arbitrator’s finding with respect to such discovery requests. Any party submitting any written discovery requests, including without limitation interrogatories, requests for production subpoenas to a party or a third party, or requests for admissions, must prepay the estimated attorneys’ fees and costs, before the responding party has any obligation to produce or respond to the same, unless such obligation is deemed waived as set forth above.
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(d) In order to allow a written discovery request, the arbitrator must find that the discovery request satisfies the standards set forth in these Arbitration Provisions and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator must strictly enforce these standards. If a discovery request does not satisfy any of the standards set forth in these Arbitration Provisions or the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, the arbitrator may modify such discovery request to satisfy the applicable standards, or strike such discovery request in whole or in part.
(e) Each party may submit expert reports (and rebuttals thereto), provided that such reports must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the Arbitration Commencement Date. Each party will be allowed a maximum of two (2) experts. Expert reports must contain the following: (i) a complete statement of all opinions the expert will offer at trial and the basis and reasons for them; (ii) the expert’s name and qualifications, including a list of all the expert’s publications within the preceding ten (10) years, and a list of any other cases in which the expert has testified at trial or in a deposition or prepared a report within the preceding ten (10) years; and (iii) the compensation to be paid for the expert’s report and testimony. The parties are entitled to depose any other party’s expert witness one (1) time for no more than four (4) hours. An expert may not testify in a party’s case-in-chief concerning any matter not fairly disclosed in the expert report.
4.7 Dispositive Motions. Each party shall have the right to submit dispositive motions pursuant Rule 12 or Rule 56 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure (a “Dispositive Motion”). The party submitting the Dispositive Motion may, but is not required to, deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a memorandum in support (the “Memorandum in Support”) of the Dispositive Motion. Within seven (7) calendar days of delivery of the Memorandum in Support, the other party shall deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a memorandum in opposition to the Memorandum in Support (the “Memorandum in Opposition”). Within seven (7) calendar days of delivery of the Memorandum in Opposition, as applicable, the party that submitted the Memorandum in Support shall deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a reply memorandum to the Memorandum in Opposition (“Reply Memorandum”). If the applicable party shall fail to deliver the Memorandum in Opposition as required above, or if the other party fails to deliver the Reply Memorandum as required above, then the applicable party shall lose its right to so deliver the same, and the Dispositive Motion shall proceed regardless.
4.8 Confidentiality. All information disclosed by either party (or such party’s agents) during the Arbitration process (including without limitation information disclosed during the discovery process or any Appeal (defined below)) shall be considered confidential in nature. Each party agrees not to disclose any confidential information received from the other party (or its agents) during the Arbitration process (including without limitation during the discovery process or any Appeal) unless (a) prior to or after the time of disclosure such information becomes public knowledge or part of the public domain, not as a result of any inaction or action of the receiving party or its agents, (b) such information is required by a court order, subpoena or similar legal duress to be disclosed if such receiving party has notified the other party thereof in writing and given it a reasonable opportunity to obtain a protective order from a court of competent jurisdiction prior to disclosure, or (c) such information is disclosed to the receiving party’s agents, representatives and legal counsel on a need to know basis who each agree in writing not to disclose such information to any third party. Pursuant to Section 118(5) of the Arbitration Act, the arbitrator is hereby authorized and directed to issue a protective order to prevent the disclosure of privileged information and confidential information upon the written request of either party.
4.9 Authorization; Timing; Scheduling Order. Subject to all other sections of these Arbitration Provisions, the parties hereby authorize and direct the arbitrator to take such actions and make such rulings as may be necessary to carry out the parties’ intent for the Arbitration proceedings to be efficient and expeditious. Pursuant to Section 120 of the Arbitration Act, the parties hereby agree that an Arbitration Award must be made within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date. The arbitrator is hereby authorized and directed to hold a scheduling conference within ten (10) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date in order to establish a scheduling order with various binding deadlines for discovery, expert testimony, and the submission of documents by the parties to enable the arbitrator to render a decision prior to the end of such 120-day period.
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4.10 Relief. The arbitrator shall have the right to award or include in the Arbitration Award (or in a preliminary ruling) any relief which the arbitrator deems proper under the circumstances, including, without limitation, specific performance and injunctive relief, provided that the arbitrator may not award exemplary or punitive damages.
4.11 Fees and Costs. As part of the Arbitration Award, the arbitrator is hereby directed to require the losing party (the party being awarded the least amount of money by the arbitrator, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any party) to (a) pay the full amount of any unpaid costs and fees of the Arbitration, and (b) reimburse the prevailing party for all reasonable attorneys’ fees, arbitrator costs and fees, deposition costs, other discovery costs, and other expenses, costs or fees paid or otherwise incurred by the prevailing party in connection with the Arbitration.
4.12 Motion to Vacate. Following the entry of the Arbitration Award, if either party desires to file a Motion to Vacate the Arbitration Award with a court in Salt Lake County, Utah, it must do so within the earlier of: (a) thirty (30) days of entry of the Arbitration; and (b) in response to the prevailing party’s Motion of Confirm the Arbitration Award.
5. Arbitration Appeal.
5.1 Initiation of Appeal. Following the entry of the Arbitration Award, either party (the “Appellant”) shall have a period of thirty (30) calendar days in which to notify the other party (the “Appellee”), in writing, that the Appellant elects to appeal (the “Appeal”) the Arbitration Award (such notice, an “Appeal Notice”) to a panel of arbitrators as provided in Paragraph 5.2 below. The date the Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee is referred to herein as the “Appeal Date”. The Appeal Notice must be delivered to the Appellee in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4.1 above with respect to delivery of an Arbitration Notice. In addition, together with delivery of the Appeal Notice to the Appellee, the Appellant must also pay for (and provide proof of such payment to the Appellee together with delivery of the Appeal Notice) a bond in the amount of 110% of the sum the Appellant owes to the Appellee as a result of the Arbitration Award the Appellant is appealing. In the event an Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee (together with proof of payment of the applicable bond) in compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph 5.1, the Appeal will occur as a matter of right and, except as specifically set forth herein, will not be further conditioned. In the event a party does not deliver an Appeal Notice (along with proof of payment of the applicable bond) to the other party within the deadline prescribed in this Paragraph 5.1, such party shall lose its right to appeal the Arbitration Award. The Arbitration Award will be considered final until the Appeal Notice has been properly delivered and the applicable appeal bond has been posted (along with proof of payment of the applicable bond). The parties acknowledge and agree that any Appeal shall be deemed part of the parties’ agreement to arbitrate for purposes of these Arbitration Provisions and the Arbitration Act.
5.2 Selection and Payment of Appeal Panel. In the event an Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee (together with proof of payment of the applicable bond) in compliance with the provisions of Paragraph 5.1 above, the Appeal will be heard by a three (3) person arbitration panel (the “Appeal Panel”).
(a) Within ten (10) calendar days after the Appeal Date, the Appellee shall select and submit to the Appellant the names of five (5) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Services (http://www.utahadrservices.com) (such five (5) designated persons hereunder are referred to herein as the “Proposed Appeal Arbitrators”). For the avoidance of doubt, each Proposed Appeal Arbitrator must be qualified as a “neutral” with Utah ADR Services, and shall not be the arbitrator who rendered the Arbitration Award being appealed (the “Original Arbitrator”). Within five (5) calendar days after the Appellee has submitted to the Appellant the names of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators, the Appellant must select, by written notice to the Appellee, three (3) of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators to act as the members of the Appeal Panel. If the Appellant fails to select three (3) of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators in writing within such 5-day period, then the Appellee may select such three (3) arbitrators from the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to the Appellant.
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(b) If the Appellee fails to submit to the Appellant the names of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators within ten (10) calendar days after the Appeal Date pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, then the Appellant may at any time prior to the Appellee so designating the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators, identify the names of five (5) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Service (none of whom may be the Original Arbitrator) by written notice to the Appellee. The Appellee may then, within five (5) calendar days after the Appellant has submitted notice of its selected arbitrators to the Appellee, select, by written notice to the Appellant, three (3) of such selected arbitrators to serve on the Appeal Panel. If the Appellee fails to select in writing within such 5-day period three (3) of the arbitrators selected by the Appellant to serve as the members of the Appeal Panel, then the Appellant may select the three (3) members of the Appeal Panel from the Appellant’s list of five (5) arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to the Appellee.
(c) If a selected Proposed Appeal Arbitrator declines or is otherwise unable to serve, then the party that selected such Proposed Appeal Arbitrator may select one (1) of the other five (5) designated Proposed Appeal Arbitrators within three (3) calendar days of the date a chosen Proposed Appeal Arbitrator declines or notifies the parties he or she is unable to serve as an arbitrator. If at least three (3) of the five (5) designated Proposed Appeal Arbitrators decline or are otherwise unable to serve, then the Proposed Appeal Arbitrator selection process shall begin again in accordance with this Paragraph 5.2; provided, however, that any Proposed Appeal Arbitrators who have already agreed to serve shall remain on the Appeal Panel.
(d) The date that all three (3) Proposed Appeal Arbitrators selected pursuant to this Paragraph 5.2 agree in writing (including via email) delivered to both the Appellant and the Appellee to serve as members of the Appeal Panel hereunder is referred to herein as the “Appeal Commencement Date”. No later than five (5) calendar days after the Appeal Commencement Date, the Appellee shall designate in writing (including via email) to the Appellant and the Appeal Panel the name of one (1) of the three (3) members of the Appeal Panel to serve as the lead arbitrator in the Appeal proceedings. Each member of the Appeal Panel shall be deemed an arbitrator for purposes of these Arbitration Provisions and the Arbitration Act, provided that, in conducting the Appeal, the Appeal Panel may only act or make determinations upon the approval or vote of no less than the majority vote of its members, as announced or communicated by the lead arbitrator on the Appeal Panel. If an arbitrator on the Appeal Panel ceases or is unable to act during the Appeal proceedings, a replacement arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with Paragraph 5.2 above to continue the Appeal as a member of the Appeal Panel. If Utah ADR Services ceases to exist or to provide a list of neutrals, then the arbitrators for the Appeal Panel shall be selected under then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association.
(e) Subject to Paragraph 5.7 below, the cost of the Appeal Panel must be paid entirely by the Appellant.
5.3 Appeal Procedure. The Appeal will be deemed an appeal of the entire Arbitration Award. In conducting the Appeal, the Appeal Panel shall conduct a de novo review of all Claims described or otherwise set forth in the Arbitration Notice. Subject to the foregoing and all other provisions of this Paragraph 5, the Appeal Panel shall conduct the Appeal in a manner the Appeal Panel considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the Appeal, may hold one or more hearings and permit oral argument, and may review all previous evidence and discovery, together with all briefs, pleadings and other documents filed with the Original Arbitrator (as well as any documents filed with the Appeal Panel pursuant to Paragraph 5.4(a) below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the Appeal, the Appeal Panel shall not permit the parties to conduct any additional discovery or raise any new Claims to be arbitrated, shall not permit new witnesses or affidavits, and shall not base any of its findings or determinations on the Original Arbitrator’s findings or the Arbitration Award.
5.4 Timing.
(a) Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appeal Commencement Date, the Appellant (i) shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Appeal Panel copies of the Appeal Notice, all discovery conducted in connection with the Arbitration, and all briefs, pleadings and other documents filed with the Original Arbitrator (which material Appellee shall have the right to review and supplement if necessary), and (ii) may, but is not required to, deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellee a Memorandum in Support of the Appellant’s arguments concerning or position with respect to all Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded in the Arbitration. Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appellant’s delivery of the Memorandum in Support, as applicable, the Appellee shall deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellant a Memorandum in Opposition to the Memorandum in Support. Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appellee’s delivery of the Memorandum in Opposition, as applicable, the Appellant shall deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellee a Reply Memorandum to the Memorandum in Opposition. If the Appellant shall fail to substantially comply with the requirements of clause (i) of this subparagraph (a), the Appellant shall lose its right to appeal the Arbitration Award, and the Arbitration Award shall be final. If the Appellee shall fail to deliver the Memorandum in Opposition as required above, or if the Appellant shall fail to deliver the Reply Memorandum as required above, then the Appellee or the Appellant, as the case may be, shall lose its right to so deliver the same, and the Appeal shall proceed regardless.
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(b) Subject to subparagraph (a) above, the parties hereby agree that the Appeal must be heard by the Appeal Panel within thirty (30) calendar days of the Appeal Commencement Date, and that the Appeal Panel must render its decision within thirty (30) calendar days after the Appeal is heard (and in no event later than sixty (60) calendar days after the Appeal Commencement Date).
5.5 Appeal Panel Award. The Appeal Panel shall issue its decision (the “Appeal Panel Award”) through the lead arbitrator on the Appeal Panel. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the Appeal Panel Award shall (a) supersede in its entirety and make of no further force or effect the Arbitration Award (provided that any protective orders issued by the Original Arbitrator shall remain in full force and effect), (b) be final and binding upon the parties, with no further rights of appeal, (c) be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded in the Arbitration, and (d) be promptly payable in United States dollars free of any tax, deduction or offset (with respect to monetary awards). Any costs or fees, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with or incident to enforcing the Appeal Panel Award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be charged against the party resisting such enforcement. The Appeal Panel Award shall include Default Interest (with respect to monetary awards) at the rate specified in the Note for Default Interest both before and after the Arbitration Award. Judgment upon the Appeal Panel Award will be entered and enforced by a state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah.
5.6 Relief. The Appeal Panel shall have the right to award or include in the Appeal Panel Award any relief which the Appeal Panel deems proper under the circumstances, including, without limitation, specific performance and injunctive relief, provided that the Appeal Panel may not award exemplary or punitive damages.
5.7 Fees and Costs. As part of the Appeal Panel Award, the Appeal Panel is hereby directed to require the losing party (the party being awarded the least amount of money by the arbitrator, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any party) to (a) pay the full amount of any unpaid costs and fees of the Arbitration and the Appeal Panel, and (b) reimburse the prevailing party (the party being awarded the most amount of money by the Appeal Panel, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any part) the reasonable attorneys’ fees, arbitrator and Appeal Panel costs and fees, deposition costs, other discovery costs, and other expenses, costs or fees paid or otherwise incurred by the prevailing party in connection with the Arbitration (including without limitation in connection with the Appeal).
6. Miscellaneous.
6.1 Severability. If any part of these Arbitration Provisions is found to violate or be illegal under applicable law, then such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision enforceable under applicable law, and the remainder of the Arbitration Provisions shall remain unaffected and in full force and effect.
6.2 Governing Law. These Arbitration Provisions shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah without regard to the conflict of laws principles therein.
6.3 Interpretation. The headings of these Arbitration Provisions are for convenience of reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, these Arbitration Provisions.
6.4 Waiver. No waiver of any provision of these Arbitration Provisions shall be effective unless it is in the form of a writing signed by the party granting the waiver.
6.5 Time is of the Essence. Time is expressly made of the essence with respect to each and every provision of these Arbitration Provisions.
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Exhibit 10.2
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Deposit Account Control Agreement is made as of December 11, 2025, by and among Lakeside Bank, an Illinois banking corporation (the “Bank”), Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (the “Lender”), and Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (the “Guarantor”).
WHEREAS, Lender has agreed to make a loan in the original principal amount of $16,070,000.00 to Guarantor’s parent company, Founder Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“FGL”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of a Guaranty executed by Guarantor in favor of Lender on December 11, 2025, Guarantor has granted Lender a security interest and a lien on the deposit account described on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Deposit Account”) and the property held in the Deposit Account; and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to protect Lender’s interest in the Deposit Account and the property held therein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed that:
1. Deposit Account. The parties represent that:
(a) The Bank is maintaining the Deposit Account with the account number set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto;
(b) The Bank does not know of any claim to or interest in the Deposit Account, except for claims and interests of the parties referred to herein;
(c) The Deposit Account is owned by Guarantor whose taxpayer identification number is 41-2717117 and who authorizes account statements to be sent to it and Lender at the addresses specified in Section 17 of this Agreement; and
(d) The Deposit Account may also include a “Reserve Deposit Account”, which shall earn interest at the standard money market rate then in effect as set by the Bank at that time. If a Reserve Deposit Account is established, it shall be identified and listed in Exhibit A alongside the primary Deposit Account. Funds in the Reserve Deposit Account shall be subject to a Zero Balance Sweep arrangement between the Deposit Account and the Reserve Deposit Account, whereby collected funds in the Deposit Account will be automatically transferred to (and from) the Reserve Deposit Account as required to maintain a target balance of $5,000.00 in the Deposit Account at the close of each business day to accommodate posting and clearing activity and to ensure the proper functioning of the Zero Balance Sweep arrangement. The Reserve Deposit Account shall be deemed part of the Deposit Account for purposes of this Agreement, and all rights, interests, and control provisions applicable to the Deposit Account shall likewise apply to the Reserve Deposit Account.
2. Control by Lender. Lender shall have “control” over the Deposit Account and the funds therein for purposes of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Bank will comply with all notifications or instructions it receives directing it to transfer or redeem any property in the Deposit Account (each, a “Lender Instruction Notice”) originated by Lender without further consent by Guarantor; provided that such Lender Instruction Notice shall be given by Lender in accordance with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and between Lender and FGL dated as of December 11, 2025. Guarantor hereby expressly authorizes Bank to act in accordance with each Lender Instruction Notice without Guarantor’s consent or concurrence. Further, Guarantor agrees not to assert a claim or demand against Bank for complying with a Lender Instruction Notice received from Lender.
3. Guarantor’s Rights in the Deposit Account. Except for a Lender Instruction Notice, the Bank shall only comply with joint instructions originated and executed by Guarantor and Lender directing the disposition of funds in the Deposit Account.
4. Priority of Lender’s Lien. The Bank hereby acknowledges the first position security interest in the Deposit Account granted by Guarantor to Lender. The Bank hereby confirms that the Deposit Account is a cash account and that it will not advance any other credit to Guarantor. The Bank subordinates in favor of Lender any security interest, lien, encumbrance, claim or right of setoff it may have, now or in the future, against the Deposit Account or property in the Deposit Account or any free credit balance earned in the Deposit Account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank is permitted to charge the Deposit Account: (a) for its usual and customary service charges, transfer fees and account maintenance fees and charges relating to such Deposit Account (the “Fees”); and (b) for any check deposited into the Deposit Account that is returned unpaid for any reason and for ACH credit entries that may have been originated by Guarantor but that have not settled within two (2) business days after the effective date of this Agreement or for any entries, whether credit or debit, that are subsequently returned thereafter (the “Returned Items”). In the event that there are not sufficient collected funds in such other accounts to pay the Fees and Returned Items, then Bank may charge the Deposit Account for such Fees and Returned Items. In the event that there are insufficient collected funds on deposit in the Deposit Account, Guarantor agrees upon demand to pay to Bank the amount of such Fees and Returned Items. If Guarantor fails to pay the amount demanded by Bank, Lender agrees to reimburse Bank within three (3) business days of demand thereof by Bank for any Returned Items and overdrafts to the extent Lender received payment in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.
5. Notices of Adverse Claims. The Bank will use reasonable efforts to promptly notify Lender and Guarantor if it receives notice at any time after the date of this Agreement that any other person claims that it has a property interest in property in the Deposit Account and that it is a violation of that person’s rights for anyone else to hold, transfer or deal with the property. For the avoidance of doubt, such notice shall be given in writing and in accordance with the notice provisions set forth in Section 17 below.
6. Bank’s Responsibility.
(a) The Bank will not be liable to Guarantor for complying with a Lender Instruction Notice originated by Lender or for failing to comply with directions concerning the Deposit Account from Guarantor, even if Guarantor notifies the Bank that Lender is not legally entitled to issue the Lender Instruction Notice or to restrict Lender’s access to the Deposit Account.
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(b) This Agreement does not create any obligation of the Bank except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement.
(c) In no event shall Bank be liable, directly or indirectly, for any (i) damages or expenses arising out of services provided under this Agreement, other than damages which result from Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or (ii) indirect, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if Bank has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
(d) Bank will be excused from failing to act or delay in acting, and no such failure or delay shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or otherwise give rise to any liability of Bank if (a) such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond Bank’s reasonable control, including but not limited to legal constraint, emergency conditions, action or inaction of government, civil or military authority, fire, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, war, riot, theft, flood, or other natural disaster, COVID related orders and shutdowns, epidemics, breakdown of public or private or common carrier communications or transmission facilities, equipment failure, or negligence or default of Guarantor or Lender or (b) such failure or delay resulted from Bank’s reasonable belief that the action would have violated any guideline, rule or regulation of any governmental authority.
(e) Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Agreement, in the event of the commencement of a case pursuant to Title 11, United States Code, filed by or against Guarantor, Bank may act as it deems necessary to comply with all applicable provisions of governing statutes and shall not be in violation of this Agreement as a result.
(f) Bank shall be permitted to comply with any writ, levy, citation, attachment, garnishment order or other similar judicial or regulatory order or process concerning the Deposit Account or any check and shall not be in violation of this Agreement for so doing; provided, however, Bank must take commercially reasonable actions to provide Guarantor and Lender with notice of any such order unless notice cannot be given by applicable law.
7. Indemnity. Guarantor and Lender, jointly and severally, will indemnify Bank and hold it harmless, together with its officers, directors, employees and agents against claims, liabilities and expenses and damages of any nature arising out of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, allocated costs of staff counsel, other reasonable attorneys’ fees and any other fees and expenses), except to the extent the claims, liabilities or expenses are caused by the Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
8. Termination; Survival.
(a) Lender may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Bank and Guarantor.
(b) If Lender notifies the Bank that Lender’s security interest in the Deposit Account has terminated, this Agreement will immediately terminate.
(c) Subsection 6(c) and Section 7, “Indemnity” shall survive termination of this Agreement.
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9. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Deposit Account will be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. The Bank and Guarantor may not change the law governing the Deposit Account without Lender’s express written agreement.
10. Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of any litigation arising from or related to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in connection with such litigation or dispute, including any appeals, in addition to any other relief to which they may be entitled.
11. Jury Trial Waiver. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.
12. Entire Agreement. If there is a conflict between this Agreement and any other agreement between Guarantor and the Bank, this Agreement shall control; provided, however, that the terms of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to make Lender a party to such account agreement. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement is the entire agreement, and supersedes any prior agreements and contemporaneous oral agreements of the parties concerning its subject matter.
13. Amendments. No amendment of, or waiver of a right under, this Agreement will be binding unless it is in writing and signed by the party to be charged.
14. Severability. To the extent a provision of this Agreement is unenforceable, this Agreement will be construed as if the unenforceable provision were omitted.
15. Successors and Assigns. A successor to or assignee of Lender’s rights and obligations under the Guaranty will succeed to Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
17. Notice. Any notices and demands under or related to this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the intended party at its address or email stated below, and if to Lender, at its main office if no other address of Lender is specified herein, by one of the following means: (a) by hand, (b) by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, (c) by certified mail, postage prepaid, with return receipt requested, or (d) by email. Notice shall be deemed given: (i) upon receipt if delivered by hand, (ii) on the Delivery Day after the day of deposit with a nationally recognized courier service, (iii) on the third Delivery Day after the notice is deposited in the mail, or (iv) when transmitted to the email address specified below and a confirmation receipt is received by the sender. “Delivery Day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or any other day on which national banking associations located in Illinois are authorized to be closed. Any party may change its address for purposes of the receipt of notices and demands by giving notice of such change in the manner provided in this provision.
| If to Lender: | Streeterville Capital, LLC |
| Attn: John Fife | |
| 297 Auto Mall Drive #4 | |
| St. George, Utah 84770 |
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| If to Guarantor: | Founder Capital, LLC |
| Attn: Lee Seng Chi | |
| No. 17, Jalan Astana 1B, Bandar Bukit Raja | |
| 41050 Klang, Salangor Darul Ehsan | |
| Malaysia |
| If to Bank: | Lakeside Bank |
| Attn: Treasury Management Department | |
| 3855 S. Halsted Street | |
| Chicago, Illinois 60609 | |
| Email: treasury.management@lakesidebank.com | |
| With a copy to: | |
| Lakeside Bank | |
| Attn: General Counsel | |
| 141 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 130A | |
| Chicago, IL 60604 | |
| Email : sfister@lakesidebank.com |
18. Disclaimer. Nothing contained in the Agreement shall create any agency, fiduciary, joint venture or partnership relationship between the Bank and Guarantor or Lender. Guarantor and Lender agree that nothing in this Agreement, nor any course of dealing among the parties to this Agreement, shall constitute a commitment or other obligation on the part of the Bank to extend credit to Guarantor or Lender.
[Signatures Appear on Following Page]
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In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
| BANK: | ||
| Lakeside Bank, an Illinois banking corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Matthew H. Palmisano | |
| Matthew H. Palmisano, SVP, Director of | ||
| Treasury Management | ||
| LENDER: | ||
| Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company | ||
| By: | /s/ John Fife | |
| John Fife, President | ||
| GUARANTOR: | ||
| Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Lee Seng Chi, Manager | ||
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EXHIBIT A
“Deposit Account”
Account #: 1000217380
Account Title: Founder Capital, LLC as Borrower, Streeterville Capital as Lender, DACA Deposit Account
“Reserve Deposit Account”
Account #: 1000217398
Account Title: Founder Capital, LLC as Borrower, Streeterville Capital as Lender, DACA Reserve Account
Exhibit 10.3
GUARANTY
This GUARANTY, made effective as of December 11, 2025, is given by Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (“Guarantor”), for the benefit of Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, and its successors, transferees, and assigns (collectively “Investor”).
PURPOSE
A. Founder Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and parent of Guarantor (“Company”), has issued to Investor that certain Secured Convertible Promissory Note of even date herewith in the original principal amount of $16,070,000.00 (the “Note”).
B. The Note was issued pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement of even date herewith between Company and Investor (the “Purchase Agreement”).
C. Investor agreed to provide the financing to Company evidenced by the Note only upon the inducement and representation of Guarantor that Guarantor would guaranty certain indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Company owed to Investor under the Note, as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of $10.00 and other good and valuable consideration under the Purchase Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce Investor to purchase the Note and provide the financing contemplated therein, Guarantor hereby agrees for the benefit of Investor as follows:
GUARANTY
1. Indebtedness Guaranteed. Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees the prompt payment in full of the Obligations (as defined below), as and when the same (including without limitation portions thereof) become due and payable. Guarantor acknowledges that the amount of the Obligations may exceed the principal amount of the Note. Guarantor further acknowledges that the foregoing guarantee is made for the timely payment and performance of each of the Obligations and is not merely a guaranty of collection. For purposes of this Guaranty, “Obligations” means (a) all loans, advances, debts, liabilities and obligations of Company arising on or after the date of this Guaranty and owed to Investor, whether created by the Note, the Purchase Agreement, or any other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), including any modification or amendment to any of the foregoing, and (b) all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Investor in connection with the Note or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any portion of the indebtedness, liabilities or obligations described in the foregoing clause (a) and the performance of the covenants and agreements of Company contained in the Note and the other Transaction Documents.
2. DACA. The Obligations shall be secured by a Deposit Account Control Agreement (the “DACA”) of even date herewith among Guarantor, Investor and Lakeside Bank, an Illinois banking corporation (the “Bank”), the Deposit Account (as defined in the DACA), and the funds held therein pursuant to the DACA. Guarantor hereby grants to Investor a first-position security interest in and lien on the Deposit Account and the funds held in the Deposit Account and acknowledges and agrees that Investor will have the right to file a UCC-1 Financing Statement with respect to the Deposit Account. Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that Investor will have control over the Deposit Account within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code pursuant to the terms of the DACA. Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that Investor is authorized to send a Lender Instruction Notice (as defined in the DACA) to the Bank directing the disposition of the funds held in the Deposit Account: (a) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Note); or (b) upon Investor’s receipt of a notice from Company pursuant to Section 4(vii) of the Purchase Agreement (or otherwise becoming aware of an action described therein). Upon sending a Lender Instruction Notice, Investor will have the right without further notice or demand, to apply all or any portion of the funds held in the Deposit Account to the Obligations.
3. Representations and Warranties. Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to Investor that:
(a) Guarantor is a limited liability company, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has the power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its properties and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged.
(b) Guarantor has the power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guaranty and has taken all necessary action required by its form of organization to authorize such execution, delivery and performance.
(c) This Guaranty constitutes Guarantor’s legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
(d) The execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not (i) violate any provision of any law, statute, rule or regulation or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any court, governmental agency or arbitrator presently in effect having applicability to Guarantor, (ii) violate or contravene any provision of Guarantor’s organizational documents, or (iii) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other material agreement, lease or instrument to which Guarantor is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or result in the creation of any lien thereunder. Guarantor is not in default under or in violation of any such law, statute, rule or regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award or any such indenture, loan or credit agreement or other agreement, lease or instrument in any case in which the consequences of such default or violation could have a material adverse effect on its business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or otherwise).
(e) No order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any governmental or public body or authority is required on Guarantor’s part to authorize, or is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of, this Guaranty.
(f) There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting Guarantor or any of its properties before any court or arbitrator, or any governmental department, board, agency or other instrumentality which, if determined adversely to Guarantor, would have a material adverse effect on its business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) or on its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
(g) (i) This Guaranty is not given with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any entity to which Guarantor is, or will become on or after the date of this Guaranty, indebted, (ii) Guarantor has received at least a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the giving of this Guaranty, (iii) Guarantor is not insolvent, as defined in any applicable state or federal statute, nor will Guarantor be rendered insolvent by the execution and delivery of this Guaranty to Investor, and (iv) Guarantor does not intend to incur debts that will be beyond Guarantor’s ability to pay as such debts become due.
(h) Guarantor has examined or has had the full opportunity to examine the Note and all the other Transaction Documents, all the terms of which are acceptable to Guarantor.
(i) This Guaranty is given in consideration of Investor entering into the Note and providing financing thereunder.
(j) Guarantor has received adequate consideration and at least a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the giving of this Guaranty, which Guarantor hereby acknowledges having received, and thereby will materially benefit from the financial accommodations granted to Company by Investor pursuant to the Note. Investor may rely conclusively on the continuing warranty, hereby made, that Guarantor continues to be benefitted by Investor’s extension of credit accommodations to Company and Investor shall have no duty to inquire into or confirm the receipt of any such benefits, and this Guaranty shall be effective and enforceable by Investor without regard to the receipt, nature or value of any such benefits. As such, this Guaranty is a valid and binding obligation of Guarantor. Guarantor further covenants and agrees that it will not use lack of consideration as a defense to its performance of its obligations under this Guaranty.
4. Alteration of Obligations. In such manner, upon such terms and at such times as Investor and Company deem best and without notice to Guarantor, Investor and Company may alter, compromise, accelerate, extend, renew or change the time or manner for the payment of any Obligation, increase or reduce the rate of interest on the Note, release Company, as to all or any portion of the Obligations, release, substitute or add any one or more guarantors or endorsers, accept additional or substituted security therefor, or release or subordinate any security therefor. No exercise or non-exercise by Investor of any right available to Investor, no dealing by Investor with Guarantor or any other guarantor, endorser of the Note or any other person, and no change, impairment or release of all or a portion of the obligations of Company under any of the Transaction Documents or suspension of any right or remedy of Investor against any person, including, without limitation, Company and any other such guarantor, endorser or other person, shall in any way affect any of the obligations of Guarantor hereunder or any security furnished by Guarantor or give Guarantor any recourse against Investor. Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of Company.
5. Waiver. To the extent permitted by law, Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes all rights and remedies accorded by applicable law to guarantors and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any such rights or remedies, including (without limitation) (a) any right to require Investor to proceed against Company or any other person or to pursue any other remedy in Investor’s power before proceeding against Guarantor; (b) any defense that may arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority, death or disability of any other person or persons or the failure of Investor to file or enforce a claim against the estate (in administration, bankruptcy or any other proceeding) of any other person or persons; (c) demand, protest and notice of any kind, including, without limitation, notice of the existence, creation or incurring of any new or additional indebtedness, liability or obligation or of any action or non-action on the part of Company, Investor, any endorser or creditor of Company or Guarantor or on the part of any other person whomsoever under this or any other instrument in connection with any obligation or liability or evidence of indebtedness held by Investor as collateral or in connection with any Obligation hereby guaranteed; (d) any defense based upon an election of remedies by Investor which may destroy or otherwise impair the subrogation rights of Guarantor or the right of Guarantor to proceed against Company for reimbursement, or both; (e) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (f) any duty on the part of Investor to disclose to Guarantor any facts Investor may now or hereafter know about Company, regardless of whether Investor has reason to believe that any such facts materially increase the risk beyond that which Guarantor intends to assume or has reason to believe that such facts are unknown to Guarantor or has a reasonable opportunity to communicate such facts to Guarantor, since Guarantor acknowledges that it is fully responsible for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of Company and of all circumstances bearing on the risk of non-payment of any Obligation; (g) any defense arising because of Investor’s election, in any proceeding instituted under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code; (h) any defense based on any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code; (i) any claim, right or remedy which Guarantor may now have or hereafter acquire against Company that arises hereunder and/or from the performance by Guarantor hereunder, including, without limitation, any claim, right or remedy of Investor against Company or any security which Investor now has or hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise; and (j) any obligation of Investor to pursue any other guarantor or any other person, or to foreclose on any collateral.
6. Bankruptcy. So long as any Obligation shall be owing to Investor, Guarantor shall not, without the prior written consent of Investor, commence, or join with any other person in commencing, any bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency proceeding against Company. The obligations of Guarantor under this Guaranty shall not be altered, limited or affected by any proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of Company, or by any defense which Company may have by reason of any order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.
7. Claims in Bankruptcy. Guarantor shall file in any bankruptcy or other proceeding in which the filing of claims is required or permitted by law all claims that Guarantor may have against Company relating to any indebtedness, liability or obligation of Company owed to Guarantor and will assign to Investor all rights of Guarantor thereunder. If Guarantor does not file any such claim, Investor, as attorney-in-fact for Guarantor, is hereby authorized to do so in the name of Guarantor or, in Investor’s discretion, to assign the claim to a nominee and to cause proof of claim to be filed in the name of Investor’s nominee. The foregoing power of attorney is coupled with an interest and cannot be revoked. Investor or Investor’s nominee shall have the sole right to accept or reject any plan proposed in such proceeding and to take any other action that a party filing a claim is entitled to do. In all such cases, whether in administration, bankruptcy or otherwise, the person or persons authorized to pay such claim shall pay to Investor the amount payable on such claim and, to the full extent necessary for that purpose, Guarantor hereby assigns to Investor all of Guarantor’s rights to any such payments or distributions to which Guarantor would otherwise be entitled; provided, however, that Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be deemed satisfied except to the extent that Investor receives cash by reason of any such payment or distribution. If Investor receives anything hereunder other than cash, the same shall be held as collateral for amounts due under this Guaranty. If at any time the holder of the Note is required to refund to Company any payments made by Company under the Note because such payments have been held by a bankruptcy court having jurisdiction over Company to constitute a preference under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law then in effect, or for any other reason, then in addition to Guarantor’s other obligation under this Guaranty, Guarantor shall reimburse the holder in the aggregate amount of such refund payments.
8. Costs and Attorneys’ Fees. If Company or Guarantor fails to pay all or any portion of any Obligation, or Guarantor otherwise breaches any provision hereof or otherwise defaults hereunder, Guarantor shall pay all such expenses and actual, reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by Investor in connection with the enforcement of any obligations of Guarantor hereunder, including, without limitation, any attorneys’ fees incurred in any negotiation, alternative dispute resolution proceeding subsequently agreed to by the parties, if any, litigation, or bankruptcy proceeding or any appeals from any of such proceedings.
9. Cumulative Rights. The amount of Guarantor’s liability and all rights, powers and remedies of Investor hereunder and under any other agreement now or at any time hereafter in force between Investor and Guarantor, including, without limitation, any other guaranty executed by Guarantor relating to any indebtedness, liability or obligation of Company owed to Investor, shall be cumulative and not alternative and such rights, powers and remedies shall be in addition to all rights, powers and remedies given to Investor by law. This Guaranty is in addition to and exclusive of the guaranty of any other guarantor of any indebtedness, liability or obligation of Company owed to Investor.
10. Independent Obligations. The obligations of Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of Company and, to the extent permitted by law, in the event of any breach or default hereunder, a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against Guarantor whether or not Company is joined therein or a separate action or actions are brought against Company, and Investor shall have no obligation to separately pursue an action against Company with respect to the Obligations. Investor may maintain successive actions for other breaches or defaults. Investor’s rights hereunder shall not be exhausted by Investor’s exercise of any of Investor’s rights or remedies or by any such action or by any number of successive actions until and unless all Obligations have been paid and fully performed.
11. Severability. If any part of this Guaranty is construed to be in violation of any law, such part shall be modified to achieve the objective of the parties to the fullest extent permitted and the balance of this Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect.
12. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty shall inure to the benefit of Investor, Investor’s successors and assigns, including the assignees of any Obligation, and shall bind the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors and assigns of Guarantor. This Guaranty may be assigned by Investor with respect to all or any portion of the Obligations, and when so assigned, Guarantor shall be liable to the assignees under this Guaranty without in any manner affecting the liability of Guarantor hereunder with respect to any Obligations retained by Investor.
13. Notices. Whenever Guarantor or Investor shall desire to give or serve any notice, demand, request or other communication with respect to this Guaranty, each such notice shall be given in writing (unless otherwise specified herein) and shall be deemed effectively given on the earliest of:
(a) the date delivered, if delivered by personal delivery as against written receipt therefor or by email to an executive officer, or by confirmed facsimile,
(b) the fifth business day after deposit, postage prepaid, in the United States Postal Service by registered or certified mail, or
(c) the third business day after mailing by domestic or international express courier, with delivery costs and fees prepaid,
in each case, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the address for such party (or Company, in respect of notices delivered to the Guarantor) set forth in the Purchase Agreement (or at such other addresses as such party may designate by ten (10) calendar days’ advance written notice similarly given to each of the other parties hereto).
14. Application of Payments or Recoveries. With or without notice to Guarantor, Investor, in Investor’s sole discretion and at any time and from time to time and in such manner and upon such terms as Investor deems fit, may (a) apply any or all payments or recoveries from Company or from any other guarantor or endorser under any other instrument or realized from any security, in such manner and order of priority as Investor may determine, to any indebtedness, liability or obligation of Company owed to Investor, whether or not such indebtedness, liability or obligation is guaranteed hereby or is otherwise secured or is due at the time of such application; and (b) refund to Company any payment received by Investor in connection with any Obligation and payment of the amount refunded shall be fully guaranteed hereby.
15. Setoff. Investor shall have a right of setoff against the Deposit Account. Such right is in addition to any right of setoff Investor may have by law. All rights of setoff may be exercised without notice or demand to Guarantor. No right of setoff shall be deemed to have been waived by any act or conduct on the part of Investor, or by any neglect to exercise such right of setoff, or by any delay in doing so. Every right of setoff shall continue in full force and effect until specifically waived or released by an instrument in writing executed by Investor.
16. Miscellaneous.
16.1 Governing Law and Venue. This Guaranty shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah for contracts to be wholly performed in such state and without giving effect to the principles thereof regarding the conflict of laws. Without modifying Guarantor’s obligations to resolve disputes hereunder pursuant to the Arbitration Provisions (as defined below), Guarantor consents to and expressly agrees that exclusive venue for the arbitration of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or the relationship of the parties or their affiliates shall be in Salt Lake County, Utah. Without modifying the parties obligations to resolve disputes hereunder pursuant to the Arbitration Provisions (as defined below), for any litigation arising in connection with this Agreement, Guarantor hereby (a) consents to and expressly submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of any state court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah, (b) expressly submits to the exclusive venue of any such court for the purposes hereof, and (c) waives any claim of improper venue and any claim or objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or any other claim or objection to the bringing of any such proceeding in such jurisdictions or to any claim that such venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper.
16.2 Arbitration of Claims. The parties hereto hereby incorporate by this reference the arbitration provisions set forth as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement (“Arbitration Provisions”). The parties shall submit all Claims (as defined in the Arbitration Provisions) arising under this Guaranty or other agreements between the parties and their affiliates to binding arbitration pursuant to the Arbitration Provisions. The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the Arbitration Provisions are unconditionally binding on the parties hereto and are severable from all other provisions of this Guaranty. Any capitalized term not defined in the Arbitration Provisions shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. By executing this Guaranty, Guarantor represents, warrants and covenants that Guarantor has reviewed the Arbitration Provisions carefully, has had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel about such provisions and either has done so or knowingly and voluntarily waived such right, understands that the Arbitration Provisions are intended to allow for the expeditious and efficient resolution of any dispute hereunder, agrees to the terms and limitations set forth in the Arbitration Provisions, and that Guarantor will not take a position contrary to the foregoing representations. Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that Investor may rely upon the foregoing representations and covenants of Guarantor regarding the Arbitration Provisions.
16.3 Entire Agreement. Except as provided in any other written agreement now or at any time hereafter in force between Investor and Guarantor, this Guaranty shall constitute the entire agreement of Guarantor with Investor with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no representation, understanding, promise or condition concerning the subject matter hereof shall be binding upon Investor unless expressed herein.
16.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic signature (including PDF or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com), or other transmission method, and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
16.5 Construction. When the context and construction so require, all words used in the singular herein shall be deemed to have been used in the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter and vice versa. The word “person” as used herein shall include any individual, company, firm, association, partnership, corporation, trust or other legal entity of any kind whatsoever. The headings of this Guaranty are inserted for convenience only and shall have no effect upon the construction or interpretation hereof.
16.6 Waiver. No provision of this Guaranty or right granted to Investor hereunder can be waived in whole or in part nor can Guarantor be released from Guarantor’s obligations hereunder except by a writing duly executed by an authorized officer of Investor. Any such waiver shall be effective only for the specific instance and purpose for which it is given.
16.7 No Subrogation. Until all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Company owed to Investor have been paid in full, Guarantor shall not have any right of subrogation, contribution, or reimbursement against Company or any other guarantor.
16.8 Survival. All representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations contained in this Guaranty shall survive the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty, the creation and payment of the Obligations, and any termination or expiration of this Guaranty.
16.9 Joint and Several Liability. Guarantor’s covenants, obligations and agreements set forth herein are joint and several liabilities and obligations of Guarantor together with every other guarantor of the Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether or not such other guarantors are named in this Guaranty.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page to follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has executed this Guaranty to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
| Founder Capital, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Lee Seng Chi, Manager | ||
[Signature Page to Guaranty]
Exhibit 10.4
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
This PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 11, 2025 by and between Streeterville Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (the “Secured Party”), and Founder Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation (the “Pledgor”).
A. Effective as of the date hereof, the Secured Party purchased from Pledgor that certain Secured Convertible Promissory Note of even date herewith in the principal amount of $16,070,000.00 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note”).
B. The Note was issued pursuant to a certain Securities Purchase Agreement of even date herewith between the Secured Party and the Pledgor (as amended, restated or otherwise modified, the “Purchase Agreement”). Any capitalized term referred to herein without definition shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Purchase Agreement.
C. The Pledgor has agreed to pledge all of the membership interests it owns in Founder Capital, LLC, a Utah limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pledgor (“Founder Capital”), to secure performance of Pledgor’s obligations under the Note and related documents.
D. The Secured Party agreed to provide the financing set forth in the Note in reliance on the Pledgor’s agreement to provide this pledge of the Founder Capital membership interests as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of $10.00, the premises, the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement and the Note, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Grant of Security Interest. The Pledgor hereby pledges to the Secured Party as collateral and security for the Secured Obligations (as defined in Section 2) and grants the Secured Party a first-position security interest in all the membership interests of Founder Capital held by Pledgor (the “Pledged Equity”). The Secured Party shall have the right to exercise the rights and remedies set forth herein and in the Transaction Documents if an Event of Default (as defined in the Note) has occurred under the Note. Such Pledged Equity, together with any additions, replacements, accessions or substitutes therefor or proceeds thereof, are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Collateral.”
2. Secured Obligations. During the term hereof, the Collateral shall secure the performance by Pledgor of all of its obligations under the Note and the other Transaction Documents (the “Secured Obligations”).
3. Perfection of Security Interest.
(a) The Pledgor will, at the Pledgor’s own expense, cause to be searched the public records with respect to the Collateral and will execute, deliver, file and record (in such manner and form as the Secured Party may require), or permit the Secured Party to file and record, as the Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, any financing statements, any carbon, photographic or other reproduction of a financing statement or this Agreement (which shall be sufficient as a financing statement hereunder), and any specific assignments or other paper that may be reasonably necessary or desirable, or that the Secured Party may request, in order to create, preserve, perfect or validate any security interest or to enable the Secured Party to exercise and enforce the Secured Party’s rights hereunder with respect to any of the Collateral.
(b) The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Secured Party to file one or more UCC-1 financing statements or other appropriate documents with applicable governmental agencies to evidence, perfect, and/or protect Secured Party’s security interest in the Collateral.
4. Assignment. Concurrently with the transfer of the Note made in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, the Secured Party may assign or transfer the whole or any part of the Secured Party’s security interest granted hereunder, only to the extent that the transfer of the Note is permissible pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Note. Any such assignee or transferee of the Secured Party shall be vested with all of the rights and powers of the Secured Party hereunder with respect to the Collateral.
5. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Pledgor.
(a) Title. The Pledgor hereby represents and warrants to the Secured Party as follows with respect to the Collateral:
(i) The Pledged Equity has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Founder Capital and is duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(ii) The Pledged Equity represents 100% of the outstanding equity interests in Founder Capital;
(iii) The Pledged Equity is free from all taxes, liens, claims, pledges, mortgages, restrictions, obligations, security interests and encumbrances of any kind, nature or description, and will not subject the Secured Party to personal liability by reason of being the holder thereof;
(iv) The Pledgor has fully performed under all agreements between it and Founder Capital pursuant to which the Pledged Equity was issued and Founder Capital has no claims, defenses or rights of offset against the Pledgor or the Pledged Equity pursuant to the terms of any such agreements;
(v) The Pledgor is the sole beneficial and record owner of the Collateral;
(vi) The Pledgor further agrees not to grant or create any security interest, claim, transfer restriction, lien, pledge or other encumbrance with respect to such Collateral or attempt to or actually sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Collateral, until the Secured Obligations have been paid and performed in full; and (vii) This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Pledgor enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws now or hereafter in effect).
(b) Other.
(i) The Pledgor fully intends to fulfill and has the capability of fulfilling the Secured Obligations to be performed by the Pledgor in accordance with the terms of the Note.
(ii) The Pledgor is not acting, and has not agreed to act, in any plan to sell or dispose of any Pledged Equity in a manner intended to circumvent the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state law.
(iii) The Pledgor has been advised by counsel of the elements of a bona-fide pledge for purposes of determining the holding period for restricted securities under Rule 144(d)(3)(iv) under the Securities Act, including the relevant U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission interpretations, and affirms that the pledge of units by the Pledgor pursuant to this Agreement will constitute a bona-fide pledge of such units for purposes of such Rule.
(iv) The Pledgor will not consent to or otherwise approve of, or cause Founder Capital to consent to or otherwise approve of, or take any action that amends or alters the rights of the Pledged Equity to the detriment of the Secured Party without the written consent of the Secured Party to such amendment. The Pledgor further covenants and agrees not to take any action that would impair the Secured Party’s rights hereunder or as a holder of the Pledged Equity without the written consent of the Secured Party.
6. Collection of Dividends and Interest. After the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Secured Party shall be authorized to collect as additional Collateral all dividends, distributions, interest payments, and other amounts that may be, or may become, due on any of the Collateral, to be held under the terms hereof in the same manner as the Collateral.
7. Voting Rights. During the term of this Agreement and until such time as this Agreement has terminated or the Secured Party has exercised the Secured Party’s rights under this Agreement to foreclose the Secured Party’s interest in the Collateral, the Pledgor shall have the right to exercise any voting rights evidenced by, or relating to, the Collateral, provided that such voting rights shall not be exercised in any manner that would materially impair the value of the Collateral or be inconsistent with or violate any provisions of this Agreement.
8. Warrants and Options. In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, subscription, spin-off, warrants, dividends, or any other rights or option shall be issued in connection with the Collateral, such warrants, dividends, rights and options shall immediately be deemed to have become part of the Collateral and, to the extent such items of Collateral are certificated, shall promptly be delivered to the Secured Party to be held under the terms hereof in the same manner as the Collateral.
9. Preservation of the Value of the Collateral. The Pledgor shall pay all taxes, charges, and assessments against the Collateral and do all acts necessary to preserve and maintain the value thereof.
10. The Secured Party as the Pledgor’s Attorney-in-Fact.
(a) The Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Secured Party as the Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the Pledgor and in the name of the Pledgor, the Secured Party or otherwise, only after the occurrence of an Event of Default, from time to time at the Secured Party’s discretion, to take any action and to execute any instrument, that the Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including: (i) to receive, endorse, and collect all instruments made payable to the Pledgor representing any dividend, interest payment or other distribution in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof to the extent permitted hereunder and to give full discharge for the same and to execute and file governmental notifications and reporting forms; and (ii) to arrange for the transfer of the Collateral on the books of Founder Capital or any other person to the name of the Secured Party or to the name of the Secured Party’s nominee.
(b) In addition to the designation of the Secured Party as the Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact in subsection (a), the Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Secured Party as the Pledgor’s agent and attorney-in-fact, only after the occurrence of an Event of Default, to make, execute and deliver any and all documents and writings which may be necessary or appropriate for approval of, or be required by, any regulatory authority located in any city, county, state or country where the Pledgor or Founder Capital engages in business, in order to transfer or to more effectively transfer any of the Pledged Equity or otherwise enforce the Secured Party’s rights hereunder.
11. Remedies upon Default. After the occurrence of any Event of Default:
(a) The Secured Party may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to the Secured Party, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under applicable law, including without limitation the Utah Uniform Commercial Code (irrespective of whether such applies to the affected items of Collateral), and the Secured Party may also without notice (except as specified below) (i) convert the Collateral into an electronic format, if applicable, (ii) cause Founder Capital’ transfer agent, if applicable, to put all certificates evidencing the Pledged Equity into Secured Party’s name and instruct Founder Capital’ transfer agent (if any) to remove all legends from such certificates, and (iii) sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Secured Party’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Secured Party may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale and shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price of any Collateral payable at such sale. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of the Pledgor, and the Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay, or appraisal that the Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) calendar days’ notice to the Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which a private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Secured Party shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Secured Party may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Pledgor hereby waives any claims against the Secured Party arising because the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Secured Party accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree.
(b) The Pledgor hereby agrees that any sale or other disposition of the Collateral conducted in conformity with reasonable commercial practices of banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions in the city and state where the Secured Party is located in disposing of property similar to the Collateral shall be deemed to be commercially reasonable.
(c) The Pledgor hereby acknowledges that the sale by the Secured Party of any Collateral pursuant to the terms hereof in compliance with the Securities Act, as well as applicable “Blue Sky” or other state securities laws, may require strict limitations as to the manner in which the Secured Party, or any subsequent transferee of the Collateral, may dispose thereof. The Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that in order to protect the Secured Party’s interest it may be necessary to sell the Collateral at a price less than the maximum price attainable if a sale were delayed or were made in another manner, such as a public offering under the Securities Act. The Pledgor has no objection to a sale in such a manner and agrees that the Secured Party shall have no obligation to obtain the maximum possible price for the Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Pledgor agrees that, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Secured Party may, subject to applicable law, from time to time attempt to sell all or any part of the Collateral by a private placement, restricting the bidders and prospective purchasers to those who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for investment only and not for distribution. In so doing, the Secured Party may solicit offers to buy the Collateral or any part thereof for cash, from a limited number of investors reasonably believed by the Secured Party to be institutional investors or other accredited investors who might be interested in purchasing the Collateral. If the Secured Party shall solicit such offers, then the acceptance by the Secured Party of one of the offers shall be deemed to be a commercially reasonable method of disposition of the Collateral.
(d) If the Secured Party shall determine to exercise the Secured Party’s right to sell all or any portion of the Collateral pursuant to this Section, then the Pledgor agrees that, upon request of the Secured Party, the Pledgor, at the Pledgor’s own expense, shall:
(i) execute and deliver, or cause the officers and directors of Founder Capital to execute and deliver, to any person, entity or governmental authority as the Secured Party may choose, any and all documents and writings which, in the Secured Party’s reasonable judgment, may be necessary or appropriate for approval, or be required by, any regulatory authority located in any city, county, state or country where the Pledgor or Founder Capital engage in business, in order to transfer or to more effectively transfer the Collateral or otherwise enforce the Secured Party’s rights hereunder; and
(ii) do or cause to be done all such other acts and things as may be necessary to make such sale of the Collateral or any part thereof valid and binding and in compliance with applicable law.
The Pledgor acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by the Pledgor to comply with the provisions of this Section 11 and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages, and therefore agrees that the Pledgor’s agreements contained in this Section 11 may be specifically enforced.
(e) THE PLEDGOR EXPRESSLY WAIVES TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: (i) ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OR OTHER RIGHT TO A JUDICIAL HEARING PRIOR TO THE TIME THE SECURED PARTY DISPOSES OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE COLLATERAL AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION; (ii) ALL RIGHTS OF REDEMPTION, STAY, OR APPRAISAL THAT THE PLEDGOR NOW HAS OR MAY AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE HAVE UNDER ANY RULE OF LAW OR STATUTE NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ENACTED; AND (iii) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (a) OF THIS SECTION 11, ANY REQUIREMENT OF NOTICE, DEMAND, OR ADVERTISEMENT FOR SALE.
12. Application of Proceeds. After the occurrence of an Event of Default, any cash held by the Secured Party as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by the Secured Party in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral pursuant to the exercise by the Secured Party of the Secured Party’s remedies as a secured creditor as provided in Section 11 shall be applied from time to time by the Secured Party as follows:
(a) First, to the payment of reasonable costs and expenses, including all amounts expended to preserve the value of the Collateral, of foreclosure or suit, if any, and of such sale and the exercise of any other rights or remedies, and of all proper fees, expenses, liability and advances, including reasonable legal expenses and attorneys’ fees and brokerage commissions related to selling any Collateral, incurred or made hereunder by the Secured Party;
(b) Second, to the payment to the Secured Party of the amount then owing or unpaid on the Note (to be applied first to any charges, fees and other expenses incurred thereunder, then to accrued interest and finally to outstanding principal) and under any of the other Transaction Documents; and (c) Third, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to the Pledgor, the Pledgor’s assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, including the transfer to the Pledgor of any remaining Collateral that has not been converted to cash proceeds.
For the avoidance of doubt, any Pledged Equity that are not sold to satisfy the Pledgor’s Secured Obligations shall be returned to the Pledgor following the satisfaction of all of the Secured Obligations. Moreover, under no circumstance shall the Secured Party return or be required to return any cash to the Pledgor.
In the absence of final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Secured Obligations, the Pledgor shall remain liable for any deficiency in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents.
13. Indemnity and Expenses. The Pledgor agrees:
(a) To indemnify and hold harmless the Secured Party and each of the Secured Party’s agents and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, demands, losses, obligations, judgments and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) in any way arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the Secured Obligations, except to the extent the same shall arise as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking to be indemnified; and
(b) To pay and reimburse the Secured Party upon demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) that the Secured Party may incur in connection with (i) the custody, use or preservation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization upon, any of the Collateral, including the reasonable expenses of re-taking, holding, preparing for sale or lease, selling or otherwise disposing of or realizing on the Collateral, (ii) the exercise or enforcement of any rights or remedies granted hereunder, under the Note or otherwise available to the Secured Party (whether at law, in equity or otherwise), or (iii) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof. The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the repayment of any of the Secured Obligations, the termination of the commitments of the Secured Party under the Note and the termination of this Agreement.
14. Duties of the Secured Party. The powers conferred upon the Secured Party hereunder are solely to protect the Secured Party’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose on the Secured Party any duty to exercise such powers. Except as provided in Section 9-207 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Utah, the Secured Party shall have no duty with respect to the Collateral or any responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any persons with respect to any Collateral.
15. Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Utah, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Utah or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Utah. The provisions set forth in the Purchase Agreement to determine the proper venue for any disputes are incorporated herein by this reference.
16. Arbitration of Claims. Each party agrees to be bound by the Arbitration Provisions (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) set forth as an exhibit to the Purchase Agreement. For clarity, such arbitration shall be conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah.
17. Amendments; etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure by the Pledgor herefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Secured Party, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure on the part of the Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right under this Agreement, any other document or documents delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Note, this Agreement or any other agreement entered into in conjunction herewith or therewith, or otherwise with respect to any of the Secured Obligations, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right under this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or otherwise with respect to any of the Secured Obligations preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies provided for in this Agreement or otherwise with respect to any of the Secured Obligations are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by other agreement or applicable law.
18. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing (unless otherwise specified herein) and shall be deemed effectively given on the earliest of: (a) the date delivered, if delivered by personal delivery as against written receipt therefor or by e-mail to an executive officer, or by facsimile (with successful transmission confirmation), (b) the earlier of the date delivered or the third business day after deposit, postage prepaid, in the United States Postal Service by certified mail, or (c) the earlier of the date delivered or the third business day after mailing by express courier, with delivery costs and fees prepaid, in each case, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement in the “Notices” section (or at such other addresses as such party may designate by five (5) calendar days’ advance written notice similarly given to each of the other parties hereto).
19. Continuing Security Interest; Term. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall: (a) remain in full force and effect until the indefeasible payment and performance in full of all the Secured Obligations; (b) be binding upon the Pledgor and the Pledgor’s successors and assigns; and (c) inure to the benefit of the Secured Party and the Secured Party’s successors, transferees, and assigns. Upon the indefeasible payment and performance in full of all of the Secured Obligations, the security interests granted herein shall automatically, and without further action of the Pledgor or the Secured Party required, terminate, all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Pledgor and the term of this Agreement shall end. Upon any such termination, the Secured Party, at the Pledgor’s expense, shall execute and deliver to the Pledgor such documents as the Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination. Such documents shall be prepared by the Pledgor and shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Secured Party. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all provisions of this Agreement that by their nature are intended to survive the termination of this Agreement shall so survive such termination.
20. Security Interest Absolute. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all rights of the Secured Party, all security interests hereunder, and all obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Secured Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto, including any of the Transaction Documents;
(b) any change in the time, manner, or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from any of the Transaction Documents, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(c) any exchange, release, or non-perfection of any other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guaranty for all or any of the Secured Obligations; or
(d) any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Pledgor.
21. Headings. Section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement or be given any substantive effect.
22. Severability. If any part of this Agreement is construed to be in violation of any law, such part shall be modified to achieve the objective of the parties to the fullest extent permitted by law and the balance of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
23. Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed electronically in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.
24. Waiver of Marshaling. Each of the Pledgor and the Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that in exercising any rights under or with respect to the Collateral the Secured Party: (a) is under no obligation to marshal any Collateral; (b) may, in the Secured Party’s absolute discretion, realize upon the Collateral in any order and in any manner the Secured Party so elects; and (c) may, in the Secured Party’s sole and absolute discretion, apply the proceeds of any or all of the Collateral to the Secured Obligations in any order and in any manner the Secured Party so elects, without any duty to maximize recovery or minimize losses. The Pledgor and the Secured Party waive any right to require the marshaling of any of the Collateral.
25. Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PLEDGOR AND THE SECURED PARTY HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. THE PLEDGOR AND THE SECURED PARTY REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
26. Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of any action at law or in equity to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the parties agree that the party who is awarded the most money shall be deemed the prevailing party for all purposes and shall therefore be entitled to an additional award of the full amount of the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses paid by such prevailing party in connection with the litigation and/or dispute without reduction or apportionment based upon the individual claims or defenses giving rise to the fees and expenses. Nothing herein shall restrict or impair a court’s power to award fees and expenses for frivolous or bad faith pleading.
27. Recitals. The recitals of this Agreement are contractual in nature and are hereby agreed to and incorporated into this Agreement.
28. Further Assurances. At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Secured Party, the Pledgor will promptly (and in any event within 5 business days) execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents as the Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary to obtain the full benefits and security of this Agreement, including, without limitation, executing and filing such financing or continuation statements, securities account control agreements or amendments thereto, as may be necessary or desirable or that the Secured Party may reasonably request in order to perfect, preserve and enforce the security interest created hereby.
THE PROXIES AND POWERS GRANTED BY THE PLEDGOR PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND ARE GIVEN TO SECURE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PLEDGOR’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pledgor and the Secured Party have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered (by their duly authorized officers, as applicable), as of the date first written above.
| PLEDGOR: | ||
| FOUNDER GROUP LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ Lee Seng Chi | |
| Lee Seng Chi, Chief Executive Officer | ||
| SECURED PARTY: | ||
| STREETERVLLE CAPITAL, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ John M. Fife | |
| John M. Fife, President | ||
[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]