UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported):
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code: (
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The Stock Market LLC | ||||
| The Stock Market LLC | ||||
| The Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth
company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or
revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Merger Agreement
On October 7, 2026, Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“DAAQ” or “Parent”), entered into a merger agreement with Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Titan” or the “Company”) (as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). Capitalized terms used in this Current Report on Form 8-K but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Merger Agreement.
Titan Strategics AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, holds exploration permits for the Billingen Project, comprising an aggregate license area of approximately 207 km2 in the Billingen-Falbygden region of Sweden, and carries on the business of holding and maintaining such permits and conducting exploration activities thereunder.
The board of directors of DAAQ has unanimously approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination (as defined below) and resolved to recommend approval of the Merger Agreement and related matters to DAAQ’s shareholders. Following the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Domestication (as defined below), Parent shall incorporate a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), to be incorporated for the sole purpose of effectuating the Merger (as defined below). Following the incorporation of Merger Sub, Parent shall cause Merger Sub to enter into a joinder to the Merger Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, DAAQ shall de-register from the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware and domesticate as a Delaware corporation (the “Domestication”), and concurrently with the Domestication, DAAQ shall change its name to “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.” On the Closing Date (as defined below), (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving company (as defined in the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands) (the “Surviving Company”) and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent as a result of the Merger; and (ii) upon the effectiveness of the Merger, the Surviving Company will change its name to a name to be mutually agreed by the parties prior to the Closing.
The Domestication and Merger
In accordance with the Merger Agreement, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth therein, on the day that is at least one business day prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), DAAQ shall effectuate the Domestication. Immediately prior to the Domestication, each Parent Class B Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Domestication shall be automatically converted into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and there shall be no Parent Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding thereafter.
In connection with the Domestication, DAAQ will (i) file a certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto (the “Parent Certificate of Incorporation”) and incorporated by reference herein, whereby Parent shall have one class of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Parent Common Shares”); and (ii) adopt bylaws substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 3.2 hereto (the “Parent Bylaws”) and incorporated by reference herein, in each case, with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Parent and the Company.
In connection with the Domestication, (i) each then issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically into one Parent Common Share, (ii) each whole Parent Warrant that is outstanding and unexercised shall convert automatically into a warrant to acquire one Parent Common Share pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement (each, a “Domesticated Parent Warrant”), (iii) each then issued and outstanding Parent Unit shall separate and convert automatically into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one redeemable Parent Warrant and each such Parent Class A Ordinary Share and each such whole Parent Warrant shall convert automatically into one Parent Common Share and one Domesticated Parent Warrant, respectively, and all Parent Units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, (iv) Parent’s name will be “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.” and (v) the governing documents of Parent will become the Parent Certificate of Incorporation and the Parent Bylaws.
1
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, at least one business day following the Domestication, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company after which the Company will be the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
The Merger shall become effective upon the time of registration of the plan of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Plan of Merger”) by the Cayman Registrar or at such later time as is agreed to by the parties and specified in the Plan of Merger (the time at which the Merger becomes effective is herein referred to as the “Effective Time”). The Domestication, the Merger, and other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Business Combination,” the consummation of the Merger is referred to as the “Closing” and the date of the Closing is referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Merger Consideration and Structure
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, DAAQ has agreed to acquire all of the equity interests of the Company for the sum of $250,000,000 (the “Base Purchase Price”), comprising 25,000,000 Parent Common Shares (calculated as the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Base Purchase Price, by (b) $10.00) (the “Aggregate Merger Consideration”).
Effect of the Merger
Each Company Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Excluded Shares and any Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive a number of Parent Common Shares equal to the Conversion Ratio. Such conversion shall be effected pursuant to the Plan of Merger by means of the cancellation of such Company Ordinary Shares in exchange for the right to receive the Aggregate Merger Consideration. All of the Company Ordinary Shares converted into the right to receive the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist at the Effective Time.
“Company Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Conversion Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) 25,000,000 (i.e., the number of Parent Common Shares constituting the Aggregate Merger Consideration), by (b) the number of shares constituting the Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Ordinary Shares.
“Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Ordinary Shares” means the sum, without duplication, of (a) all Company Ordinary Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; plus (b) the aggregate number of Company Ordinary Shares issuable upon full conversion, exercise or exchange of any other securities of the Company or any other member of the Company Group outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Ordinary Shares.
Conversion of Merger Sub Ordinary Shares
At the Effective Time, each Merger Sub Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one (1) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary share of the Surviving Company registered in the name of Parent. Such conversion shall be effected pursuant to the Plan of Merger.
Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers
Prior to the Effective Time, the parties shall mutually agree on the composition of Parent’s Board of Directors and Parent’s officers as of immediately following the Effective Time. At least a majority of the Board of Directors shall qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq or another national stock exchange rules, as applicable.
2
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
The parties to the Merger Agreement have made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, covenants with respect to the conduct of the Company and DAAQ and their respective subsidiaries prior to the Closing, including the Company’s covenant to provide to Parent no later than ninety (90) days following the date of the Merger Agreement with (a) the audited financial statements of the Company for the period from inception through a date to be mutually agreed by the parties and (b) the audited financial statements of Titan Strategics AS and its subsidiaries for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, for inclusion in the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by DAAQ and the Company in connection with the Business Combination (the “Registration Statement”), and Parent and the Company shall jointly prepare and file with the SEC, mutually acceptable proxy materials which shall be included in the Registration Statement.
During the period commencing on the date of execution of the Merger Agreement and until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of the Merger Agreement, DAAQ shall not, without Titan’s prior written consent, amend, modify, supplement or waive any material provision of any PIPE Subscription Agreement or the PIPE Financing or enter into any other documents or agreements in connection therewith other than the PIPE Subscription Agreement as in effect on the date thereof.
Conditions to Closing
The Closing of the Business Combination is subject to certain customary conditions of the respective parties, including, among other things: (i) approval of the Business Combination and related agreements and transactions by the respective shareholders of DAAQ and the Company; (ii) effectiveness of the Registration Statement; (iii) Parent’s initial listing application shall have been conditionally approved for listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) or another national stock exchange; (iv) there shall not have occurred a respective Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company and Parent that is continuing; (v) that the respective Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects; (vi) the Certificate of Domestication and Parent Certificate of Incorporation shall have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (vii) that all respective officer certificates of the Company and Parent are delivered; (viii) all parties shall have executed and delivered to each other a copy of each Ancillary Agreement to which they are a party; (ix) the size and composition of the post-Closing Parent Board of Directors shall have been appointed; (x) the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company Group at the Closing shall not exceed $500,000; (xi) the PIPE Financing (as defined below) shall have been consummated immediately prior to the Closing in accordance with the PIPE Subscription Agreement (as defined below), (xii) the amount of Parent Closing Cash at the Closing shall equal or exceed $10,000,000; and (xiii) that Parent shall have received information satisfactory to Parent, in its sole discretion, that (a) the Billingen exploration permits are valid and in good standing, (b) potential required applications for extensions of permits have been filed and that the Company and/or its subsidiaries qualify for being granted such extensions, including by having undertaken sufficient exploration work or having plans to undertake such work prior to the permit expiration dates, (c) no Swedish Authority consent is required for the Merger or the Post-Closing Restructuring, and (d) the Post-Closing Restructuring can be completed under Norwegian law.
Termination
The Merger Agreement may be terminated by Parent and the Company under certain circumstances, including:
| (i) | by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company; |
| (ii) | by either Parent or the Company if (a) the Closing has not occurred on or before June 1, 2027, provided that such date shall be automatically extended for an additional three months if the Securities and Exchange Commission has provided more than one round of comments with respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (such date as it may be extended, the “Outside Closing Date”) and (b) the material breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under the Merger Agreement by the party (i.e., Parent or Merger Sub, on one hand, or the Company, on the other hand) seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement was not the cause of, or did not result in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Closing Date; |
3
| (iii) | by either Parent or the Company if the Business Combination is prohibited or made illegal by a final, non-appealable governmental order or law and the failure to comply with any provision of the Merger Agreement by the party seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement is not a substantial cause of, or has not substantially resulted in, such order or law; | |
| (iv) | by Parent if the Mining Technical Report has not been delivered to Parent within seventy-five (75) days following the date of the Merger Agreement; | |
| (v) | by Parent, if the Company, (a) at any time prior to the Closing, has breached any of its covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement except that, if such breach is curable by the Company through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days after receipt of a notice from DAAQ, of such breach, but only as long as the Company continues to use its reasonable best efforts to cure such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if it is not cured within such 30-day period or (b) at any time after the Company Shareholder Written Consent Deadline if the Company has not delivered the Company Shareholder Approval to Parent (provided, that upon the Company delivering the Company Shareholder Approval to Parent, Parent shall no longer have any right to terminate the Merger Agreement); or |
| (vi) | by the Company, if Parent, at any time prior to the Closing, has breached any of its covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement except that, if such breach is curable by Parent through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days after receipt of a notice from the Company, of such breach, but only as long as Parent continues to use its reasonable best efforts to cure such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if it is not cured within such 30-day period. |
If the Merger Agreement is terminated, it will become void and have no further force or effect without liability of any party, except for liability resulting from a party’s willful and material breach or common law fraud.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain Related Agreements
Parent Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent entered into a support agreement (the “Parent Support Agreement”) with DAAQ Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), certain other shareholders of Parent and the Company, pursuant to which the Sponsor and each such Parent shareholder have agreed to, among other things, (i) vote all of its Parent Common Shares in favor of the various proposals related to the Business Combination and the Merger Agreement and any other matters requested by Parent for consummation of the Business Combination, (ii) vote against any alternative proposal or alternative transaction or any proposal relating to a business combination transaction (other than the Merger Agreement, the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby), (iii) vote against any merger agreement or merger, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by Parent (other than the Merger Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby), (iv) vote against any change in the business, management or board of directors of Parent (other than in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby), (v) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Parent Support Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Parent, the Merger Sub or the Sponsor under the Merger Agreement or the Parent Support Agreement, as applicable, (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (D) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of capital stock of, DAAQ, (vi) vote in favor of any proposal to extend the period of time DAAQ is afforded under its organizational documents to consummate an initial business combination, (vii) immediately prior to the Domestication, convert its Parent Class B Ordinary Shares on a one-for-one basis into Parent Class A Ordinary Shares, (viii) comply with the Letter Agreement dated April 28, 2025, including the obligation not to redeem its shares, (ix) waive any right to dissent, demand payment or seek appraisal under applicable Law, including the Cayman Companies Act, in connection with the Merger, (x) not commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage challenges to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, and (xi) be bound by the exclusivity and publicity provisions of the Merger Agreement, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the Parent Support Agreement.
4
During the period commencing on the date of the Merger Agreement and ending on the earliest of (a) the Effective Time, (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with its terms and (c) the liquidation of Parent, the Sponsor and each such Parent shareholder shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, transfer, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of or transfer, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Securities (as defined in the Parent Support Agreement) owned by such Parent shareholder or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any such transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any Permitted Transfer (as defined in the Parent Support Agreement).
The foregoing description of the Parent Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Parent Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Company Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, DAAQ entered into a support agreement (the “Company Support Agreement”) with the Company and certain shareholders of the Company (the “Company Supporting Shareholders”) pursuant to which the Company Supporting Shareholders agreed to, among other things, (i) vote to adopt and approve, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) vote against any merger agreement or merger, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company (other than the Merger Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby), (iii) vote against any change in the business (to the extent in violation of the Merger Agreement), management or board of directors of the Company (other than in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger), and (iv) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Company Support Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company or the Company shareholders under the Merger Agreement or the Company Support Agreement, as applicable, (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled, or (D) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of the Company, including the voting rights of any share capital of the Company.
In addition, the Company Supporting Shareholders agreed that during the period commencing on the date of the Company Support Agreement until the earlier of (a) the Effective Time and (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with its terms, each Company Supporting Shareholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, transfer, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of or transfer any Company shares owned by such Company Supporting Shareholder, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Company shares owned by such Company Supporting Shareholder, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any such transaction, provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any Permitted Transfer (as defined in the Company Support Agreement). The Company Supporting Shareholders also agreed not to engage in any transaction involving the securities of Parent prior to the Closing, irrevocably waived any right to dissent, demand payment or seek appraisal under applicable Law, including the Cayman Companies Act, in connection with the Merger, and agreed not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage any challenge to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company Support Agreement.
5
The foregoing description of the Company Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Company Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Lock-Up Agreement
Effective as of the Closing Date, Parent will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) with DAAQ Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), certain current and/or former shareholders, officers and directors of the Company and other parties party thereto, pursuant to which the Lock-up Shares (as defined below), if any, held by such holders immediately following the Closing will be subject to a lock-up (the “Lock-up”) for the Lock-up Period. The “Lock-up Period” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the eighteen-month anniversary thereof, during which the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up in five equal installments in accordance with the following schedule set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement:
| (a) | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| (b) | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the nine-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| (c) | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the twelve-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| (d) | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the fifteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date; and | |
| (e) | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the eighteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date. | |
Notwithstanding anything in the Lock-Up Agreement to the contrary, if at any time during the Lock-up Period, the Uranium Spot Trade Price (as defined below) for any 20 Trading Days (as defined below) within any 30 consecutive Trading Day period equals or exceeds:
| (i) | $135, then 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate; |
| (ii) | $157, then 40% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate; and |
| (iii) | $179, then 60% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate. |
The term “Lock-up Shares” means, in the case of each holder, 70% of the Parent Common Shares and any other equity securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or representing the rights to receive Parent Common Shares, if any, beneficially owned by such holder immediately following the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lock-up Shares shall not include Parent Common Shares acquired by any such holder in open market transactions during the Lock-up Period or the Advisor Shares.
The term “Trading Day” means any day on which both TradeTech, LLC and UxC, LLC publish a U₃O₈ spot price; provided that, if either TradeTech, LLC or UxC, LLC ceases publishing such spot price or does not publish such spot price for five consecutive Business Days, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the remaining publisher publishes a U₃O₈ spot price or, if neither publisher continues to publish such spot price, any day on which a comparable replacement uranium pricing source selected by the Company in good faith publishes a U₃O₈ spot price.
The term “Uranium Spot Trade Price” means, for any Trading Day, the arithmetic average of the U₃O₈ spot prices per pound most recently published by TradeTech, LLC and UxC, LLC as of such Trading Day and reported on Cameco Corporation’s uranium price webpage; provided that, if only one such price is available, the available price shall control.
6
The foregoing description of the form of Lock-Up Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the form of Lock-Up Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, Parent, certain Sponsor Parties, ROPA Investments (Gibraltar) Limited, a Gibraltar corporation (“ROPA”), and certain ROPA designees (collectively, the “Holders”) will enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Parent will agree to register for resale, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, certain Parent Common Shares that are held by the Holders from time to time, including (a) any outstanding Parent Common Shares, including any Parent Common Shares issued or issuable to a Holder pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and any Parent Common Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise, conversion, vesting or settlement of any other equity security of the Company held by a Holder immediately following the Closing; (b) any outstanding Parent Common Shares and Parent Common Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security of Parent acquired by a Holder following the Closing Date to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of Parent; (c) any Additional Holder Common Stock (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement); and (d) any other equity security of Parent or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a), (b) or (c) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
The Registration Rights Agreement amends and restates the registration rights agreement that was entered into by DAAQ, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto in connection with DAAQ’s initial public offering. The Registration Rights Agreement will terminate, with respect to any Holder, on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities (as defined therein).
The foregoing description of the form of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Advisor Agreement and Shares
As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of the Merger Agreement, the Sponsor and Parent will mutually agree on the form of an advisor agreement to be entered into at Closing, pursuant to which the Sponsor will act as an advisor to Parent and its board of directors following the Closing. At the Closing, Parent shall issue to the Sponsor 4,000,000 Parent Common Shares, the vesting of which shall be subject to the fulfillment of the following share price metrics (the “Advisor Shares”):
| (a) | if the closing price of the Parent Common Shares following the Closing equals or exceeds $12.50, 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares shall vest; |
| (b) | if the closing price of the Parent Common Shares following the Closing equals or exceeds $15.00, 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares shall vest; |
| (c) | if the closing price of the Parent Common Shares following the Closing equals or exceeds $17.50, 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares shall vest; and |
| (d) | if the closing price of the Parent Common Shares following the Closing equals or exceeds $20.00, 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares shall vest. |
7
The Parent Equity Incentive Plan shall initially have 6,000,000 Parent Common Shares available for issuance thereunder, and shall include an “evergreen” provision mutually agreeable to the Company and Parent providing for an automatic increase on the first day of each fiscal year in the number of shares available for issuance under the Parent Equity Incentive Plan as mutually determined by the Company and Parent. Out of the authorized shares under the Parent Equity Incentive Plan, an initial allocation of 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares will be awarded and issued under the Parent Equity Incentive Plan simultaneously with the Advisor Shares at the Closing to one or more persons designated by ROPA, the vesting of which will be subject to the same share price metrics as those for the Advisor Shares.
PIPE Subscription Agreement
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent entered into a subscription agreement (the “PIPE Subscription Agreement”), with an accredited investor (the “PIPE Investor”), pursuant to which the PIPE Investor agreed to subscribe for, or to introduce other accredited investors to purchase, and Parent agreed to issue to the PIPE Investor and such other subscribers, an aggregate of 1,500,000 Parent Common Shares at a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “PIPE Financing”) for aggregate gross proceeds of $15,000,000 (the “PIPE Investment Amount”). Additionally, as consideration for its participation in the PIPE Financing, Parent agreed to issue at the closing of the PIPE Financing 250,000 Parent Common Shares (the “Participation Shares”) to the PIPE Investor. Immediately prior to the issuance of the Participation Shares and immediately following the Domestication, the Sponsor agreed to forfeit to Parent for no consideration a number of Parent Common Shares equal to the number of Participation Shares. Parent has agreed to register for resale the Parent Common Shares purchased by the PIPE Investor and the Participation Shares to be issued to the PIPE Investor pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreement by filing a registration statement with the SEC within 30 days of the closing of the PIPE Financing. The PIPE Financing is expected to close on the Closing Date.
The foregoing description of the PIPE Subscription Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the PIPE Subscription Agreement, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent entered into a finders agreement with a third party (the “Finder”), whereby, in consideration of the Finder introducing Parent to Titan Strategics AS, after the Domestication and upon the consummation of the Business Combination, Parent shall issue and deliver to the Finder or its designee an aggregate of 1,750,000 Parent Common Shares (the “Referral Fee Shares”). Immediately prior to the issuance of the Referral Fee Shares and immediately following the Domestication, the Sponsor agrees to forfeit to Parent for no consideration a number of Parent Common Shares equal to the number of Referral Fee Shares. Parent agreed to register the Referral Fee Shares on materially the same terms as the Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 28, 2025, by and among Parent, the Sponsor and the other holders party thereto.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The disclosure set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the issuance of Parent Common Shares to the PIPE Investor and the other subscribers pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreement and the Referral Fee Shares to the Finder pursuant to the finders agreement is incorporated by reference herein. The Parent Common Shares issuable to the PIPE Investor and the other subscribers pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreement and the Referral Fee Shares to the Finder pursuant to the finders agreement will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On October 8, 2026, DAAQ and Titan issued a press release relating to, among other things, the Business Combination. A copy of the press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing exhibit and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
8
Important Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It
The Business Combination will be submitted to shareholders of DAAQ for their consideration. DAAQ and Titan intend to jointly file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus (a “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). A definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to DAAQ’s shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination and other proposals. DAAQ may also file other relevant documents regarding the Business Combination with the SEC. DAAQ’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in connection with DAAQ’s solicitation of proxies for its extraordinary meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the Business Combination, because these documents will contain important information about DAAQ, Titan and the Business Combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the Business Combination and other documents filed with the SEC by DAAQ, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: DAAQ’s principal executive offices at 174 Nassau Street, Suite 2100, Princeton, New Jersey 08542.
Participants in the Solicitation
DAAQ and Titan and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Business Combination under the rules of the SEC. Information about (i) the directors and executive officers of DAAQ is set forth in the DAAQ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2026, and (ii) a description of the interests of the directors and executive officers of DAAQ and Titan, and the Business Combination, will be contained in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when available, which documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
The disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial, performance and operational metrics and projections of market opportunity; (2) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination and the projected future financial performance of Titan following the proposed Business Combination; (3) changes in the market for Titan’s expansion plans and opportunities; (4) the sources and uses of cash in connection with the proposed Business Combination; (5) the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of DAAQ following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (6) current and future potential commercial and customer relationships; (7) the ability to operate efficiently at scale; (8) anticipated investments in capital resources and research and development, and the effect of these investments; (9) the amount of redemption requests made by DAAQ’s public shareholders; (10) the ability of DAAQ to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future; (11) the failure to achieve the minimum cash at closing requirements; (12) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the combined company’s common stock on Nasdaq following the proposed Business Combination, including but not limited to redemptions exceeding anticipated levels or the failure to meet Nasdaq’s initial listing standards in connection with the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (13) the availability and funding of the PIPE Financing, including the risk that any PIPE Investor may fail to satisfy its obligations; and (14) expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Form 8-K, and on the current expectations of DAAQ’s and Titan’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of DAAQ and Titan. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in DAAQ’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2026, and/or will be contained in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when available, and in those other documents that DAAQ and Titan has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties above are not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that neither DAAQ nor Titan presently know or that DAAQ and Titan currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward looking statements reflect DAAQ’s and Titan’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. DAAQ and Titan anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause DAAQ’s and Titan’s assessments to change. However, while DAAQ and Titan may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, DAAQ and Titan specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing DAAQ’s and Titan’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
9
No Offer or Solicitation
This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction, or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the Business Combination, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute either advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| † | Certain of the schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request. |
10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP. | |||
| By: | /s/ Peter Ort | ||
| Name: | Peter Ort | ||
| Title: | Principal Executive Officer and Co-Chairman | ||
| Date: October 8, 2026 | |||
11
Exhibit 2.1
MERGER AGREEMENT
dated October 7, 2026
by and between
Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd
and
Digital Asset Acquisition Corp.
Table of Contents
| Page | |||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 3 | ||
| 1.1 | Definitions | 3 | |
| 1.2 | Construction | 17 | |
| ARTICLE II THE DOMESTICATION AND THE MERGER | 18 | ||
| 2.1 | Domestication | 18 | |
| 2.2 | Merger | 19 | |
| 2.3 | Merger Effective Time | 19 | |
| 2.4 | Effect of the Merger | 19 | |
| 2.5 | U.S. Tax Treatment | 19 | |
| 2.6 | Company Memorandum and Articles of Association | 20 | |
| 2.7 | Closing | 20 | |
| 2.8 | Directors and Officers of Surviving Company | 20 | |
| 2.9 | Directors and Officers of Parent | 20 | |
| 2.10 | Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action | 21 | |
| 2.11 | No Further Ownership Rights in Company Ordinary Shares | 21 | |
| ARTICLE III EFFECT OF THE MERGER | 21 | ||
| 3.1 | Effect of the Merger on Company Ordinary Shares | 21 | |
| 3.2 | Effect of the Merger on Merger Sub Ordinary Shares | 21 | |
| 3.3 | [Reserved] | 22 | |
| 3.4 | Surrender and Payment | 22 | |
| 3.5 | Dissenting Shares | 23 | |
| 3.6 | Adjustment | 23 | |
| 3.7 | No Fractional Shares | 23 | |
| 3.8 | Lost or Destroyed Certificates | 23 | |
| 3.9 | Withholding | 24 | |
| ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 24 | ||
| 4.1 | Corporate Existence and Power | 24 | |
| 4.2 | Authorization | 24 | |
| 4.3 | Governmental Authorization | 25 | |
| 4.4 | Non-Contravention | 25 | |
| 4.5 | Capitalization | 26 | |
| 4.6 | Subsidiaries | 26 | |
| 4.7 | Corporate Records | 27 | |
| 4.8 | Consents | 27 | |
| 4.9 | Financial Statements | 27 | |
| 4.10 | [Reserved] | 27 | |
| 4.11 | Absence of Certain Changes | 27 | |
| 4.12 | Properties; Title to the Company Group’s Assets | 27 | |
| 4.13 | Litigation | 28 | |
| 4.14 | Contracts | 28 | |
| 4.15 | Licenses and Permits | 31 | |
| 4.16 | Compliance with Laws | 31 | |
| 4.17 | Intellectual Property | 31 | |
| 4.18 | Employees; Employment Matters | 31 | |
| 4.19 | [Reserved] | 32 | |
| 4.20 | [Reserved] | 32 | |
i
Table of Contents (continued)
| Page | |||
| 4.21 | Real Property | 32 | |
| 4.22 | Taxes | 33 | |
| 4.23 | Environmental Matters | 35 | |
| 4.24 | Finders’ Fees | 35 | |
| 4.25 | Directors and Officers | 35 | |
| 4.26 | Certain Business Practices | 35 | |
| 4.27 | Insurance | 36 | |
| 4.28 | Related Party Transactions | 37 | |
| 4.29 | No Trading or Short Position | 37 | |
| 4.30 | Exchange Act | 37 | |
| 4.31 | Top Suppliers | 37 | |
| 4.32 | Titan | 37 | |
| ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | 39 | ||
| 5.1 | Corporate Existence and Power | 39 | |
| 5.2 | Merger Sub | 39 | |
| 5.3 | Corporate Authorization | 40 | |
| 5.4 | Governmental Authorization | 40 | |
| 5.5 | Non-Contravention | 40 | |
| 5.6 | Finders’ Fees | 40 | |
| 5.7 | Issuance of Shares | 40 | |
| 5.8 | Capitalization | 41 | |
| 5.9 | Information Supplied | 41 | |
| 5.10 | Trust Fund | 42 | |
| 5.11 | Listing | 42 | |
| 5.12 | Board Approval | 42 | |
| 5.13 | Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements | 43 | |
| 5.14 | Certain Business Practices | 44 | |
| 5.15 | [Reserved] | 45 | |
| 5.16 | Affiliate Transactions | 45 | |
| 5.17 | Litigation | 45 | |
| 5.18 | Expenses, Indebtedness and Other Liabilities | 45 | |
| 5.19 | Brokers and Other Advisors | 45 | |
| 5.20 | Taxes | 45 | |
| ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES PENDING CLOSING | 46 | ||
| 6.1 | Conduct of the Business | 46 | |
| 6.2 | Exclusivity | 49 | |
| 6.3 | Access to Information | 50 | |
| 6.4 | Notices of Certain Events | 50 | |
| 6.5 | Registration Statement/Proxy Statement; Other Filings | 51 | |
| 6.6 | Trust Account; Proceeds | 54 | |
| 6.7 | Obligations of Merger Sub | 54 | |
| 6.8 | Joinders to Parent Support Agreement | 54 | |
| 6.9 | PIPE Financing | 54 | |
| 6.10 | Extension of Time to Consummate a Business Combination | 55 | |
| ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | 55 | ||
| 7.1 | Reporting; Compliance with Laws; No Insider Trading | 55 | |
ii
Table of Contents (continued)
| Page | |||
| 7.2 | Company’s Shareholder Approval | 55 | |
| 7.3 | Additional Financial Information | 56 | |
| 7.4 | Mining Technical Report | 56 | |
| ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES HERETO | 56 | ||
| 8.1 | Reasonable Best Efforts; Further Assurances | 56 | |
| 8.2 | Compliance with SPAC Agreements | 58 | |
| 8.3 | [Reserved] | 58 | |
| 8.4 | Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Liability Insurance | 58 | |
| 8.5 | Parent Public Filings; Nasdaq | 59 | |
| 8.6 | Certain Tax Matters | 59 | |
| 8.7 | Parent Equity Incentive Plan | 60 | |
| 8.8 | Section 16 Matters | 60 | |
| 8.9 | Advisor Agreement and Shares | 60 | |
| 8.10 | Post-Closing Company Group Restructuring | 60 | |
| ARTICLE IX CONDITIONS TO CLOSING | 61 | ||
| 9.1 | Condition to the Obligations of the Parties | 61 | |
| 9.2 | Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub | 62 | |
| 9.3 | Conditions to Obligations of the Company | 63 | |
| ARTICLE X TERMINATION | 64 | ||
| 10.1 | Termination Without Default | 64 | |
| 10.2 | Termination Upon Default | 65 | |
| 10.3 | Effect of Termination | 65 | |
| ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS | 66 | ||
| 11.1 | Notices | 66 | |
| 11.2 | Amendments; No Waivers; Remedies | 67 | |
| 11.3 | Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter | 67 | |
| 11.4 | Publicity | 67 | |
| 11.5 | Expenses | 67 | |
| 11.6 | No Assignment or Delegation | 67 | |
| 11.7 | Governing Law | 68 | |
| 11.8 | Counterparts; Electronic Signatures | 68 | |
| 11.9 | Entire Agreement | 68 | |
| 11.10 | Severability | 68 | |
| 11.11 | Further Assurances | 68 | |
| 11.12 | Third Party Beneficiaries | 68 | |
| 11.13 | Waiver | 68 | |
| 11.14 | No Other Representations; No Reliance | 69 | |
| 11.15 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 71 | |
| 11.16 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 71 | |
| 11.17 | Attorneys’ Fees | 71 | |
| 11.18 | Remedies | 72 | |
| 11.19 | Non-Recourse | 72 | |
| 11.20 | Conflicts and Privilege | 72 | |
iii
| Exhibit A | – | Form of Parent Certificate of Incorporation |
| Exhibit B | – | Form of Parent Bylaws |
| Exhibit C | – | Form of Company Support Agreement |
| Exhibit D | – | Form of Parent Support Agreement |
| Exhibit E | – | Form of Lock-Up Agreement |
| Exhibit F | – | Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement |
| Exhibit G | – | Form of Parent Equity Incentive Plan |
| Exhibit H | – | Form of PIPE Subscription Agreement |
iv
MERGER AGREEMENT
MERGER AGREEMENT, dated as of October 7, 2026 (this “Agreement”), by and between Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (which shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to the Closing (as defined below)) (“Parent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
A. The Company is a newly-incorporated entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company.
B. The Company and ROPA Investments (Gibraltar) Limited, a Gibraltar corporation (“ROPA”), have undertaken a restructuring resulting in the Company becoming (i) a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of ROPA, and (ii) the direct owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in Titan Strategics AS, a corporation formed under the laws of Norway (“Titan”).
C. Titan holds exploration permits for the Billingen Project, comprising an aggregate license area of approximately 207 km2 in the Billingen-Falbygden region of Sweden, and carries on the business of holding and maintaining such permits and conducting exploration activities thereunder (the “Business”).
D. Parent is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
E. Following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Domestication, Parent shall incorporate a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), to be incorporated for the sole purpose of effectuating the Merger (as defined below). Following the incorporation of Merger Sub, Parent shall cause Merger Sub to enter into a joinder to this Agreement.
F. On the day that is at least one Business Day prior to the Effective Time (as defined below) and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement, Parent shall de-register in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with the Parent Articles, Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), and Section 206 of the Cayman Companies Act (such de-registration, continuation and domestication, the “Domestication”).
G. Concurrently with the Domestication, Parent shall file a certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (including a change of Parent’s name to “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.”) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Parent Certificate of Incorporation”) and adopt bylaws substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B (the “Parent Bylaws”) in each case, with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Parent and the Company.
H. On the Closing Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Part XVI of the Cayman Companies Act, Parent and the Company intend to enter into a transaction pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving company (as defined in the Cayman Companies Act) (the “Surviving Company”) and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent as a result of the Merger; and (ii) upon the effectiveness of the Merger, the Surviving Company will change its name to a name to be mutually agreed by the parties prior to the Closing.
1
I. Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to Parent and the Company entering into this Agreement, certain Company Shareholders are entering into and delivering the Company Support Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Company Support Agreement”), pursuant to which each such Company Shareholder has agreed to vote in favor of this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
J. Contemporaneously with the execution of, and as a condition and an inducement to Parent and the Company entering into this Agreement, the Sponsor and certain other shareholders of Parent (the “Sponsor Parties”) are entering into and delivering the Parent Support Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Parent Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor and each such Parent shareholder have agreed (i) not to transfer or redeem any Parent Common Shares held by such Parent shareholder, (ii) to convert their Parent Class B Ordinary Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Parent Class A Ordinary Shares and (iii) to vote in favor of this Agreement, the Domestication and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby at the Parent Shareholder Meeting.
K. As a condition and inducement to the Company and Parent entering into this Agreement, certain Sponsor Parties set forth on Schedule 9.3(j), and certain Company Shareholders, including ROPA, will execute a lock-up agreement on or prior to the Closing, to be dated and effective as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), under which 70% of the Parent Common Shares beneficially owned by such Sponsor Parties and such Company Shareholders will be subject to the lock-up set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement.
L. As a condition and inducement to the Company entering into this Agreement, the Parent, certain Sponsor Parties, ROPA and certain ROPA designees will execute and deliver an amended and restated registration rights agreement on or prior to the Closing, to be dated and effective as of the Closing Date, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit F (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), amending and restating that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 28, 2025, by and among the Parent, the Sponsor and the other holders party thereto (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), to, among other matters, provide such Sponsor Parties, ROPA and certain ROPA designees with registration rights thereunder.
M. Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Parent is entering into a subscription agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (each, a “PIPE Subscription Agreement” and collectively, the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”), with certain investors (together with any Affiliate of any such investor to whom the applicable PIPE Subscription Agreement with such investor is assigned in accordance with its terms after the date hereof, the “PIPE Investors”) pursuant to which, among other things, such PIPE Investors have agreed to subscribe for, and Parent has agreed to issue to such PIPE Investors, an aggregate of 1,500,000 Parent Common Shares at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $15,000,000 on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the PIPE Subscription Agreements (such purchases, the “PIPE Financing”).
N. As a condition and an inducement to Parent and the Company entering into this Agreement, at the Closing, (i) the Sponsor and Parent will enter into an advisor agreement (the “Sponsor Advisor Agreement”), on terms and conditions mutually agreeable to Parent and the Company, pursuant to which the Sponsor will act as an advisor to Parent and its board of directors following the Closing and (ii) Parent shall issue the Advisor Shares to the Sponsor.
2
O. Each of the parties hereto intends that, for United States federal and applicable state income tax purposes, (i) the Domestication shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Domestication Intended Tax Treatment”), and (ii) the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, to which each of Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code (the “Merger Intended Tax Treatment” and, together with the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment, the “Intended Tax Treatment”), and this Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) (a “Plan of Reorganization”) with respect to each of the Domestication and the Merger.
P. The board of directors of the Company has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is or will be party, including the Merger, and the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder or thereunder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein or therein, (ii) determined that this Agreement and such transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its shareholders, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the Company’s shareholders approve the Merger and such other transactions contemplated hereby and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is or will be a party and the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder.
Q. The board of directors of Parent has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which Parent is or will be party, including the Domestication and the Merger, and the performance of Parent’s obligations hereunder or thereunder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein or therein, (ii) determined that this Agreement and such transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its shareholders, and (iii) resolved to recommend that Parent’s shareholders approve the Domestication, the Merger and such other transactions contemplated hereby and adopt this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Parent is or will be a party and the performance of Parent’s obligations hereunder and thereunder.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
“$” or “Dollars” means U.S. Dollars.
“Action” means any legal action, litigation, suit, claim, hearing, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Additional Parent SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(a).
“Adjournment Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise.
3
“Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Ordinary Shares” means the sum, without duplication, of (a) all Company Ordinary Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; plus (b) the aggregate number of Company Ordinary Shares issuable upon full conversion, exercise or exchange of any other securities of the Company or any other member of the Company Group outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Ordinary Shares.
“Aggregate Merger Consideration” means 25,000,000 Parent Common Shares (calculated as the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Base Purchase Price, by (b) $10.00).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“AI/ML” means any and all deep learning, machine learning, and other artificial intelligence technologies, including any and all (i) algorithms, heuristics, models, and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, proprietary algorithms, software or other IT Systems, in each case, that make use of or employ expert systems, natural language processing, computer vision, automated speech recognition, automated planning and scheduling, neural networks, statistical learning algorithms (like linear and logistic regression, support vector machines, random forests, k-means clustering), or reinforcement learning, and (ii) proprietary embodied artificial intelligence and related hardware or equipment.
“Alternate Exchange” means The Nasdaq Capital Market, The Nasdaq Global Market, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, NYSE, NYSE American, or any successor thereto.
“Alternative Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).
“Alternative Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).
“Ancillary Agreements” means the Company Support Agreement, the Parent Support Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the PIPE Subscription Agreements and the Sponsor Advisor Agreement.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.26(a).
“Balance Sheet” means the unaudited balance sheet of Titan as of December 31, 2025.
“Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Base Purchase Price” means $250,000,000.
“Board Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Books and Records” means all books and records, ledgers, employee records, customer lists, files, correspondence, and other records of every kind (whether written, electronic, or otherwise embodied) owned or controlled by a Person in which a Person’s assets, liabilities, operations, the business or its transactions are otherwise reflected, other than stock books and minute books.
“Business” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
4
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in the Cayman Islands or New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close for business, excluding as a result of “stay at home,” “shelter-in-place,” “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any Governmental Authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems, including for wire transfers, of commercially banking institutions in the Cayman Islands or New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.
“Cayman Companies Act” means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.
“Cayman Registrar” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).
“Certificate of Domestication” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
“Change of Control” means (i) any transaction or series of related transactions that results in any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) acquiring equity interests that represent more than 50% of the total voting power of Parent or (ii) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, in each case other than a transaction or series of related transactions which results in at least 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of Parent (or any successor to Parent) immediately following the closing of such transaction (or series of related transactions) being beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by individuals and entities (or Affiliates of such individuals and entities) who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of at least 50% of the equity interests of Parent (or any successor to Parent) immediately prior to such transaction (or series of related transactions).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
“Closing Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
“COBRA” means collectively, the requirements of Sections 601 through 606 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Company Articles” means the memorandum and articles of association of the Company in effect on the date of this Agreement.
“Company Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.
“Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4.1 (Corporate Existence and Power), Section 4.2 (Authorization), the last sentence of Section 4.3 (Government Authorization), Section 4.4 (Non-Contravention), Section 4.5(a) (other than the last sentence of Section 4.5(a)) (Capitalization), Section 4.5(b) (Capitalization), Section 4.6 (Subsidiaries), Section 4.12(c) (Finnish Reservations), Section 4.24 (Finders’ Fees), Section 4.32(a) (Legal Status and Corporate Power of Titan), Section 4.32(b) (No Conflict – Titan), Section 4.32(c) (The Shares in Titan), and Section 4.32(j) (Transfer of Titan).
“Company Group” means, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries.
5
“Company Information Systems” means any and all IT Systems that are owned, licensed, leased, used or held for use by or for a member of the Company Group.
“Company IP” means, collectively, any and all Owned Intellectual Property and Company Licensed IP and includes any and all Intellectual Property set forth in Schedule 4.17(b).
“Company Licensed IP” means any and all Intellectual Property owned by a third Person and licensed to, in whole or in part, to a member of the Company Group or that a member of the Company Group otherwise has a right to use.
“Company Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of a par value of $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Company Shareholders” means, at any given time, the holders of Company Ordinary Shares.
“Company Shareholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Company Shareholder Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Company Shareholder Written Consent Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Company Software” means any and all proprietary Software that is owned (or purported to be owned), in whole or in part, by the Company Group and includes all proprietary AI/ML owned (or purported to be owned) by the Company Group.
“Company Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Company Transaction Expenses” means all fees, costs and expenses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including ROPA and Rohan Patnaik) incurred prior to and through the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, the performance and compliance with this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, whether paid or unpaid prior to the Closing, including any and all (i) filing fees payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) fees, costs, expenses and disbursements of counsel, accountants, advisors and consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and (iii) 50% of the Mining Technical Report Expenses.
“Contracts” means all contracts, agreements, leases (including equipment leases, car leases and capital leases), licenses, Permits, commitments, client contracts, statements of work (SOWs), sales and purchase orders and similar instruments, oral or written, to which the Company is a party or by which any of its respective properties or assets is bound.
“Control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. “Controlled,” “Controlling” and “under common Control with” have correlative meanings.
6
“Conversion Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) 25,000,000 (i.e., the number of Parent Common Shares constituting the Aggregate Merger Consideration), by (b) the number of shares constituting the Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Ordinary Shares.
“Copyleft Licenses” means all licenses of Publicly Available Software (including any Software licensed under the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, Mozilla Public License, Affero General Public License, Eclipse Software License, or any other public source code license arrangement) or any similar license, or other Contracts to Software, in each case, that requires as a condition of use or in connection with any use, modification, reproduction, or distribution of any Software licensed thereunder (or any Company Software or other Company IP or other Software or technology that is used by, incorporated into or includes, relies on, is linked to or with, is derived from, or distributed with such Software) any of the following: (i) be disclosed, made available, distributed, offered or delivered in source code form or any information regarding such Company Software, Company IP or other Software or technology for no or minimal charge, (ii) be granted permission or licensed for creating modifications to or making derivative works of such Company Software, Company IP, or other Software or technology; (iii) be granted a royalty-free license, whether express, implied, by virtue of estoppel or otherwise, to any third party under Intellectual Property rights (including patents) regarding such Company Software, Company IP, or other Software or technology (whether alone or in combination with other hardware or Software); or (iv) be imposed of restrictions on future patent licensing terms, or other abridgement or restriction of exercise or enforcement of any Intellectual Property rights through any means.
“Copyrights” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”
“DAAQ Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.20(a).
“Data Room” means the electronic data room containing documents and information relating to the Business, maintained on behalf of the Company Group for the benefit of Parent and its Representatives, as such data room exists as of the date hereof.
“Deferred Underwriting Commissions” means any and all deferred underwriting commissions payable by the Parent Parties, including the amount set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, dated April 28, 2025 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and between Parent and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters thereto.
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
“Domestication” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Domestication Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
7
“Environmental Laws” means all applicable Laws that prohibit, regulate or control any Hazardous Material or any Hazardous Material Activity, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act of 1976, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Clean Water Act and, in Sweden and Norway, the Swedish Environmental Code and the Norwegian Pollution Control Act.
“Environmental Permits” means the Permits required under Environmental Laws.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Section 3.4(a).
“Exchange Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Section 3.4(a).
“Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in the Section 3.4(a).
“Excluded Matter” means any one or more of the following: (a) any change in general economic or political conditions; (b) conditions generally affecting the industries in which such Person or its Subsidiaries operates; (c) any changes in financial, banking or securities markets in general or any change in prevailing interest rates; (d) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation thereof; (e) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement or any action taken by the Company at the written request of Parent or any action taken by Parent or Merger Sub at the written request of the Company; (f) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules (including U.S. GAAP) or the interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement; (g) the announcement or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (h) any natural disaster, acts of God or epidemic, pandemic or other disease outbreak; or (i) any failure by a party to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect); provided, however, that the exclusions provided in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), clause (f) and clause (h) shall not apply to the extent that Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole, on the one hand, or the Company, taken as a whole, on the other hand, is disproportionately affected by any such exclusions or any change, event or development to the extent resulting from any such exclusions relative to all other similarly situated companies that participate in the industry in which they operate.
“Excluded Shares” means collectively, (i) Company Ordinary Shares held and beneficially owned by Parent or Merger Sub (or any Subsidiary of Parent or Merger Sub) or (ii) Company Ordinary Shares held and beneficially owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or held in the Company’s treasury.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local, international, supranational or foreign government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency (which, for the purposes of this Agreement, shall include the SEC, commission, department, board, bureau, agency or similar body or instrumentality thereof, or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body thereof.
“Hazardous Material” means any material, substance or waste which is now or hereafter defined, listed or identified as “hazardous” (including “hazardous substances” or “hazardous wastes”), “toxic,” a “pollutant” or a “contaminant,” or words of similar meaning, pursuant to any Environmental Law, including asbestos, urea formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and petroleum (including its derivatives, by-products or other hydrocarbons).
8
“Hazardous Material Activity” means the transportation, transfer, recycling, storage, use, treatment, manufacture, removal, remediation, release, exposure of others to, sale, labeling, or distribution of any Hazardous Material or any product or waste containing a Hazardous Material, or product manufactured with ozone depleting substances, including any required labeling, payment of waste fees or charges (including so-called e-waste fees) and compliance with any recycling, product take-back or product content requirements.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, including with respect thereto, all interests, fees and costs, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable to creditors for goods and services incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien or security interest on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) all obligations of such Person under leases required to be accounted for as capital leases under U.S. GAAP, (g) all guarantees by such Person of the Indebtedness of another Person, (h) all liability of such Person with respect to any hedging obligations, including interest rate or currency exchange swaps, collars, caps or similar hedging obligations, (i) any unfunded or underfunded liabilities pursuant to any pension or nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement, and (j) any agreement to incur any of the same.
“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all of the worldwide intellectual property rights and proprietary rights associated with any of the following, whether registered, unregistered or registrable, to the extent recognized in a particular jurisdiction: (a) trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information, including discoveries, inventions (whether or not patentable), ideas, technology, systems, methods, processes, procedures, practices, algorithms, formulae, techniques, knowledge, results, protocols, models, designs, drawings, specifications, materials, technical data or information, know-how, research, methodologies, customer lists, business plans, databases, collections of data, and other confidential or proprietary information related to the development, marketing, pricing, distribution, cost, sales and manufacturing (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (b) trade names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, product configurations, other indications of origin, registrations thereof or applications for registration therefor, together with the goodwill associated with the foregoing (collectively, “Trademarks”); (c) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, utility models, industrial designs, supplementary protection certificates, and certificates of inventions, including all re-issues, continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, counterparts, extensions, substitutions, counterparts, and validations thereof (collectively, “Patents”); (d) works of authorship, copyrights (including copyrights in Software), copyrightable materials, copyright registrations and applications for copyright registration including rights in Software (collectively, “Copyrights”); (e) domain names and URLs (collectively, “Domain Names”); (f) rights of privacy and publicity and rights in social media accounts; (g) other intellectual property; and (h) all embodiments and fixations thereof and related documentation and registrations and all additions, improvements and accessions thereto.
9
“IP Contracts” means, collectively, any and all Contracts pursuant to which a member of the Company Group is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound (including any settlement, coexistence, co-existence, covenant not to sue or other agreement), in any case under which a member of the Company Group (i) is granted any assignment, license, sublicense, immunity, covenant not to assert or other right (including option rights, rights of first offer, first refusal, first negotiation, etc.) in or to any Intellectual Property of a third Person that is material to a member of the Company Group or the conduct of the Business, (ii) grants any assignment, license, sublicense, immunity, covenant not to assert or other right (including option rights, rights of first offer, first refusal, first negotiation, etc.) to a third Person in or to any Owned Intellectual Property that is material to a member of the Company Group or the conduct of the Business or (iii) is restricted in its right to enforce, use, or otherwise exploit any Owned Intellectual Property that is material to a member of the Company Group or the conduct of the Business.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of Parent pursuant to the Prospectus.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Issuance Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“IT Systems” means any and all Software, information technology and systems, computers, servers, networks, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, data communication lines, interfaces, platforms, databases, websites, computer hardware and all other information technology rights, assets, or equipment used to process, store, generate, analyze, maintain and operate data or information, including any of the foregoing accessed pursuant to outsourced or cloud computing arrangements.
“Knowledge of the Company” or “to the Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry of the individuals listed on Schedule 1.1.
“Knowledge of Parent” or “to Parent’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry of the Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent.
“Law” means any domestic or foreign, supranational, national, federal, state, municipality or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, or regulation.
“Leases” means, collectively, leases, subleases, space sharing, licenses or other occupancy agreements.
“Lien” means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, license, deed of trust, pledge, charge, claim, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such property or asset, any option, right of first offer or right of first refusal in respect of such property or asset, and any conditional sale or voting agreement or proxy, including any agreement to give any of the foregoing.
“Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Loeb” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.20(a).
“LTIP Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Material Adverse Effect” means any fact, effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance, or occurrence (an “Effect”) that, individually or together with one or more other contemporaneous Effect, (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the financial condition, assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of the Company Group, on the one hand, or on Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, taken as a whole; or (ii) prevents or materially delays or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company Shareholders and the Company, on the one hand, or on Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand to consummate the Merger; provided, however, that, solely in the case of the foregoing clause (i), a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include Effects (and solely to the extent of such Effects) resulting from an Excluded Matter.
10
“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(a). “Material Contracts” shall not include any Contracts that are also Plans.
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger Consideration Recipient” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).
“Merger Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Merger Sub Ordinary Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(c).
“Mining Consultant” means an independent consultant engaged by Parent to prepare the Mining Technical Report who qualifies as a “Qualified Person” (as defined in SK-1300) and who is independent of the Company and its affiliates.
“Mining Technical Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
“Offer Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Olshan” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.20(b).
“Order” means any decree, order, judgment, writ, award, injunction, stipulation, determination, award, rule or consent of or by a Governmental Authority.
“Other Filings” means any filings to be made by Parent required under the Exchange Act, Securities Act or any other United States federal, foreign or blue sky laws, other than the Registration Statement and the other Offer Documents.
“Outside Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(a).
“Owned Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned, in whole or in part, by the Company Group, in each case, whether exclusively, jointly with another Person or otherwise, and includes all Owned Registered IP and Company Software.
“Owned Registered IP” means any and all Registered IP included in the Owned Intellectual Property.
“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Parent Articles” means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Parent, adopted by special resolution dated 28 April 2025 and effective on 28 April 2025.
11
“Parent Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a).
“Parent Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Parent Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Parent Class A Ordinary Shares” means, prior to the Domestication, the Class A ordinary shares of Parent of a par value of $0.0001 per share.
“Parent Class B Ordinary Shares” means, prior to the Domestication, the Class B ordinary shares of Parent of a par value of $0.0001 per share.
“Parent Closing Cash” means an aggregate amount equal to the sum of: (a) the amount of cash available in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Effective Time after deducting the Parent Redemption Amount and before payment of any Parent Transaction Expenses or Company Transaction Expenses; plus (b) PIPE Financing proceeds actually funded and received by Parent at or prior to the Closing; plus (c) the proceeds of any other equity investment or any debt financing permitted under this Agreement that are or will be received by Parent (or the Company) on or prior to the Closing; minus (d) Parent Transaction Expenses that are accrued but unpaid as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, but excluding for purposes of this calculation any and all brokerage fees and commissions incurred in connection with the PIPE Financing and any other equity investments or any debt financing referred to above in clause (c) of this definition.
“Parent Common Shares” means (a) prior to the Domestication, the Parent Ordinary Shares, and (b) from and following the Domestication, shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent.
“Parent Equity Incentive Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.7.
“Parent Financial Statements” means all of the financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents and any amendments to such financial statements.
“Parent Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Section 5.1 (Corporate Existence and Power), Section 5.3 (Corporate Authorization), Section 5.4 (Governmental Authorization), Section 5.5 (Non-Contravention), Section 5.6 (Finders’ Fees), Section 5.7 (Issuance of Shares), and Section 5.8 (Capitalization).
“Parent Ordinary Shares” means prior to the Domestication, the Parent Class A Ordinary Shares and the Parent Class B Ordinary Shares.
“Parent Parties” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE V.
“Parent Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(e).
“Parent Redemption Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.
“Parent SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(a).
“Parent Securities” means the Parent Units, the Parent Ordinary Shares and the Parent Warrants, collectively.
12
“Parent Shareholder Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Parent Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Parent Transaction Expenses” means all fees, costs and expenses of Parent incurred prior to and through the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the performance and compliance with this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any and all (i) filing fees payable by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) fees, costs, expenses and disbursements of counsel, accountants, advisors and consultants of Parent, (iii) Deferred Underwriting Commissions, (iv) cost or expense incurred in connection with the procurement of any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance or “tail” policy for Parent contemplated by Section 8.4, (v) 50% of the Mining Technical Report Expenses, and (vi) all costs and expenses of Parent in connection with any Extension Period.
“Parent Unit” means each unit of Parent consisting of one Parent Ordinary Share and one-half of one redeemable Parent Warrant, which units were sold in the IPO.
“Parent Warrant” means any warrant issued by Parent, issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (including warrants issued by Parent in a private placement at the time of the consummation of the IPO), entitling the holder thereof to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares of Parent, pursuant to the applicable warrant agreement or other governing document.
“Patents” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”
“Permit” means each license, franchise, permit, order, approval, consent or other similar authorization required to be obtained and maintained by the Company under applicable Law to carry out or otherwise affecting, or relating in any way to, the Business.
“Permitted Liens” means (a) all defects, exceptions, restrictions, easements, rights of way and encumbrances disclosed in policies of title insurance which have been made available to Parent; (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for amounts (i) that are not delinquent, and (ii) not resulting from a breach, default or violation by the Company of any Contract or Law; (c) liens for Taxes (i) not yet due and delinquent or (ii) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established on the Titan Financial Statements); (d) the Liens set forth on Schedule 4.12(b); and (e) non-exclusive licenses to Intellectual Property entered into in the ordinary course of business.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust, Governmental Authority or other entity or organization of any other kind.
“PIPE Financing” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
13
“Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA and all other compensation and benefits plans, policies, programs, arrangements or payroll practices, including multiemployer plans within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, and each other share purchase, share option, restricted share, severance, retention, employment (other than any employment offer letter in such form as previously provided to Parent that is terminable “at will” without any contractual obligation on the part of the Company to make any severance, termination, change of control, or similar payment), consulting, change-of-control, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan, fringe benefit and other benefit plan, agreement, program, policy, commitment or other arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA, whether formal or informal, oral or written, in each case, that is sponsored, maintained, contributed or required to be contributed to by a member of the Company Group, or under which a member of the Company Group has any current or potential liability, but excluding in each case any statutory plan, program or arrangement that is required under applicable law and maintained by any Governmental Authority.
“Plan of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Plan of Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Post-Closing Restructuring” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.10.
“Prospectus” means the final IPO prospectus of Parent, dated April 28, 2025.
“Proxy Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Publicly Available Software” means each of any Software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any Software that is distributed as free software, “copyleft,” open source software (e.g. Linux), or under any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative) or the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation) or substantially similar licensing and distribution models, including but not limited to any of the following: (A) the GNU General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL), (B) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL), (C) the Mozilla Public License, (D) the Netscape Public License, (E) the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), (F) the Sun Industry Source License (SISL) and (G) the Apache Server License, including for the avoidance of doubt all Software licensed under a Copyleft License.
“Real Property” means, collectively, all real properties and interests therein (including the right to use), together with all buildings, fixtures, trade fixtures, plant and other improvements located thereon or attached thereto; all rights arising out of use thereof (including air, water, oil and mineral rights); and all subleases, franchises, licenses, permits, easements and rights-of-way which are appurtenant thereto.
“Registered IP” means all Intellectual Property that is registered, filed, applied for or issued under the authority of, with or by any Governmental Authority, domain name registrar or other public or quasi-public legal authority anywhere in the world.
“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a).
“Release” means disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, leaching, migrating, dumping, emitting, escaping or emptying into or upon the environment, including ambient air, soil, sediment, subsurface strata, surface water, groundwater or drinking water supply.
“Remedial Action” means any action to investigate, clean up, remove or remediate, or conduct remedial or corrective actions with respect to, any Release of Hazardous Materials.
14
“Representatives” of a Person means the officers, directors, Affiliates, members, partners, managers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, employees, representatives and agents of such Person.
“ROPA” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Software” means any and all (a) computer software, firmware, middleware, operating systems, applications, computer programs (including any and all algorithms, heuristics, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form), (b) databases and compilations (including any and all data and collections of data), whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) descriptions, flow charts and other documentation used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons, (d) AI/ML, (e) all versions, updates, corrections, enhancements and modifications of any of the foregoing, and (f) all related specifications, documentation, developer notes, instructions, comments, annotations, user manuals, and other training documentation relating to any of the foregoing.
“Sponsor” means DAAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Sponsor Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Standard Contracts” means any of the following: (a) licenses for Publicly Available Software or non-exclusive end user in-licenses of commercially available, “off-the-shelf” or “shrink wrap” Software for fees of less than $250,000 annually, (b) non-exclusive licenses of Company IP implied by and ancillary to customer, distributor or channel partner Contracts on Company’s standard forms made available to Parent with no material exclusions or deviations, (c) agreements with the Company’s consultants or contractors on Company’s standard forms made available to Parent with no material exclusions or deviations, (d) invention assignment agreements with the Company’s employees on Company’s standard forms made available to Parent with no material exclusions or deviations, (e) non-exclusive licenses that are not material to the applicable business and merely incidental to the transactions contemplated in such agreement, the commercial purpose of which is primarily for something other than such license (such as (i) sales or marketing or similar contract that includes a non-exclusive license to use the trademarks of the Company for purposes of promoting the Company, (ii) vendor contracts under which Owned Intellectual Property is licensed to a vendor of the Company for the benefit of the Company, or (iii) non-exclusive licenses to Intellectual Property granted by a third party for the purpose of allowing the Company Group to provide services to such third party), and (f) customary non-disclosure agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, each entity of which at least fifty percent (50%) of the capital stock or other equity or voting securities are Controlled or owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
“Surviving Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
15
“Tangible Personal Property” means all tangible personal property and interests therein, including machinery, computers and accessories, furniture, office equipment, communications equipment, automobiles, laboratory equipment and other equipment owned or leased by a member of the Company Group and other tangible property.
“Tax Return” means any return, information return, declaration, claim for refund of Taxes, report or any similar statement, and any amendment thereto, including any attached schedule and supporting information, whether on a separate, consolidated, combined, unitary or other basis, that is filed or required to be filed with any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of a Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.
“Tax(es)” means (a) any U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. taxes imposed by any Taxing Authority including any income (net or gross), gross receipts, profits, windfall profit, sales, use, goods and services, ad valorem, franchise, license, withholding, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, employment, payroll, transfer, excise, import, real property, escheat, personal property, intangible property, occupancy, recording, minimum, alternative minimum, and other taxes (including any governmental charge, fee, levy, or custom duty imposed by a Governmental Authority that is the nature of a tax), together with any interest, penalty, additions to tax or additional amount imposed with respect thereto, and including any secondary liability for any of the aforementioned, (b) any liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law, and (c) any liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other Person.
“Taxing Authority” means the IRS and any other Governmental Authority responsible for the collection, assessment or imposition of any Tax or the administration of any Law relating to any Tax.
“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.2(a).
“Terminating Parent Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.2(b).
“Titan” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Titan Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Titan Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.20(b).
“Top Supplier” has the meaning specified in Section 4.31(a).
“Trademarks” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”
“Trading Day” means (a) for so long as the Parent Common Shares are listed or admitted for trading on Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange, days on which such securities exchange is open for business; or (b) if the Parent Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, days on which the Parent Common Shares are traded regular way in the over-the- counter market and for which a closing bid and a closing asked price for the Parent Common Shares are available.
“Transaction Litigation” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(c).
16
“Transfer Taxes” means any and all transfer, documentary, sales, use, real property, stamp, excise, recording, registration, value added and other similar Taxes, fees and costs (including any associated penalties and interest) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury under the Code, including all temporary, final, and proposed regulations, as amended.
“Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.
“Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.
“U.S. GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
“Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement dated April 28, 2025 by and between the Parent and Lucky Lucko, Inc. d/b/a Efficiency for the warrants that were included (i) in the Parent Units sold in the IPO and (ii) in a private placement at the time of the consummation of the IPO.
1.2 Construction.
(a) References to particular sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits not otherwise specified are cross-references to sections and subsections, schedules, and exhibits of this Agreement. Captions are not a part of this Agreement, but are included for convenience, only.
(b) The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and, unless the context requires otherwise, “party” means a party signatory hereto.
(c) Any use of the singular or plural, or the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, includes the others, unless the context otherwise requires; the word “including” means “including without limitation”; the word “or” means “and/or”; the word “any” means “any one, more than one, or all”; and, unless otherwise specified, any financial or accounting term has the meaning of the term under United States generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied heretofore by the Company. Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body.
(d) Unless otherwise specified, any reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), instrument, or other document includes all schedules, exhibits, or other attachments referred to therein, and any reference to a statute or other law means such law as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and includes any rule, regulation, ordinance or the like promulgated thereunder, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
17
(e) Any reference to a numbered schedule means the same-numbered section of the disclosure schedule. Any reference in a schedule contained in the disclosure schedules delivered by a party hereunder shall be deemed to be an exception to (or, as applicable, a disclosure for purposes of) the applicable representations and warranties (or applicable covenants) that are contained in the section or subsection of this Agreement that corresponds to such schedule and any other representations and warranties of such party that are contained in this Agreement to which the relevance of such item thereto is reasonably apparent on its face. The mere inclusion of an item in a schedule as an exception to (or, as applicable, a disclosure for purposes of) a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission that such item represents a material exception or material fact, event or circumstance or that such item would have a Material Adverse Effect or establish any standard of materiality to define further the meaning of such terms for purposes of this Agreement. Nothing in the disclosure schedules constitutes an admission of any liability or obligation of the disclosing party to any third party or an admission to any third party, including any Governmental Authority, against the interest of the disclosing party, including any possible breach of violation of any Contract or Law. Summaries of any written document in the disclosure schedules do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the written document itself. The disclosures schedules and the information and disclosures contained therein are intended only to qualify and limit the representations and warranties of the parties contained in this Agreement, and shall not be deemed to expand in any way the scope or effect of any of such representations and warranties.
(f) If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given within a specified number of days following a specific date or event, the day of such date or event is not counted in determining the last day for such action or notice. If any action is required to be taken or notice is required to be given on or before a particular day which is not a Business Day, such action or notice shall be considered timely if it is taken or given on or before the next Business Day.
(g) To the extent that any Contract, document, certificate or instrument is represented and warranted to by the Company to be given, delivered, provided or made available by the Company, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall be deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to Parent or its Representatives, if such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted to the Data Room and the Parent and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information.
ARTICLE II
THE DOMESTICATION AND THE MERGER
2.1 Domestication.
(a) Subject to receipt of the approval of the Parent Proposals, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date of the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Domestication to become effective, including by (i) filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of domestication with respect to the Domestication, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company (the “Certificate of Domestication”), together with the Parent Certificate of Incorporation, in each case, in accordance with the provisions thereof and Section 388 of the DGCL, and (ii) completing and making and procuring all those filings required to be made with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Registrar”) under the Cayman Companies Act in connection with the Domestication and file with the Cayman Registrar all applicable notices, declarations, affidavits, statements of assets and liabilities, shareholder approvals, undertakings and other documents required to be filed, pay all applicable fees required to be paid, and cause the satisfaction of all other conditions to deregistration required to be satisfied, in each case, under Section 206 of the Cayman Companies Act.
(b) Immediately prior to the Domestication, each Parent Class B Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Domestication shall, in accordance with the Parent Articles and the Parent Support Agreement, be automatically converted into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and there shall be no additional Parent Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding thereafter.
18
(c) In accordance with applicable Law, the Certificate of Domestication shall provide that at the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any shareholder of Parent: (i) each then issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically into one Parent Common Share, (ii) each whole Parent Warrant that is outstanding and unexercised shall convert automatically into a warrant to acquire one Parent Common Share pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement (each, a “Domesticated Parent Warrant”), (iii) each then issued and outstanding Parent Unit shall separate and convert automatically into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one redeemable Parent Warrant and each such Parent Class A Ordinary Share and each such whole Parent Warrant shall convert automatically into one Parent Common Share and one Domesticated Parent Warrant, respectively, and all Parent Units shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, (iv) Parent’s name will be “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.” and (v) the governing documents of Parent will become the Parent Certificate of Incorporation and the Parent Bylaws.
2.2 Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with Part XVI of the Cayman Companies Act, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, and as a result of the Merger, Merger Sub shall cease to exist and will be struck off the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands and the Company shall continue as the Surviving Company and become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
2.3 Merger Effective Time. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, which shall be at least one Business Day after the consummation of the Domestication, the Company and Merger Sub shall (a) file with the Cayman Registrar a duly executed plan of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Plan of Merger”), together with all supporting documents and prescribed particulars required by Part XVI of the Cayman Companies Act, including any required directors’ declarations, member approvals, secured creditor consents or other orders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Company and Parent, executed and approved in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Cayman Companies Act (where applicable) and (b) make or cause to be made all other filings, notices, publications, recordings and deliveries required under Part XVI of the Cayman Companies Act in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective upon the time of registration of the Plan of Merger by the Cayman Registrar or at such later time as is agreed to by the parties and specified in the Plan of Merger in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act (the time at which the Merger becomes effective is herein referred to as the “Effective Time”).
2.4 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all assets, property of every description (including choses in action), rights, privileges, immunities, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Company and all debts, liabilities, mortgages, charges, security interests and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, mortgages, charges, security interests and duties of the Surviving Company in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act.
2.5 U.S. Tax Treatment. For U.S. federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state or local income Tax Law that follows US. federal income Tax Law), each of the parties intends that (a) the Domestication qualify for the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment, and (b) the Merger qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment. The parties to this Agreement hereby (i) adopt this Agreement as a Plan of Reorganization with respect to each of the Domestication and the Merger, (ii) agree to file and retain such information as shall be required under Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-3, and (iii) agree to file all Tax Returns on a basis consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment and not otherwise to take any position or action inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment unless required as a result of a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law) or otherwise required by a Governmental Authority. None of the parties has knowingly taken or will knowingly take any action (or knowingly fail to take any action), if such action (or failure to act) would be reasonably expected to prevent or impede the Domestication or the Merger from qualifying for the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment or the Merger Intended Tax Treatment, respectively. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that (i) each has had the opportunity to obtain independent legal and tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) each is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if the Domestication does not qualify for the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment or the Merger does not qualify for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.
19
2.6 Company Memorandum and Articles of Association. At the Effective Time, the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Company shall be those of the Company immediately before the Merger, except to the extent that the Plan of Merger provides for any amendments to those memorandum and articles of association or the adoption of the memorandum and articles of association of Merger Sub instead, shall be the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Company following the Merger, until thereafter duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the Cayman Companies Act, and the name of the Surviving Company shall be the name mutually agreed by the parties prior to the Closing and set out in the Plan of Merger until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms of the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Company and applicable Law.
2.7 Closing. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated in accordance with ARTICLE X, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place virtually on the second (2nd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE IX (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof), or at such other time, date and location as Parent and Company agree in writing; provided, however, that the Closing shall take place at least one (1) Business Day after the consummation of the Domestication. The parties may participate in the Closing via the exchange of signature pages via email or other electronic means. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”. For the avoidance of doubt, the Closing and the Effective Time shall occur after the completion of the Domestication.
2.8 Directors and Officers of Surviving Company.
(a) At the Effective Time, the initial directors of the Surviving Company shall consist of the same persons serving on Parent’s Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2.9, and such directors shall hold office until their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Company’s memorandum and articles of association as in effect following the Closing.
(b) At the Effective Time, the officers of the Company shall become the initial officers of the Surviving Company and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
2.9 Directors and Officers of Parent. Prior to the Effective Time, the parties shall mutually agree on the composition of Parent’s Board of Directors and Parent’s officers as of immediately following the Effective Time. At least a majority of the Board of Directors shall qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq or Alternate Exchange rules, as applicable.
20
2.10 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Closing, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Company with full right, title and interest in, to and under, or possession of, all assets, property of every description (including choses in action), rights, privileges, immunities, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Surviving Company are fully authorized in the name and on behalf of the Surviving Company, to take all lawful action necessary or desirable to accomplish such purpose or acts, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
2.11 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Ordinary Shares. All consideration paid or payable in respect of Company Ordinary Shares hereunder, or upon the exercise of the appraisal rights described in Section 3.5, shall be deemed to have been paid or payable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Ordinary Shares and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Ordinary Shares in the register of members of the Surviving Company. If, after the Effective Time, certificates formerly representing Company Ordinary Shares (each, a “Company Stock Certificate”) are presented to the Surviving Company, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in ARTICLE III.
ARTICLE III
EFFECT OF THE MERGER
3.1 Effect of the Merger on Company Ordinary Shares. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the shareholders of any of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company:
(a) Conversion of Company Ordinary Shares. Each Company Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Excluded Shares and any Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive a number of Parent Common Shares equal to the Conversion Ratio. Such conversion shall be effected pursuant to the Plan of Merger by means of the cancellation of such Company Ordinary Shares in exchange for the right to receive the Aggregate Merger Consideration. All of the Company Ordinary Shares converted into the right to receive the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist at the Effective Time, and each holder of a certificate previously representing any such Company Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive their respective portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration into which such Company Ordinary Shares shall have been converted in the Merger.
(b) Cancellation of Excluded Shares. Each of the Excluded Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled in accordance with the Plan of Merger and cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Treatment of Dissenting Shares. Each of the Dissenting Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and cease to exist in accordance with Section 3.5 and thereafter represent only the right to receive the applicable payments set forth in Section 3.5 and pursuant to Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act.
3.2 Effect of the Merger on Merger Sub Ordinary Shares. At the Effective Time, each Merger Sub Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one (1) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary share of the Surviving Company. Such conversion shall be effected pursuant to the Plan of Merger. Such ordinary share of the Surviving Company shall constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of the Surviving Company immediately following the Effective Time.
21
3.3 [Reserved].
3.4 Surrender and Payment.
(a) Exchange Fund. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall enter into an agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) acceptable to the other parties hereto with an exchange agent mutually agreeable to the parties hereto (the “Exchange Agent”) for the purpose of exchanging Parent Common Shares for the Aggregate Merger Consideration. At or promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of ROPA and any other Persons designated by ROPA in the Closing Consideration Spreadsheet, for exchange in accordance with the Exchange Agreement and this ARTICLE III, the number of Parent Common Shares sufficient to deliver the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement (such Parent Common Shares, the “Exchange Fund”). Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, to pay the Aggregate Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with the Closing Consideration Spreadsheet and the other applicable provisions contained in this Agreement and the Exchange Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose other than as contemplated by this Agreement. At least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent a spreadsheet (the “Closing Consideration Spreadsheet”) prepared in accordance with ROPA’s written instructions, specifying the respective allocations of the Aggregate Merger Consideration to be issued to (i) ROPA and (ii) any other Persons designated by ROPA, including but not limited to the Company’s advisors or consultants so designated; provided that the allocation to ROPA designees under this clause (ii) shall not exceed 3,750,000 Parent Common Shares in the aggregate. ROPA may correct clerical errors through the Closing, and Parent may object only to mathematical errors, illegality or the failure of a proposed recipient to provide documentation required by applicable securities Laws. The provisions of this Section 3.4(a) and Section 3.4(b) below, are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, ROPA.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, and in any event within two (2) Business Days following the Effective Time (but in no event prior to the Effective Time), Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to each Person identified in the Closing Consideration Spreadsheet (each, a “Merger Consideration Recipient”) a letter of transmittal and instructions for use in exchanging such Merger Consideration Recipient’s Company Ordinary Shares for such Merger Consideration Recipient’s applicable portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration from the Exchange Fund, and which shall be in form and contain provisions which Parent may specify and which are reasonably acceptable to the Company (a “Letter of Transmittal”), and promptly following receipt of a Merger Consideration Recipient’s properly executed Letter of Transmittal, deliver such Person’s applicable portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration to such Person.
(c) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund relating to the Aggregate Merger Consideration that remains undistributed to the Merger Consideration Recipients for two years after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any Merger Consideration Recipients who have not theretofore complied with this Section 3.4 shall thereafter look only to Parent for their portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration. Any portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by Merger Consideration Recipients as of a date which is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
22
3.5 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, and to the extent available under Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act, all Company Ordinary Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the Excluded Shares) and that are held by shareholders who have (i) served a written objection to the Merger before the vote on authorization of the Merger is taken pursuant to Section 238(2) of the Cayman Companies Act and (ii) after receipt of the notice of authorization required by Section 238(4) of the Cayman Companies Act, validly served a notice of dissent pursuant to Section 238(5) of the Cayman Companies Act, and have not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act (collectively, the “Dissenting Shares”, and holders of such Dissenting Shares, the “Dissenting Shareholders”) shall be cancelled at the Effective Time and the Dissenting Shareholders shall not be entitled to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(a) and shall instead be entitled to receive the payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares held by them determined in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, waives, withdraws, or loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act, such Dissenting Shares of that Dissenting Shareholder shall not be Dissenting Shares and shall be cancelled and cease to exist as of the Effective Time and shall represent the right to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(a) without interest thereon, upon transfer of such shares. The Company shall promptly provide Parent with written notice of any intent to dissent, written notices of objection, notices of approvals, notice of dissent or demands for appraisal or written offers under Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act received by the Company, any written withdrawal of any such notices, demands or offers and any other instruments served or delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act that relates to such demand, and Parent shall have the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any offers or agree to any payment with respect to any exercise by a shareholder of its rights to dissent from the Merger or any demands for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands.
3.6 Adjustment. The shares comprising the Aggregate Merger Consideration and Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, subdivision, reverse share split, consolidation, share dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Parent Common Shares occurring prior to the date the shares comprising the Aggregate Merger Consideration are issued.
3.7 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Parent Common Shares, or certificates or scrip representing fractional Parent Common Shares, will be issued upon the conversion of the Company Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Merger, and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a shareholder of Parent. No Company Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any fraction of a Parent Common Share and the number of Parent Common Shares to be received by such Company Shareholder shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
3.8 Lost or Destroyed Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Company Stock Certificate, shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, then upon the making of a customary affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Company Stock Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent, the Exchange Agent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Stock Certificate, the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Ordinary Shares formerly represented by such Company Stock Certificate as contemplated under this ARTICLE III.
23
3.9 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision to this Agreement, Parent, Merger Sub, the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Exchange Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount payable pursuant to this Agreement such Taxes that are required to be deducted and withheld from such amounts under the Code, Treasury Regulations, or any other applicable Law (as reasonably determined by Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or its Subsidiaries, or the Exchange Agent, respectively). To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made and paid to the applicable Governmental Authority. To the extent any party hereto becomes aware of any obligation to deduct or withhold from amounts otherwise payable, issuable or transferable pursuant to this Agreement, such party shall notify the other parties hereto at least 10 days prior to the date of the relevant payment, and the parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any certificates or other documentation required in respect of such deduction or withholding obligation and to reduce or eliminate any applicable deduction or withholding.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (with specific reference to the particular section or subsection of this Agreement to which the information set forth in such disclosure letter relates (which qualify (a) the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant specified therein and (b) such other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representation, warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent on its face or cross-referenced)), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent that each of the following representations and warranties are true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date, which are made only as of such date).
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. Each member of the Company Group has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on the Business as presently conducted. Each member of the Company Group is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept) in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or other assets makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company Group. The Company has made available to Parent, prior to the date of this Agreement, complete and accurate copies of the organizational documents of each member of the Company Group, in each case as amended to the date hereof. The organizational documents of each member of the Company Group are in full force and effect. No member of the Company Group is in violation of its organizational documents, except any such violations that would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2 Authorization.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in the case of the Merger, subject to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval and the registration of the Merger with the Cayman Registrar. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than, in the case of the Merger, the receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval and the registration of the Merger with the Cayman Registrar) or the Ancillary Agreements. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and thereto, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
24
(b) By resolutions duly adopted (and not thereafter modified or rescinded) by the requisite vote of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company has (i) approved the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein; (ii) determined that this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the Company Shareholders; (iii) directed that the approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Merger be submitted to the Company Shareholders for consideration and recommended that all of the Company Shareholders adopt this Agreement. Either (x) the affirmative vote of Persons holding at least a two-thirds majority of the issued voting shares of the Company who attend and vote thereupon at a duly convened general meeting of the Company (as determined in accordance with the articles of association of the Company); or (y) the affirmative written approval, signed by the holders of all issued voting shares of the Company, is required to, and shall be sufficient to, approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Company Shareholder Approval”). The Company Shareholder Approval is the only vote or consent of any of the holders of Company Ordinary Shares necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby.
4.3 Governmental Authorization. None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, requires any consent, approval, license, Order or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority other than the filing of the Plan of Merger and ancillary documents with the Cayman Registrar pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act and any SEC or Nasdaq approval required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder. Neither the Company’s annual net sales nor its total assets exceed the applicable thresholds under 16 C.F.R. §802.51 promulgated under the HSR Act. No consent of the Mining Inspectorate of Sweden is required for the Merger or the Post-Closing Restructuring.
4.4 Non-Contravention. None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is or will be a party or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger and the Post-Closing Restructuring) does or will (a) contravene or conflict with the Company Articles or the organizational documents of any Subsidiary of the Company (including Titan), or any resolution by the board of directors or the general meeting of any member of the Company Group (including Titan), (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or Order binding upon or applicable to the Company or to any of its respective properties, rights or assets, except as set forth in Schedule 4.4, (c) except as set forth on Schedule 4.4 and except for the Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8 requiring Company Consents (but only as to the need to obtain such Company Consents), (i) require consent, approval or waiver under, (ii) constitute a default under or breach of (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), (iii) violate, (iv) give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company Group or to a loss of any material benefit to which the Company Group is entitled, in the case of each of clauses (i) – (iv), under any provision of any Permit, Contract or other instrument or obligations binding upon the Company Group or any of its respective properties, rights or assets, (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens) on any of the Company Group’s properties, rights or assets, or (e) conflict with, or trigger a right for any Governmental Authority to amend or revoke, any Permit held by any member of the Company Group (including Titan), or require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to any provision of the organizational documents of the Company Group, except for such consent, approval or waiver which shall be obtained (and a copy provided to Parent) prior to the Closing.
25
4.5 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of the Company is $50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value per share. As of the date of this Agreement, ROPA is the sole record owner of all issued and outstanding Company Ordinary Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(a), no other shares or other voting securities of the Company are authorized, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding Company Ordinary Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable Laws (including any applicable securities laws) and in compliance with the Company Articles. No Company Ordinary Shares are subject to or were issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right (including under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, the Company Articles or any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties, rights or assets are bound).
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(b), there are no (i) outstanding warrants, options, agreements, convertible securities, performance units or other commitments or instruments pursuant to which the Company is or may become obligated to issue or sell any Company Ordinary Shares or other Company securities, (ii) outstanding obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the Company, (iii) treasury shares of the Company, (iv) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which shareholders of the Company may vote, are issued or outstanding, (v) preemptive or similar rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares or other securities of the Company (including pursuant to any provision of Law, the Company Articles or any Contract to which the Company is a party), (vi) Liens (including any right of first refusal, right of first offer, proxy, voting trust, voting agreement or similar arrangement) with respect to the sale or voting of shares or securities of the Company (whether outstanding or issuable) or (vii) any share appreciation, phantom share or similar rights with respect to the Company.
4.6 Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.6 sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company, and with respect to each Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, its authorized shares or other equity interests (if applicable), and the number of issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests and the record holders thereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.6, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (including Titan) owns, directly or indirectly, any equity interest in any other Person, or is a member of any partnership, joint venture, consortium or profit sharing arrangement. All of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, duly registered, fully paid and non-assessable (if applicable), were offered, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable securities Laws and such Subsidiary’s organizational documents in force at the relevant time, and are owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than those, if any, imposed by such Subsidiary’s organizational documents).
26
4.7 Corporate Records. All proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company occurring since the date of formation of the Company, including all committees thereof, and of the Company Shareholders, and all consents to actions taken thereby that are required by Law or the Company Articles, are accurately reflected in the minutes and records contained in the corporate minute books of the Company and made available to Parent. The shareholder ledger of the Company is true, correct and complete.
4.8 Consents. The Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8 are the only Material Contracts requiring a consent, approval, authorization, order or other action of or filing with any Person as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or will be a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (each of the foregoing, a “Company Consent”).
4.9 Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has delivered to Parent the unaudited balance sheets of Titan as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, and the related profit/loss statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (the “Titan Financial Statements”). The Titan Financial Statements were prepared from the Books and Records of Titan in all material respects. Since December 31, 2025 (the “Balance Sheet Date”), except as required by applicable Law, there has been no change in any accounting principle, procedure or practice followed by Titan or in the method of applying any such principle, procedure or practice.
(b) The Company Group has no material liabilities, debts or obligations of the type that would be required to be set forth on its balance sheet, except for (i) liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Balance Sheet Date, (ii) to the extent specifically disclosed, reflected or fully reserved for on the Balance Sheet and (iii) liabilities specifically set forth on Schedule 4.9(b).
(c) The Company Group does not have any Indebtedness.
4.10 [Reserved].
4.11 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11, from the Balance Sheet Date until the date of this Agreement, (a) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices; (b) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Merger, would require the consent of Parent pursuant to Section 6.1 and Parent has not given consent.
4.12 Properties; Title to the Company Group’s Assets.
(a) All items of material Tangible Personal Property as set forth on Schedule 4.12(a) have no material defects, are in good operating condition and repair in all material respects and function in accordance with their intended uses (ordinary wear and tear excepted), have been properly maintained in all material respects and are suitable for their present uses and meet all specifications and warranty requirements with respect thereto. All of the material Tangible Personal Property is located at the offices of the Company Group.
(b) The Company Group has good, valid and marketable title in and to all of the tangible assets reflected on the Balance Sheet. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(b), no such tangible asset owned by the Company Group is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens. The Company’s assets constitute all of the rights, properties, and assets of any kind or description whatsoever, including goodwill, necessary for the Company Group to operate the Business immediately after the Closing in substantially the same manner as the Business is currently being conducted.
27
(c) Titan previously made and held reservation notifications and related reservation decisions in respect of (i) Nuottijärvi and (ii) Nuottivaara (together, the “Finnish Reservations”). The Finnish Reservations were made under the Finnish Mining Act (621/2011) solely to obtain the statutory priority/privilege to prepare a possible application for an exploration permit. The Finnish Reservations did not constitute, and did not confer, any exploration permit, mining permit, exploitation right, licence, concession, right to conduct exploration operations, or right to exploit any mineral deposit. Each Finnish Reservation expired at the end of its applicable validity period (Nuottijärvi on 1 October 2025 and Nuottivaara on 28 November 2025). Other than the reservation notifications and reservation decisions described above, no member of the Company Group has ever owned or held any exploration or exploitation right, permit, licence, concession or other mineral or mining interest in Finland. To the Knowledge of the Company, no member of the Company Group has any outstanding liability, Tax exposure or other obligation, whether contingent or otherwise, arising from the Finnish Reservations or any consulting or other services performed in connection with them, and all amounts properly due to consultants or other third parties engaged by the Company Group in connection with the Finnish Reservations have been paid in full.
4.13 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company Group, any of the officers or directors of the Company Group, the Business, any of the Company Group’s rights, properties or assets or any Contract before any Governmental Authority or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. There are no outstanding judgments against the Company Group or any of its rights, properties or assets. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, the Company Group or any of its rights, properties or assets is not, nor has been since January 1, 2023, subject to any Action, Order or consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority.
4.14 Contracts.
(a) Schedule 4.14(a) sets forth a true, complete and accurate list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all of the following Contracts as amended to date which are currently in effect (other than any Plans) (collectively, “Material Contracts”):
(i) all Contracts that require annual payments or expenses incurred by, or annual payments or income to, the Company Group of $250,000 or more (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices);
(ii) each Contract with any of the Top Suppliers;
(iii) each Contract with any current employee of the Company Group (A) which has continuing obligations for payment of an annual compensation of at least $500,000, and which is not terminable for any reason or no reason upon reasonable notice without payment of any penalty, severance or other obligation; (B) providing for severance or post-termination payments or benefits to such employee (other than COBRA obligations); or (C) providing for a payment or benefit upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or as a result of a change of control of the Company;
28
(iv) all Contracts creating a joint venture, strategic alliance, limited liability company or partnership arrangement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party;
(v) all Contracts relating to any acquisitions or dispositions of material assets by the Company Group (other than acquisitions or dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices);
(vi) all IP Contracts, separately identifying all such IP Contracts under which the Company is obligated to pay royalties thereunder and all such IP Contracts under which the Company is entitled to receive royalties thereunder, provided, however, that no Standard Contracts shall be required to be disclosed on Schedule 4.14(a)(vi), but shall constitute Material Contracts for purposes of this Agreement if they otherwise qualify;
(vii) Contracts containing covenants of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (A) materially prohibiting or limiting the right of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to engage in or compete with any Person in any line of business or (B) materially prohibiting or restricting the Company’s and the Company’s Subsidiaries’ ability to conduct their business with any Person in any geographic area;
(viii) all Contracts that (A) grant to any Person any preferred pricing, “most favored nation” or similar rights, (B) grant exclusivity to any Person in respect of any geographic location, any customer, or any product or service, (C) require the purchase of all or a given portion of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s requirements for products or services from any Person, or any other similar provision, or (D) grant to any Person price guarantees for a period greater than one year from the date of this Agreement and requires aggregate future payments to the Company Group in excess of $250,000 in any calendar year;
(ix) Contracts granting to any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) a right of first refusal, first offer or similar right to purchase or acquire exclusive rights or ownership with respect to any service, product or Intellectual Property of the Company Group or to purchase or acquire equity interests in the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;
(x) all Contracts (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) providing for guarantees, indemnification arrangements and other hold harmless arrangements made or provided by the Company Group;
(xi) all Contracts (other than employment agreements, employee confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, equity or equity incentive documents, governing documents, Contracts relating to such Affiliate’s status as a Company Shareholder) between a member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and Affiliates of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), the officers and managers (or equivalents) of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, the members or shareholders of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, any employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, a member of the immediate family of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand;
(xii) all Contracts relating to property or assets (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible) in which the Company holds a leasehold interest and which involve payments to the lessor thereunder in excess of $200,000 per year;
29
(xiii) all Contracts relating to the voting or control of the equity interests of the Company Group or the election of directors of the Company of any of its Subsidiaries (other than the organizational or constitutive documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries);
(xiv) all Contracts not cancellable by the Company Group with no more than 60 days’ notice if the effect of such cancellation would result in monetary penalty to the Company in excess of $250,000 per the terms of such contract;
(xv) all contracts and agreements with any Governmental Authority (other than purchase orders entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) to which any member of the Company Group is a party;
(xvi) all Contracts creating or otherwise relating to outstanding Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) in the aggregate that are valued at $500,000 or greater;
(xvii) all material Contracts that may be terminated, or the provisions of which may be altered, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;
(xviii) all Contracts under which any of the benefits, compensation or payments (or the vesting thereof) will be increased or accelerated by the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the amount or value thereof will be calculated on the basis of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and
(xix) any outstanding written commitment to enter into any Contract of the type described in clauses (i) through (xviii) of this Section 4.14(a).
(b) Each Material Contract is (i) a valid and binding agreement, (ii) in full force and effect and (iii) enforceable by and against the Company Group and each counterparty that is party thereto, subject, in the case of this clause (iii), to the Enforceability Exceptions. Except, in each case, where the occurrence of such breach or default or failure to perform would not be material to the Company Group, taken as a whole (w) neither the Company Group nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to a Material Contract is in material breach or default (whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both) under the terms of any such Material Contract, (x) each member of the Company Group has performed in all respects all respective obligations required to be performed by them to date under each Material Contract, (y) no member of the Company Group has received any written claim or written notice of termination or breach of or default under any such Material Contract, and (z) no event has occurred which, individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default under any such Material Contract by a member of the Company Group or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both). No member of the Company Group has assigned, delegated or otherwise transferred any of its rights or obligations under any Material Contract or granted any power of attorney with respect thereto.
(c) Each member of the Company Group is in compliance in all material respects with all covenants, including all financial covenants, in all notes, indentures, bonds and other instruments or Material Contracts establishing or evidencing any Indebtedness. The consummation and closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not cause or result in an event of default under any instruments or Material Contracts establishing or evidencing any Indebtedness.
30
4.15 Licenses and Permits. Schedule 4.15 sets forth a true, complete and correct list of each Permit held by a member of the Company Group that is required under applicable Law to permit the Company Group to own, operate, use and maintain their assets in the manner in which they are now operated and maintained and to carry out or conduct the Business, together with the name of the Governmental Authority issuing the same. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, (i) such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, and none of the Permits will be terminated or impaired or become terminable as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and (ii) the Company Group has all Permits necessary to operate the Business. The Company Group is not in material breach or violation of, or material default under, any such Permit, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, no basis (including the execution of this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement) exists which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably constitute any such breach, violation or default or give any Governmental Authority grounds to suspend, revoke or terminate any such Permit. Neither the Company nor Titan has received any written (or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral) notice from any Governmental Authority regarding any material violation of any Permit. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, there has not been and there is not any pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action, investigation or disciplinary proceeding by or from any Governmental Authority against the Company or Titan involving any material Permit.
4.16 Compliance with Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is in violation in any material respect of, and, since January 1, 2023, no such Person has failed to be in compliance in all material respects with, all applicable Laws and Orders. Since January 1, 2023, (i) no event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or due to lapse of time) would reasonably constitute or result in a material violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, or material failure on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with, or any material liability suffered or incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any violation of or material noncompliance with, any Laws, Orders or policies by a Governmental Authority that are or were applicable to it or the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets and (ii) no Action is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, alleging any such violation or noncompliance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2023, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been threatened in writing or, to the Company’s Knowledge, orally to be charged with, or given written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral notice of any violation of any Law or any judgment, order or decree entered by any Governmental Authority.
4.17 Intellectual Property.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor Titan has any Owned Registered IP.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the Company’s and Titan’s business as currently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property owned by any third party, except as would not be material to the Company. Neither the Company nor Titan is a party to any proceeding, or received any written communications, alleging or relating to any of the foregoing set forth in this Section 4.17(b), except as would not be material to the Company.
4.18 Employees; Employment Matters.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor Titan has any employees.
31
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor Titan has any ongoing consultants or independent contractors.
(c) The Company Group is not a party to, bound by, negotiating or required to negotiate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union or other labor organization. No employees of the Company Group or any of its Subsidiaries are represented by any labor union or other labor organization, and, since January 1, 2023, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no activities or proceeding by a labor union or other labor organization seeking to organize any employees of the Company Group and no demand for recognition or certification as the exclusive bargaining representative of any employees has been made by or on behalf of any labor union or other labor organization. There is no labor strike, material slowdown or material work stoppage or lockout pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company Group, and, since January 1, 2023, the Company Group has not experienced any strike, material slowdown, material work stoppage or lockout, grievance or labor dispute or similar activity in respect of the business of the Company Group that may, individually or in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the respective business activities of the Company.
(d) There are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing material Actions against the Company Group (including, without limitation, any such Actions under any worker’s compensation policy or long-term disability policy) by any of its current or former employees, independent contractors or job applicants. There is no material unfair labor practice charge or complaint pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing before any applicable Governmental Authority relating to employees of the Company Group. There is no ongoing location closing, employee layoff, or relocation activities.
(e) The Company Group is, and since January 1, 2023 has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to employment, including all applicable Laws relating to wages, hours, overtime, collective bargaining, equal employment opportunity, discrimination, harassment (including, but not limited to sexual harassment), retaliation, immigration, verification of identity and employment authorization of individuals employed in the United States, employee leave, disability rights or benefits, employment and reemployment rights of members and veterans of the uniformed services, paid time off/vacation, unemployment insurance, safety and health, workers’ compensation, pay equity, restrictive covenants, whistleblower rights, child labor, classification of employees and independent contractors, meal and rest breaks, reimbursement of business expenses, and the collection and payment of withholding or social security Taxes.
4.19 [Reserved].
4.20 [Reserved].
4.21 Real Property.
(a) The Company Group does not own nor has it ever owned, or otherwise have an interest in, any Real Property, including under any Real Property Lease. The Company Group has not materially breached or violated any local zoning ordinance, and no notice from any Person has been received by the Company Group or served upon the Company Group claiming any violation of any local zoning ordinance.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company does not owe any brokerage commission with respect to any Real Property.
32
4.22 Taxes. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.22,
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed all income and other material Tax Returns which are required to be filed by it, and have paid all material Taxes (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns) which have become due, and all such Tax Returns of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are true, correct and complete and accurate in all material respects.
(b) There is no Action, audit, examination, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment with respect to Taxes that has been asserted or assessed, or that is pending or proposed in writing, by any Governmental Authority against any member of the Company Group that remains unresolved or unpaid.
(c) No statute of limitations in respect of the assessment or collection of any Taxes of any member of the Company Group has been waived or extended (other than pursuant to extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business), which waiver or extension is in effect.
(d) Each member of the Company Group has duly withheld or collected and paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority in a timely manner all material Taxes required to be withheld or collected by such member of the Company Group in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party and has otherwise complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.
(e) Each member of the Company Group has collected and remitted to the applicable Taxing Authority all material sales Taxes required to be collected by such member of the Company Group.
(f) No member of the Company Group has requested any letter ruling, technical advice, a change of any method of accounting, or any similar request that is in progress or pending with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes.
(g) There is no Lien (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon any of the assets of any member of the Company Group.
(h) No member of the Company Group has received any written request from a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where a member of the Company Group has not paid any Tax or filed Tax Returns asserting that a member of the Company Group is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction, and no member of the Company Group has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or other fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized, tax resident, or otherwise subject to Tax on a net income basis.
(i) No member of the Company Group is a party to any Tax sharing, Tax indemnity or Tax allocation Contract (other than a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business the principal purpose of which is not related to Taxes).
(j) No member of the Company Group has been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes (other than a group the common parent of which was the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).
(k) No member of the Company Group has any liability for the Taxes of any other Person (other than the Company Group): (1) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (2) as a transferee or successor or (3) otherwise by operation of applicable Law.
33
(l) No member of the Company Group is, or ever has been, a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(m) No member of the Company Group holds any “United States real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(1).
(n) No member of the Company Group has been a party to any “listed transaction” or failed to report any “reportable transaction” as such terms are defined in Section 6707A(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) and as such reporting is required pursuant thereto.
(o) No member of the Company Group has been a party to any transaction treated by the parties as a distribution of stock qualifying under Section 355 of the Code in the five years prior to the date of this Agreement.
(p) No member of the Company Group will be required to include any material item of income or exclude any material item of deduction for any taxable period ending after the Closing Date as a result of: (i) adjustment under Section 481 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law) by reason of a change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date; (ii) any “closing agreement” described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law) executed on or before the Closing Date; (iii) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or before the Closing Date; (iv) any prepaid amount or deferred revenue realized or received on or before the Closing Date; (v) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law); or (vi) election under Section 965 of the Code.
(q) The Company is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and each member of the Company Group is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445(f)(3) of the Code. No member of the Company Group is, or ever has been, created or organized in, or under the law of, the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia. No member of the Company Group is treated as a domestic corporation pursuant to Section 7874(b) of the Code or has elected pursuant to Section 897(i) of the Code to be treated as a domestic corporation for purposes of Sections 897 and 1445 of the Code. Schedule 4.22(q) sets forth the U.S. federal income tax classification of each Subsidiary of the Company.
(r) No member of the Company Group has knowingly taken or agreed to take any action (or failed to take any action), that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying for the Merger Intended Tax Treatment.
(s) Less than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the Company’s total assets (after excluding cash, cash items (including receivables), and government securities for purposes of computing total assets) consists of stock or securities (within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F)(vii) of the Code). For purposes of this representation, any stock and securities of any Subsidiary of the Company is disregarded and the Company is deemed to own its ratable share of such Subsidiary’s assets. The Company is not otherwise an “investment company” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) of the Code.
(t) Except for the transactions set forth on Schedule 4.22(t), each member of the Company Group has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable transfer pricing laws.
34
(u) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.6, no member of the Company Group owns, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other equity interests in any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, or other entity.
4.23 Environmental Matters.
(a) Since December 31, 2023, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each property and facility leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, and has been, in material compliance with all Environmental Laws.
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all material Environmental Permits that are required for the operation of their respective businesses as presently conducted, and such Environmental Permits are in full force and effect, and since December 31, 2023, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are, and have been, in material compliance with all such Environmental Permits.
(c) There has been no Release of any Hazardous Materials by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at, in, on, under or from any real property currently leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that requires any material Remedial Action pursuant to Environmental Law, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice that it is currently liable pursuant to Environmental Laws for any material Remedial Action of any Hazardous Materials that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries sent to a third-party site for disposal.
(d) There are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries alleging any material violation of, or material non-compliance with, any Environmental Law or material Environmental Permit. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any agreement that may require it to guarantee, reimburse, pledge, defend, hold harmless or indemnify any other Person with respect to liabilities arising out of Environmental Laws or the Hazardous Material Activity.
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any consent, settlement or other written agreement with any Governmental Authority relating to any material violation of, or material non-compliance with, any Environmental Law.
4.24 Finders’ Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.24, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, Merger Sub, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.
4.25 Directors and Officers. Schedule 4.25 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all directors and officers of the Company and each Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement.
4.26 Certain Business Practices.
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries currently is and has at all times been, in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws related to (i) anti-corruption or anti-bribery, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, 15 U.S.C. §§78dd-1, et seq., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”), (ii) economic sanctions administered, enacted or enforced by any Governmental Authority (collectively, “Sanctions Laws”), (iii) export controls, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, 15 C.F.R. §§730, et seq., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “Export Control Laws”), (iv) anti-money laundering, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. §§1956, 1957, and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), (v) anti-boycott regulations, as administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and (vi) importation of goods, including Laws administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Title 19 of the U.S.C. and C.F.R., and any other equivalent or comparable Laws of other countries (collectively, “International Trade Control Laws”).
35
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), is or is acting under the direction of, on behalf of or for the benefit of a Person that is, (i) the subject of Sanctions Laws or identified on any sanctions or similar lists administered by a Governmental Authority, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals List, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Denied Persons List and Entity List, the U.S. Department of State’s Debarred List, HM Treasury’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Bank List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant Governmental Authority, as amended from time to time, or any Person owned or controlled by any of the foregoing (collectively, “Prohibited Party”); (ii) the target of any Sanctions Laws; (iii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, including, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sudan and Syria; or (iv) an officer or employee of any Governmental Authority or public international organization, or officer of a political party or candidate for political office. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), (A) has participated in any transaction involving a Prohibited Party, or a Person who is the target of any Sanctions Laws, or any country or territory that was during such period or is, or whose government was during such period or is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, (B) to the Knowledge of the Company, has exported (including deemed exportation) or re-exported, directly or indirectly, any commodity, software, technology, or services in violation of any applicable Export Control Laws or (C) has participated in any transaction in violation of or connected with any purpose prohibited by Anti-Corruption Laws or any applicable International Trade Control Laws, including support for international terrorism and nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons proliferation.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Representatives is or has been the subject of, any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any Governmental Authority regarding any offense or alleged offense under Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Export Control Laws or International Trade Control Laws (including by virtue of having made any disclosure relating to any offense or alleged offense) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry or proceeding.
4.27 Insurance. All forms of insurance owned or held by and insuring the Company Group are set forth on Schedule 4.27, and such policies are in full force and effect. All premiums due with respect to such policies covering all periods up to and including the Closing Date have been paid, no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy which was not replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation or termination and there is no claim by the Company Group or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other Person pending under any of such insurance policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters or issuers of such policies. There is no existing default or event which, to the Company’s Knowledge, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute noncompliance with, or a default under, any such policy or entitle any insurer to terminate or cancel any such policy. Such policies will not in any way be affected by or terminate or lapse by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. The insurance policies to which the Company Group is a party are of at least like character and amount as are carried by like businesses similarly situated and sufficient for compliance with all requirements of all Material Contracts to which the Company Group is a party or by which the Company Group is bound. Since January 1, 2023, no member of the Company Group has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets or operations or had its coverage limited by any insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance. No member of the Company Group has any self-insurance arrangements. No fidelity bonds, letters of credit, performance bonds or bid bonds have been issued to or in respect of any member of the Company Group.
36
4.28 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.28 or as contemplated by this Agreement, no Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Company Shareholder, current or former director, manager, officer or employee of any Person in the Company or any immediate family member or Affiliate of any of the foregoing (a) is a party to any Contract, or has otherwise entered into any transaction, understanding or arrangement, with a member of the Company Group, (b) owns any asset, property or right, tangible or intangible, which is used by a member of the Company Group, or (c) is a borrower or lender, as applicable, under any Indebtedness owed by or to a member of the Company Group since January 1, 2023.
4.29 No Trading or Short Position. None of the Company Group or any of their respective managers and officers, members and employees has engaged in any short sale of Parent’s voting shares or any other type of hedging transaction involving Parent’s securities (including, without limitation, depositing shares of Parent’s securities with a brokerage firm where such securities are made available by the broker to other customers of the firm for purposes of hedging or short selling Parent’s securities).
4.30 Exchange Act. No member of the Company Group is currently (nor has either previously been) subject to the requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
4.31 Top Suppliers.
(a) Schedule 4.31(a) sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the top 10 vendors of the Company Group based on aggregate spend of such counterparty (a “Top Supplier”), in each case, during the trailing 12 months for the period ending December 31, 2025.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.31(b), none of the Top Suppliers has, as of the date of this Agreement, informed in writing any of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries that it will, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has threatened in writing to, terminate, cancel or materially limit or materially and adversely modify any of its existing business with a member of the Company Group (other than due to the expiration of an existing contractual arrangement), and to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Top Suppliers is, as of the date of this Agreement, otherwise involved in or threatening a material dispute against a member of the Company Group or their respective businesses.
4.32 Titan.
(a) Legal status and corporate power. Titan is a private limited company (Norwegian:aksjeselskap) duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Norway, and has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own its assets and to conduct the Business in the manner in which it is now being conducted. Neither Titan’s ownership of its assets nor the conduct of the Business violates its articles of association or any other organizational documents. Titan is duly registered in all mandatory public registers in Norway, including the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises (Norwegian:Foretaksregisteret), and there are no circumstances relating to Titan that pursuant to mandatory Norwegian law should have been, but are not, so registered. Titan has not issued any power of attorney or similar authority to any Person which remains in force, authorizing such Person to represent and bind it, either in general or for any special purposes, other than authorities given to its officers and directors in the normal course of their duties.
37
(b) No conflict. Neither the execution of this Agreement, nor the consummation or performance of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger and the Post-Closing Restructuring), will conflict with, or trigger a right for any Governmental Authority to amend or revoke, any Permit of Titan.
(c) The shares in Titan. The Company has full legal title and ownership to all of the issued and outstanding shares of Titan. Such shares constitute 100% of all issued shares of Titan on a fully diluted basis, are validly issued, fully paid and free and clear of any Liens. There is no agreement, conditional or unconditional, to create any Lien over any of the shares in Titan. There are no outstanding securities of Titan convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire, shares in Titan, and Titan has no outstanding obligations to repurchase or redeem any shares. No Person has claimed, or to the Knowledge of the Company has any basis to claim, any right which conflicts with the representations and warranties set out in this Section 4.32(c).
(d) [Reserved].
(e) No guarantees. Titan has not provided any guarantee or other security securing the obligations or liabilities of any Person (including its Affiliates).
(f) Permits. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, (i) Titan holds all Permits necessary to own, operate, use and maintain its assets and to carry out or conduct the Business, including the exploration permits for the Billingen Project listed in Schedule 4.15, and (ii) each such Permit is valid and in full force and effect. No consent, approval or filing with any Governmental Authority relating to Titan is required to authorize this Agreement or to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than as set forth in Section 4.3 of this Agreement. Neither the execution of this Agreement, nor the consummation or performance of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, will conflict with, or trigger a right for any Governmental Authority to amend or revoke, any Permit of Titan. Titan has not received any written (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral) notice from any Governmental Authority regarding any material violation of any Permit.
(g) Books and records. All books and records of Titan, including constitutional and other corporate documentation such as shareholders’ registers, minutes from meetings of the board of directors and the general meeting, articles of association and annual reports, have been maintained and kept in accordance with Norwegian law and are readily available in good order.
(h) Accounts. The Titan Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with Norwegian law, including Section 3-2(a) of the Norwegian Accounting Act of 17 July 1998 no. 56 (Norwegian:regnskapsloven). The Titan Financial Statements give a true and fair view (Norwegian:rettvisende bilde) of the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flow of Titan as at year-end of, and for, the accounting periods to which they refer.
(i) Assets. All assets reflected in the Titan Financial Statements as owned were at the Balance Sheet Date owned by Titan, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Since the Balance Sheet Date, Titan has not disposed of any assets except in the ordinary course of business. No steps have been taken to enforce any Lien over any assets of Titan and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such enforcement is threatened or expected.
38
(j) Transfer of Titan. The transfer of Titan from ROPA to the Company is valid and completed and complied with (i) the Norwegian Private Limited Companies Act (Norwegian: aksjeloven), including any consent or notification required under Titan’s articles of association, and (ii) the laws of Gibraltar.
(k) Tax. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.22, all material Tax obligations of Titan arising from any event or transaction occurring on or prior to the Balance Sheet Date have been paid or adequately accrued or reserved for in the Titan Financial Statements. Titan is not resident for Tax purposes in any country other than Norway, and has not in the last five (5) years had any taxable presence, branch or permanent establishment in any other country.
(l) Insolvency. Titan is capable of paying its debts as they fall due and is not insolvent, nor do there, to the Knowledge of the Company, exist any circumstances which may cause Titan to become insolvent or incapable of paying its debts as they fall due. Titan is not subject to any legal proceedings before any Governmental Authority with regard to claims for voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy, and no such proceedings have been notified or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement (to the extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure is reasonably apparent from the content of such Parent SEC Documents, but excluding any risk factor disclosures or other similar cautionary or predictive statements therein), it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such Parent SEC Documents shall be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.3 or 5.8, Parent and Merger Sub (the “Parent Parties”) hereby represent and warrant to the Company that each of the following representations and warranties are true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date:
5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. Merger Sub does not hold and has not held any material assets or incurred any material liabilities, and has not carried on any business activities other than in connection with the Merger. Each of the Parent Parties has all requisite power and authority, corporate and otherwise, to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted.
5.2 Merger Sub. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby and activities incidental thereto. Either Parent or a wholly owned (direct or indirect) Subsidiary of Parent owns beneficially and of record all of the issued share capital of Merger Sub.
39
5.3 Corporate Authorization. Each of the Parent Parties has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in the case of the Domestication and the Merger, subject to receipt of the applicable approvals described below. The execution and delivery by each of the Parent Parties of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by each of the Parent Parties of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Parent Party. No other corporate proceedings on the part of such Parent Party are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements other than the applicable shareholder approvals described below. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which such Parent Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Parent Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and thereto (other than a Parent Party), this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which such Parent Party is a party constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Parent Party, enforceable against such Parent Party in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. While Parent remains a Cayman Islands company: (i) the Domestication, together with any amendment or adoption of constitutional documents required to effect it, shall be approved by the special resolution required by Articles 49.1 and 49.2 of the Parent Articles and section 60 of the Cayman Companies Act; (ii) Article 49.2 provides that only holders of Parent Class B Ordinary Shares may vote on the continuation-out resolution; and (iii) the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals identified in Section 6.5(e) as ordinary matters shall be approved by an ordinary resolution under the Parent Articles, being a simple majority of the members entitled to vote and voting. Unanimous written resolutions of Parent as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub is the only approval required of Merger Sub’s sole shareholder necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby.
5.4 Governmental Authorization. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4.3, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by a Parent Party or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby requires any consent, approval, license or other action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority except for (a) any SEC or Nasdaq filings and approval required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder, (b) filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Domestication with respect to the Domestication, together with the Parent Certificate of Incorporation, (c) filings required to be made with the Cayman Registrar in connection with the Domestication, and (d) the filing of the Plan of Merger with the Cayman Registrar pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act.
5.5 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by a Parent Party of this Agreement or the consummation by a Parent Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with the organizational or constitutive documents of the Parent Parties, or (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law or any Order binding upon the Parent Parties.
5.6 Finders’ Fees. Except for the Persons identified on Schedule 5.6, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Parent Parties or their Affiliates who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the Company or any of its Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.
5.7 Issuance of Shares. The Aggregate Merger Consideration, when issued in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, and will be fully paid and nonassessable, and each such share comprising the Aggregate Merger Consideration shall be issued free and clear of preemptive rights and all Liens, other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the organizational or constitutive documents of Parent. The Aggregate Merger Consideration shall be issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws and other applicable Laws and without contravention of any other person’s rights therein or with respect thereto.
40
5.8 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized share capital of Parent is $55,500 divided into 500,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of $0.0001 per share, 50,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of $0.0001 per share and 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of $0.0001 per share, of which 17,250,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, and 5,750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, for a total of 23,000,000 Parent Ordinary Shares (inclusive of Parent Ordinary Shares included in any outstanding Parent Units), are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and no preference shares are issued and outstanding. All issued and outstanding Parent Securities are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, the Parent Articles, other organizational documents of Parent or any contract to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound. Except as set forth in the Parent Articles or other organizational documents of Parent, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Parent Common Shares or any share capital of Parent (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements). There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person. All outstanding Parent Units, Parent Warrants and Parent Common Shares have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities and other applicable Laws and were issued free and clear of all Liens other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws and the organizational or constitutional documents of Parent.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.8(b), there are no (i) outstanding warrants, options, agreements, convertible securities, performance units or other commitments or instruments pursuant to which the Parent is or may become obligated to issue or sell any of its Parent Common Shares, Parent Units or other securities (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), (ii) outstanding obligations of the Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the Parent or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the Parent (other than pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), (iii) treasury shares of the Parent, (iv) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which shareholders of the Parent may vote, are issued or outstanding, (v) preemptive or similar rights to purchase or otherwise acquire shares or other securities of the Parent (including pursuant to any provision of Law, the Parent Articles or any Contract to which the Parent is a party), (vi) Liens (including any right of first refusal, right of first offer, proxy, voting trust, voting agreement or similar arrangement) with respect to the sale or voting of shares or securities of the Parent (whether outstanding or issuable) or (vii) any share appreciation, phantom share or similar rights with respect to the Parent.
(c) All issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Merger Sub (“Merger Sub Ordinary Shares”) are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, Merger Sub’s memorandum and articles of association or any contract to which Merger Sub is a party or by which Merger Sub is bound. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Merger Sub Ordinary Shares or any other equity capital of Merger Sub. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
5.9 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Parent Parties expressly for inclusion, or for mailing with, the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement/Prospectus or other Offer Documents will, (a) when the Registration Statement is first filed, (b) on the effective date of the Registration Statement, (c) on the date when the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the Parent’s shareholders and (d) at the time of the Parent Shareholder Meeting, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth in the materials provided by Parent or included in the Parent SEC Documents, the Additional Parent SEC Documents, the Registration Statement or any Other Filing).
41
5.10 Trust Fund. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent has approximately $181.6 million (including, if applicable, any Deferred Underwriting Commissions being held in the Trust Account) in the trust account established by Parent for the benefit of its public shareholders (the “Trust Account”) maintained by Lucky Lucko, Inc. d/b/a Efficiency (the “Trustee”) and held in trust by the Trustee pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement dated as of April 28, 2025, between Parent and the Trustee (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions, and has not been amended or modified except as set forth in the Parent SEC Documents. There are no separate agreements, side letters or other agreements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Parent SEC Documents to be inaccurate in any material respect or that would entitle any Person (other than public shareholders of Parent holding Parent Ordinary Shares sold in Parent’s IPO who shall have elected to redeem their Parent Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Parent Articles or the underwriters of the IPO) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Parent Articles. Parent has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in material default or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to constitute such a material default thereunder. There are no claims or proceedings pending with respect to the Trust Account. Since April 30, 2025, Parent has not released any money from the Trust Account (other than as permitted by the Trust Agreement). As of the Effective Time, (i) the obligations of Parent to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to the Parent Articles shall terminate, and (ii) Parent shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to the Parent Articles to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Parent by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Following the Effective Time, no shareholder of Parent shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent a Parent’s public shareholder shall have elected to tender its Parent Ordinary Shares for redemption pursuant to the Parent Articles.
5.11 Listing. The issued and outstanding Parent Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “DAAQU”. The issued and outstanding Parent Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “DAAQ”. The issued and outstanding Parent Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “DAAQW”. Since its initial public offering, Parent has complied in all material respects with all applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent by the Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Parent Units, the Parent Ordinary Shares, or the Parent Warrants or prohibit or terminate the listing of the Parent Units, the Parent Ordinary Shares, or the Parent Warrants on Nasdaq or prohibit the transfer of the listing to an Alternate Exchange. None of Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Parent Units, the Parent Ordinary Shares, or the Parent Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.
5.12 Board Approval.
(a) Parent’s Board of Directors (including any required committee or subgroup of such board) has unanimously (i) declared the advisability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of the shareholders of Parent and (iii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby constitutes a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in the Parent Articles and (iv) recommended to the Parent’s shareholders to adopt and approve each of the Parent Proposals (“Parent Board Recommendation”).
42
(b) Merger Sub’s Board of Directors has unanimously (i) declared the advisability of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) determined that the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of its sole shareholder.
5.13 Parent SEC Documents and Financial Statements.
(a) Parent has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any exhibits thereto, required to be filed or furnished by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement (the “Additional Parent SEC Documents”). Parent has made available to the Company copies in the form filed with the SEC of all of the following, except to the extent available in full without redaction on the SEC’s website through EDGAR for at least two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement: (i) Parent’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for each fiscal year of Parent beginning with the first year that Parent was required to file such a form, (ii) all proxy statements relating to Parent’s meetings of shareholders (whether annual or special) held, and all information statements relating to shareholder consents, since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above, (iii) its Form 8-Ks filed since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above, and (iv) all other forms, reports, registration statements and other documents (other than preliminary materials if the corresponding definitive materials have been provided to the Company pursuant to this Section 5.13) filed by Parent with the SEC since Parent’s formation (the forms, reports, registration statements and other documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above, whether or not available through EDGAR, collectively, as they have been amended, revised or superseded by a later filing, the “Parent SEC Documents”).
(b) Parent SEC Documents were, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will be, prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder. Parent SEC Documents did not, and the Additional Parent SEC Documents will not, at the time they were or are filed, as the case may be, with the SEC (except to the extent that information contained in any Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document has been or is amended, revised or superseded by a later filed Parent SEC Document or Additional Parent SEC Document, then on the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions in any information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Other Filing.
(c) As used in this Section 5.13, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.
43
(d) Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Parent’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, or “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Exchange Act, since its initial public offering, (i) Parent has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Parent’s financial reporting and the preparation of Parent’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (ii) Parent has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent is made known to Parent’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within Parent. Parent maintains and, for all periods covered by the Parent Financial Statements, has maintained Books and Records of Parent in the ordinary course of business in accordance with U.S. GAAP in all material respects and other applicable legal and accounting requirements.
(e) Parent has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(f) The Parent SEC Documents contain true and complete copies of the applicable Parent Financial Statements. Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, the Parent Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Parent as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of its operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is material) and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is material) and the absence of footnotes), (iii) in the case of the audited Parent Financial Statements, were audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates thereof (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(g) Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, Parent has not received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that there is (i) a “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent to Parent’s Knowledge, (ii) a “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent to Parent’s Knowledge or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of Parent who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent.
5.14 Certain Business Practices.
(a) The Parent currently is and has at all times been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable (i) Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) Sanctions Laws, (iii) Export Control Laws, (iv) Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (v) anti-boycott regulations, as administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and (vi) International Trade Control Laws.
(b) Neither the Parent nor, to the Knowledge of the Parent, any Representative of the Parent (acting on behalf of the Parent), is or is acting under the direction of, on behalf of or for the benefit of a Person that is, (i) a Prohibited Party; (ii) the target of any Sanctions Laws; (iii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, including, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sudan and Syria; or (iv) an officer or employee of any Governmental Authority or public international organization, or officer of a political party or candidate for political office. Neither the Parent nor, to the Knowledge of the Parent, any Representative of the Parent (acting on behalf of the Parent), (A) has participated in any transaction involving a Prohibited Party, or a Person who is the target of any Sanctions Laws, or any country or territory that was during such period or is, or whose government was during such period or is, the target of comprehensive trade sanctions under Sanctions Laws, (B) to the Knowledge of the Parent, has exported (including deemed exportation) or re-exported, directly or indirectly, any commodity, software, technology, or services in violation of any applicable Export Control Laws or (C) has participated in any transaction in violation of or connected with any purpose prohibited by Anti-Corruption Laws or any applicable International Trade Control Laws, including support for international terrorism and nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons proliferation.
44
(c) The Parent has not received written notice of, nor, to the Knowledge of the Parent, any of its Representatives is or has been the subject of, any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any Governmental Authority regarding any offense or alleged offense under Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Export Control Laws or International Trade Control Laws (including by virtue of having made any disclosure relating to any offense or alleged offense) and, to the Knowledge of the Parent, there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry or proceeding.
5.15 [Reserved].
5.16 Affiliate Transactions. Except as described in Parent SEC Documents, there are no transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any director, officer, employee, shareholder, rights holder or Affiliate of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand.
5.17 Litigation. There is no (a) Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or that affects its or their assets or properties, or (b) Order outstanding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or that affects its or their assets or properties. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to a settlement or similar agreement regarding any of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence that contains any ongoing obligations, restrictions or liabilities (of any nature) that are material to Parent and its Subsidiaries.
5.18 Expenses, Indebtedness and Other Liabilities. Except as set forth in Parent SEC Documents, Parent does not have any Indebtedness or other liabilities.
5.19 Brokers and Other Advisors. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries except for Persons, if any, whose fees and expenses shall be paid by Parent.
5.20 Taxes.
(a) Parent has duly and timely filed all income and other material Tax Returns which are required to be filed by it, and has paid all material Taxes (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns) which have become due and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete and accurate in all material respects.
(b) There is no Action, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment with respect to a material amount of Taxes that has been asserted or assessed, or that is pending or proposed in writing, by any Governmental Authority against Parent that remains unresolved or unpaid.
(c) No statute of limitations in respect of the assessment or collection of any Taxes of Parent has been waived or extended (other than pursuant to extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business), which waiver or extension is in effect.
45
(d) Parent has duly withheld or collected and paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority in a timely manner all material Taxes required to be withheld or collected by Parent in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party and has otherwise complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.
(e) Parent has not requested any letter ruling, technical advice, a change of any method of accounting, or any similar request that is in progress or pending with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes.
(f) There is no Lien (other than liens for Taxes (i) not yet due and delinquent or (ii) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established on the Parent Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP)) for Taxes upon any of the assets of Parent.
(g) Parent has not received any written request from a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where Parent has not paid any Tax or filed Tax Returns asserting that Parent is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction.
(h) Parent is and has been treated as a C corporation for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes since the date of its formation.
(i) Parent has not knowingly taken or agreed to take any action (or failed to take any action), that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Domestication from qualifying for the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES PENDING CLOSING
6.1 Conduct of the Business. Each of the Company and Parent covenants and agrees that:
(a) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement (including the PIPE Financing) or the Ancillary Agreements, or as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a), from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (the “Interim Period”), each party shall conduct its business only in the ordinary course (including the payment of accounts payable and the collection of accounts receivable) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business and assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement (including the PIPE Financing) or the Ancillary Agreements, or as set forth on Schedule 6.1(a), or as required by applicable Law, from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing Date and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, without the other party’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), neither the Company, Parent, nor any of their Subsidiaries, shall be permitted to:
(i) amend, modify or supplement its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, memorandum and articles of association or other organizational or governing documents except as contemplated hereby or any Extension Period, or engage in any reorganization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction;
46
(ii) amend, waive any provision of, terminate prior to its scheduled expiration date, or otherwise compromise in any way or relinquish any material right under, any (A) in the case of the Company Group, any Material Contract or Lease or (B) in the case of Parent, material contract, agreement, lease, license or other right or asset of Parent, as applicable;
(iii) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, modify, amend or enter into any contract, agreement, lease, license or commitment that extends for a term of one year or more or obligates the payment by any member of the Company Group or Parent, as applicable, of more than $1,000,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(iv) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, make any capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(v) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Company Group’s or Parent’s, as applicable, material assets, except pursuant to existing contracts or commitments disclosed herein or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(vi) solely in the case of the Company Group, (i) transfer, sell, assign, lease, license, sublicense, covenant not to assert, subject to a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien), abandon, allow to lapse, or otherwise dispose of any right, title or interest of the Company or its Subsidiaries in material Owned Intellectual Property (other than non-exclusive licenses of Owned Intellectual Property granted to customers, end users, or service providers granted in the ordinary course of business); (ii) disclose any Trade Secrets to any third party (other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business that contains reasonable protections therefor); or (iii) subject any source code for any Company Software to any Copyleft Licenses;
(vii) (A) pay, declare or promise to pay any dividends, distributions or other amounts with respect to its issued share capital, capital stock or other equity securities; (B) pay, declare or promise to pay any other amount to any shareholder or other equityholder in its capacity as such; and (C) except as contemplated hereby or by any Ancillary Agreement, amend any term, right or obligation with respect to any shares or other equity securities;
(viii) (A) make any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person; (B) incur any Indebtedness including drawings under the lines of credit, in the case of the Company Group, if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company Group would exceed $500,000, other than (1) loans evidenced by promissory notes made to Parent as working capital advances as described in the Prospectus and (2) intercompany Indebtedness; or (C) repay or satisfy any Indebtedness, other than the repayment of Indebtedness in accordance with the terms thereof;
(ix) suffer or incur any Lien, except for Permitted Liens, on the Company’s or its Subsidiaries or Parent’s, as applicable, assets;
(x) delay, accelerate or cancel, or waive any material right with respect to, any receivables or Indebtedness owed to a member of the Company Group or write off or make reserves against the same (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise required by U.S. GAAP);
(xi) merge or consolidate or enter a similar transaction with, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or business of, any other Person; make any material investment in any Person; or be acquired by any other Person;
47
(xii) terminate or allow to lapse any insurance policy protecting any of the Company Group’s or Parent’s, as applicable, assets, unless simultaneously with such termination or lapse, a replacement policy underwritten by an insurance company of nationally recognized standing having comparable deductions and providing coverage equal to or greater than the coverage under the terminated or lapsed policy for substantially similar premiums or less is in full force and effect;
(xiii) waive, release, institute, compromise, settle or agree to settle any legal proceeding or any Action before any Governmental Authority, in each case, where such waiver, release, institution, compromise or settlement is in excess of $500,000 (exclusive of any amounts covered by insurance) or that imposes injunctive or other non-monetary relief on such party;
(xiv) except as required by U.S. GAAP or to convert any financial statements into U.S. GAAP, make any material change in its accounting principles, methods or practices or write down the value of its assets;
(xv) except in connection with the exercise of rights under securities set forth on Schedule 4.5(a), issue, redeem or repurchase any shares, membership interests or other securities, or issue any securities exchangeable for or convertible into any shares or other securities, amend, modify or waive any of the material terms or rights set forth in any Parent Warrant or the Warrant Agreement, other than any redemption by Parent of Parent Ordinary Shares and Parent Units held by its public shareholders pursuant to the Parent Articles or as otherwise contemplated herein or in any Ancillary Agreement;
(xvi) except as otherwise required in connection with the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment, (A) make, change or revoke any election in respect of material Taxes; (B) amend, modify or otherwise change any filed Tax Return in respect of material Taxes, (C) adopt or request permission of any Taxing Authority to change any accounting method in respect of material Taxes, (D) settle or compromise any claim, notice, audit report, Action, suit, litigation, legal proceeding, arbitration, investigation, controversy, or assessment relating to Taxes; (E) enter into any Tax allocation, Tax sharing, Tax indemnity, private letter ruling closing agreement, or other binding written agreement relating to Taxes, other than commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not Taxes; (F) surrender or forfeit any right to claim a Tax refund, (G) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment relating to Taxes or relating to any Tax attribute that would give rise to any claim or assessment of Taxes, (H) incur any material liability for Taxes other than in the ordinary course of business, (I) prepare any Tax Return in a manner materially inconsistent with past practice, or (J) grant any power of attorney relating to any Tax matter;
(xvii) enter into any transaction with or distribute or advance any material assets or property to any of its Affiliates, other than the payment of salary and benefits in the ordinary course;
(xviii) solely in the case of the Company Group, hire or engage any employee or consultant who will receive annual base compensation in excess of US$500,000 or waive any restrictive covenants with respect to any Company Group employee or service provider;
(xix) solely in the case of the Parent Parties, other than as required by Law or by the terms of a Plan (A) increase the compensation, bonus, pension, welfare, fringe or other benefits, severance or termination pay of any of any employee of a member of the Parent Parties, (B) accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits of any employee or service provider of Parent, (C) enter into, amend, terminate, amend the actuarial assumptions used in respect of, any Plan (or any plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a Plan if in effect on the date hereof) or grant, amend or terminate any awards thereunder, (D) make or forgive any loan to any present or former employee, director, officer, or contractor or other individual service provider of the Parent Parties, (E) enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union or labor organization, (F) adopt any severance or retention plan, (G) cause the funding of any rabbi trust or similar arrangement or take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Plan, (H) hire or engage any new employee or consultant; or (I) waive any restrictive covenants with respect to any Parent employee or service provider;
48
(xx) fail to duly observe and conform to any applicable Laws and Orders;
(xxi) solely in the case of the Company Group, (A) limit the right of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or in any geographic area, to develop, market or sell products or services, or to compete with any Person or (B) grant any exclusive or similar rights to any Person, in each case, except where such limitation or grant does not, and would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect, or materially disrupt, the ordinary course operation of the businesses of the Company Group, taken as a whole; or
(xxii) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.
(b) During the Interim Period, Titan shall take all actions necessary or required under applicable Law to maintain the exploration permits listed on Schedule 4.15.
(c) Neither party shall (i) take or agree to take any action that would be reasonably likely to cause any representation or warranty of such party to be inaccurate or misleading in any respect at, or as of any time prior to, the Closing Date or (ii) omit to take, or agree to omit to take, any action necessary to prevent any such representation or warranty from being inaccurate or misleading in any respect at any such time.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to give Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Company’s operations prior to the Closing Date, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Closing Date, each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
6.2 Exclusivity.
(a) During the Interim Period, no member of the Company Group, on the one hand, nor Parent, on the other hand, shall, and such Persons shall cause their respective Representatives not to, without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent may be withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the party asked to provide consent), directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, engage or participate in negotiations with any Person concerning any Alternative Transaction, (ii) take any other action intended or designed to facilitate the efforts of any Person relating to a possible Alternative Transaction, (iii) approve, recommend or enter into any Alternative Transaction or any contract or agreement related to any Alternative Transaction or (iv) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, shall, and shall cause each of their Representatives, to cease and terminate any discussion or negotiations that may be ongoing with any Persons other than the Company or Parent, as applicable, concerning any Alternative Transaction. Each of the Company and Parent shall be responsible for any acts or omissions of any of its respective Representatives that, if they were the acts or omissions of the Company or Parent, as applicable, would be deemed a breach of such party’s obligations hereunder (it being understood that such responsibility shall be in addition to and not by way of limitation of any right or remedy the Company or Parent, as applicable, may have against such Representatives with respect to any such acts or omissions). For purposes of this Agreement, except as disclosed on Schedule 6.2(a), the term “Alternative Transaction” means any of the following transactions involving the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries or Parent or Parent’s Subsidiaries (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements): (A) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other similar transaction, (B) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or a material portion of the assets of such Person (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business) or any shares or other equity interests of the Company, Parent, or its Subsidiaries in a single transaction or series of transactions, (C) with respect to Parent, any other business combination or (D) with respect to the Company Group, any public offering of any equity securities of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or a newly formed holding company of the Company or such Subsidiaries.
49
(b) In the event that there is a proposal for, or an indication of interest in entering into, an Alternative Transaction, communicated in writing to the Company or Parent or any of their respective Representatives (each, an “Alternative Proposal”), such party shall as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day after receipt thereof) advise the other parties to this Agreement, orally and in writing, of such Alternative Proposal and the material terms and conditions thereof (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the Person making any such Alternative Proposal. The Company and Parent shall keep each other informed on a reasonably current basis of material developments with respect to any such Alternative Proposal. As used herein with respect to Parent, the term “Alternative Proposal” shall not include the receipt by Parent of any unsolicited communications (including the receipt of draft non-disclosure agreements) in the ordinary course of business inquiring as to Parent’s interest in a potential target for a business combination; provided, however, that Parent shall inform the person initiating such communication of the existence of this Agreement.
6.3 Access to Information. During the Interim Period, the Company and Parent shall each, use its commercially reasonable efforts to, (a) continue to give the other party, its legal counsel and its other Representatives full access to the offices, properties and Books and Records, (b) furnish to the other party, its legal counsel and its other Representatives such information relating to the business of the Company or Parent as such Persons may request and (c) cause its employees, legal counsel, accountants and other Representatives to cooperate with the other party in its investigation of the Business (in the case of the Company) or the business of Parent (in the case of Parent); provided that no investigation pursuant to this Section 6.3 (or any investigation made prior to the date hereof) shall affect any representation or warranty given by the Company or Parent; and provided, further, that any investigation pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the Business of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied in this Agreement, neither party shall be required to provide the access described above or disclose any information to the other party if doing so is, in such party’s reasonable judgement, reasonably likely to (i) result in a waiver of attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or similar privilege or (ii) violate any contract to which it is a party or to which it is subject or any applicable Law.
6.4 Notices of Certain Events. During the Interim Period, each of Parent and the Company shall promptly notify the other party of:
(a) any notice from any Person alleging or raising the possibility that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement might give rise to any Action or other rights by or on behalf of such Person or result in the loss of any rights or privileges of the Company (or Parent, post-Closing) to any such Person or create any Lien on any of the Company’s or Parent’s assets;
(b) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
50
(c) any Actions commenced or threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting either party or any of their shareholders or their equity, assets or business or that relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
(d) any written notice from Nasdaq with respect to the listing of the securities of Parent;
(e) the occurrence of any fact or circumstance which constitutes or results, or would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(f) any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of such party contained in this Agreement at any time during the term hereof, or any failure of such party to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder, that would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE IX not to be satisfied.
6.5 Registration Statement/Proxy Statement; Other Filings.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall jointly prepare and file with the SEC, and with all other applicable regulatory bodies, mutually acceptable proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from holders of Parent Ordinary Shares sufficient to obtain the approval of the Parent Proposals at a meeting of holders of Parent Ordinary Shares to be called and held for such purpose (the “Parent Shareholder Meeting”). Such proxy materials shall be in the form of a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”), which shall be included in a Registration Statement on Form S-4, or other appropriate form, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by Parent with the SEC, which shall also include a prospectus (such prospectus, together with the Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) pursuant to which the securities of Parent issuable in the Domestication and Merger shall be registered. Parent shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Registration Statement. Parent also agrees to use its best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company Group and any of its respective members or shareholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Each of Parent and the Company agrees, as promptly as reasonably practicable, to furnish to the other party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, shareholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the signing of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to any regulatory authority (including Nasdaq) in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Offer Documents”).
51
(b) Parent (i) shall permit the Company and its counsel to review and comment on the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any exhibits, amendments or supplements thereto (or other related documents); (ii) shall consider any such comments reasonably and in good faith; and (iii) shall not file the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any exhibit, amendment or supplement thereto without giving reasonable and good faith consideration to the comments of the Company. As promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, Parent shall provide to the Company and its counsel notice and a copy of all correspondence (or, to the extent such correspondence is oral, a summary thereof), including any comments from the SEC or its staff, between Parent or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff or other government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and, in each case, shall consult with the Company and its counsel concerning any such correspondence. Parent shall not file any response letters to any comments from the SEC without consulting reasonably and in good faith with the Company. Parent will use its reasonable efforts to permit the Company’s counsel to participate in any calls, meetings or other communications with the SEC or its staff. Parent will advise the Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed with the SEC and the time when the Registration Statement is declared effective or any stop order relating to the Registration Statement is issued.
(c) As soon as practicable following the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, Parent shall distribute the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares and, pursuant thereto, shall call the Parent Shareholder Meeting in accordance with the Parent Articles, the applicable Nasdaq rules and the applicable Laws of the Cayman Islands and, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, solicit proxies from such holders to vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the transactions contemplated hereby and the other proposals presented to the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares for approval or adoption at the Parent Shareholder Meeting.
(d) Parent shall comply with all applicable provisions of and rules under the Securities Act and Exchange Act, the applicable Nasdaq rules and all applicable Laws of the Cayman Islands and the State of Delaware, in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), as applicable, the solicitation of proxies under the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the calling and holding of the Parent Shareholder Meeting. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall ensure that each of the Registration Statement, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as of the date on which it is first distributed to the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares, and as of the date of the Parent Shareholder Meeting, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, that Parent shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any information relating to the Company (or any other information) that is furnished by the Company expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus). The Company represents and warrants that the information relating to the Company supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as applicable, will not as of the effective date of the Registration Statement and the date on which the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first distributed to the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares or at the time of the Parent Shareholder Meeting does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, a change in the information relating to Parent or the Company or any other information furnished by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which would make the preceding two sentences incorrect, should be discovered by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, as applicable, such party shall promptly notify the other parties of such change or discovery and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares. In connection therewith, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall instruct their respective employees, counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives to reasonably cooperate with Parent as relevant if required to achieve the foregoing.
52
(e) In accordance with the Parent Articles and applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including the Cayman Companies Act and rules and regulations of Nasdaq, in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Parent shall seek from the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares the approval of the following resolutions: (i) the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) (the “Business Combination Proposal”); (ii) the adoption and approval of the Domestication (the “Domestication Proposal”); (iii) the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Parent Articles upon the Domestication, contemplated by the Parent Certificate of Incorporation and the Parent Bylaws in the forms attached as Exhibits A and B (respectively) to this Agreement (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Parent and the Company, including a change of Parent’s name to “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.”) (as may be subsequently amended by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company at any time before the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), including any separate or unbundled advisory proposals as are required to implement the foregoing (the “Governing Document Proposals”); (iv) the approval of the issuance of Parent Common Shares in connection with the Domestication and the Merger under applicable exchange listing rules (the “Issuance Proposal”); (v) the adoption and approval of the Parent Equity Incentive Plan (the “LTIP Proposal”); (vi) the approval of the appointment of Parent’s post-Closing Board of Directors (the “Board Proposal”); (vii) the approval of any and all other approvals necessary or advisable to effect the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, including to the extent required, an extension to the deadline set out in the Parent Articles for consummating a Business Combination (as defined therein), as reasonably determined by the Company and Parent; and (viii) approval to adjourn the Parent Shareholder Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing, or otherwise if additional time is needed to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (the “Adjournment Proposal”) (the proposals set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) through (viii) collectively, the “Parent Proposals”).
(f) Parent, with the assistance of the Company, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to “clear” comments from the SEC and the Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter. As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement is “cleared” by the SEC, Parent shall cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, together with all other Offer Documents, to be disseminated to holders of Parent Ordinary Shares. The Offer Documents shall provide the public shareholders of Parent with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Parent Ordinary Shares at a price per share equal to the pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account, all in accordance with and as required by the Parent Articles, the Trust Agreement, applicable Law and any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. In accordance with the Parent Articles, the proceeds held in the Trust Account will first be used for the redemption of the Parent Ordinary Shares held by Parent’s public shareholders who have validly elected to redeem such shares.
(g) Parent shall call and hold the Parent Shareholder Meeting as promptly as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement for the purpose of seeking the approval of each of the Parent Proposals in accordance with the Parent Articles, and Parent shall consult in good faith with the Company with respect to the date on which such meeting is to be held. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the approval and adoption of the Parent Proposals. Parent may adjourn or postpone the Parent Shareholder Meeting in accordance with the Parent Articles, including Article 23.9, to permit further solicitation of proxies, address quorum or notice issues, allow additional time for required filings or resolve redemption or other closing matters. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, including in respect of the duties of the directors of Parent in accordance with the Laws of the Cayman Islands, Parent’s Board of Directors shall recommend that the holders of Parent Ordinary Shares vote in favor of the Parent Proposals.
53
(h) The Company acknowledges that a substantial portion of the Proxy Statement/ Prospectus shall include disclosure regarding the Company and its management, operations and financial condition. Accordingly, the Company agrees to as promptly as reasonably practical provide Parent with such information as shall be reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in or attachment to the Proxy Statement/ Prospectus, and that such information is accurate in all material respects and complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company understands that such information shall be included in the Proxy Statement/ Prospectus or responses to comments from the SEC or its staff in connection therewith. In connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Parent and shall make their directors, officers and appropriate senior employees reasonably available to Parent and its counsel in connection with the drafting of such filings and mailings and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC.
(i) Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, including in respect of the duties of the directors of Parent in accordance with the Laws of the Cayman Islands, Parent covenants that none of Parent, Parent’s Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall withdraw or modify, or propose publicly or by formal action of Parent, Parent’s Board of Directors or any committee thereof to withdraw or modify, in any manner adverse to the Company, the Parent Board Recommendation.
(j) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements, Parent may make any public filing with respect to the Merger to the extent required by applicable Law, provided that prior to making any filing that includes information regarding the Company or Titan, Parent shall provide a copy of the filing to the Company and permit the Company to make revisions to protect confidential or proprietary information of the Company or Titan.
6.6 Trust Account; Proceeds.
(a) Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE IX and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice Parent shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (a) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Parent (i) shall cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (ii) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to immediately prior to the Domestication, pay as and when due all amounts payable to Parent Ordinary Shares held by the public shareholders (the “Parent Redemption Amount”).
(b) At the Closing, (i) the funds in the Trust Account, after taking into account payments for the Parent Redemption Amount, and (ii) any proceeds from the PIPE Financing shall first be used to pay in the following order: (1) Parent Transaction Expenses and Company Transaction Expenses in accordance with Section 11.5; and (2) following the payment of all expenses pursuant to clause (1), to Parent or the Surviving Company for immediate use, subject to this Agreement.
6.7 Obligations of Merger Sub. Parent shall take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
6.8 Joinders to Parent Support Agreement. In the event any director or officer of Parent or any Affiliate of the Sponsor acquires beneficial ownership of any securities of Parent prior to the Closing, Parent shall cause such Person(s) to execute a joinder to the Parent Support Agreement.
6.9 PIPE Financing. Parent shall not, without the Company’s prior written consent, amend, modify, supplement or waive any material provision of any PIPE Subscription Agreement or the PIPE Financing or enter into any other documents or agreements in connection therewith other than the PIPE Subscription Agreements as in effect on the date hereof.
54
6.10 Extension of Time to Consummate a Business Combination. If the Closing has not occurred by December 30, 2026, Parent shall, with the Company’s reasonable cooperation, take such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Parent Articles to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination up to the maximum amount of time permitted under applicable Nasdaq rules (the “Extension Period”), including providing any required notices to the Trustee. Parent shall cause to be deposited into the Trust Account such funds as are required pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Parent Articles to extend the period of time for Parent to complete an initial business combination through the Extension Period, or Parent may enter into non-redemption agreements with certain investors, pursuant to which, among other things, such investors will commit to hold or acquire, as applicable, and not to redeem their Parent Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with any such Extension Period.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
7.1 Reporting; Compliance with Laws; No Insider Trading. During the Interim Period,
(a) Each member of the Company Group shall duly observe and conform in all material respects to all applicable Law, including the Exchange Act, and Orders.
(b) The Company shall not, and it shall direct its Representatives to not, directly or indirectly, (i) purchase or sell (including entering into any hedge transaction with respect to) any Parent Common Shares, Parent Units or Parent Warrants, except in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, including Regulation M under the Exchange Act; (ii) use or disclose or permit any other Person to use or disclose any information that Parent or its Affiliates has made or makes available to the Company and its Representatives in violation of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other applicable securities Law; or (iii) disclose to any third party any non-public information about the Company, Parent, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or by any Ancillary Agreement.
7.2 Company’s Shareholder Approval.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and in any event within five Business Days following such date (the “Company Shareholder Written Consent Deadline”), the Company shall obtain and deliver to Parent a true and correct copy of a unanimous written shareholder resolution (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent) evidencing the Company Shareholder Approval that is duly executed by all Company Shareholders (the “Company Shareholder Written Consent”).
(b) The Company’s Board of Directors shall recommend that the Company Shareholders vote in favor of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is or will be a party, the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and other related matters, and neither the Company’s Board of Directors, nor any committee thereof, shall withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, amend, modify or change, in each case in a manner adverse to Parent, the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors.
55
7.3 Additional Financial Information. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide Parent with (a) the audited financial statements of the Company for the period from inception through a date to be mutually agreed by the parties hereto and (b) the audited financial statements of Titan and its Subsidiaries for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, each consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheets as of such dates, the audited consolidated income statements for the twelve month period ended on such date, and the audited consolidated cash flow statements for the twelve month period ended on such date, together with the auditors report thereon (together, the “Year-End Financials”) within ninety (90) days following the date of this Agreement; it being understood and agreed that the Company shall provide to Parent substantially completed drafts of the Year-End Financials no later than seventy-five (75) days following the date of this Agreement. Subsequent to the delivery of the Year-End Financials, Titan’s consolidated interim financial information for each quarterly period thereafter shall be delivered to Parent no later than 40 calendar days following the end of each quarterly period (the “Required Financial Statements”). All of the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall be prepared under U.S. GAAP in accordance with requirements of the PCAOB for public companies. The Required Financial Statements shall be accompanied by a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company to the effect that all such financial statements fairly present the financial position and results of operations of the Company as of the date or for the periods indicated, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except as otherwise indicated in such statements and subject to year-end audit adjustments. The Company will promptly provide Parent with additional Company financial information reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any other filings to be made by Parent with the SEC.
7.4 Mining Technical Report.
(a) Concurrently or as soon as practical following the date of this Agreement, Parent shall engage the Mining Consultant to prepare a technical report with respect to the Company’s material mining properties to be completed in accordance with the requirements of Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (“SK-1300”), including all required disclosures and form requirements thereunder (the “Mining Technical Report”).
(b) The Company shall promptly make available to the Mining Consultant, for the purpose of preparing the Mining Technical Report, all information requested, and no such information shall contain any material misrepresentation as at the relevant time the relevant information was made available. The Company shall ensure that the Mining Technical Report shall accurately and completely set forth all material facts relating to the mining properties as at the date of such report and shall immediately inform the Mining Consultant and Parent of any change that would disaffirm or change any aspect of the Mining Technical Report. The Company shall fully cooperate with the Mining Consultant and Parent to ensure that the Mining Technical Report and the Qualified Person’s certifications satisfy all applicable requirements of SK-1300 and are suitable for inclusion in any filings required to be made by Parent with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) The Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, shall each be responsible for and pay 50% of any and all fees, costs and expenses in connection with the preparation of the Mining Technical Report (the “Mining Technical Report Expenses”).
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS OF ALL PARTIES HERETO
8.1 Reasonable Best Efforts; Further Assurances.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall, and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable under applicable Laws, or as reasonably requested by the other parties, to consummate and implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain all necessary actions, nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals and other authorizations from all applicable Governmental Authorities or other third parties prior to the Effective Time; (ii) avoid an Action by any Governmental Authority, and (iii) execute and deliver any additional instruments reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The parties shall execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary in order to consummate or implement expeditiously each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
56
(b) Subject to applicable Law, each of the Company and Parent agrees to (i) reasonably cooperate and consult with the other regarding obtaining and making all notifications and filings with Governmental Authorities, (ii) furnish to the other such information and assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any notifications or filings, (iii) keep the other reasonably apprised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices and other communications received by such party from, or given by such party to, any third party or any Governmental Authority with respect to such transactions, (iv) permit the other party to review and incorporate the other party’s reasonable comments in any communication to be given by it to any Governmental Authority with respect to any filings required to be made with, or action or nonactions, waivers, expirations or terminations of waiting periods, clearances, consents or orders required to be obtained from, such Governmental Authority in connection with execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (v) to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other in advance of and not participate in any meeting or discussion relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, either in person or by telephone, with any Governmental Authority in connection with the proposed transactions unless it gives the other party the opportunity to attend and observe; provided, however, that, in each of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, that materials may be redacted (A) to remove references concerning the valuation of such party and its Affiliates, (B) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements or applicable Laws, and (C) as necessary to address reasonable attorney-client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns.
(c) During the Interim Period, Parent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall each notify the other in writing promptly after learning of any shareholder demands or other shareholder Action (including derivative claims) relating to this Agreement, any of the Ancillary Agreements or any matters relating thereto commenced or threatened in writing against Parent, any of the Parent Parties or any of its or their respective Representatives in their capacity as a representative of a Parent Party or against the Company (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”). Parent shall control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation brought against Parent, Merger Sub or members of the boards of directors of Parent or Merger Sub and the Company shall control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation brought against the Company or the members of its board of directors; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or Parent settle, compromise or come to any arrangement with respect to any Transaction Litigation, or agree to do the same, without the prior written consent of the other party (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, that it shall be deemed to be reasonable for Parent (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) to withhold, condition or delay its consent if any such settlement or compromise (A) does not provide for a legally binding, full, unconditional and irrevocable release of each Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company (if the Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) and its respective Representative that is the subject of such Transaction Litigation, (B) provides for any non-monetary, injunctive, equitable or similar relief against any Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or (C) contains an admission of wrongdoing or liability by a Parent Party (if the Company is controlling the Transaction Litigation) or the Company (if Parent is controlling the Transaction Litigation) and its respective Representative that is the subject of such Transaction Litigation. Parent and the Company shall each (i) keep the other reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation, (ii) give the other the opportunity to, at its own cost and expense, participate in the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation and reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation, (iii) consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to any such Transaction Litigation and (iv) reasonably cooperate with each other.
57
8.2 Compliance with SPAC Agreements. Parent shall (a) comply with the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement, and (b) enforce the terms of the letter agreement, dated as of April 28, 2025, by and among Parent, the Sponsor and each of the officers and directors of Parent named therein, in each case, as has been or may be amended from time to time.
8.3 [Reserved].
8.4 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Liability Insurance.
(a) All rights to indemnification for acts or omissions occurring through the Closing Date now existing in favor of the current directors and officers of the Company or the Parent Parties and Persons who served as a director, officer, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise at the request of the Company or the Parent Parties, as provided in their respective organizational documents or in any indemnification agreements shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the organizational documents of Parent, its Subsidiaries, and the Surviving Company to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement in the organizational documents of, with respect to Parent, Parent, and with respect to the Surviving Company, the Company, as applicable, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.
(b) Prior to the Closing, Parent and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in order to obtain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for Parent and the Company that shall be effective as of Closing and will cover (i) those Persons who were directors and officers of the Company prior to the Closing and (ii) those Persons who will be the directors and officers of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Company after the Effective Time) at and after the Closing on terms not less favorable than the better of (x) the terms of the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in place for the Company’s directors and officers and (y) the terms of a typical directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for a company whose equity is listed on Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable, which policy has a scope and amount of coverage that is reasonably appropriate for a company of similar characteristics (including the line of business and revenues) as the Company.
(c) The provisions of this Section 8.4 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Person who will have been a director or officer of the Company or Parent for all periods ending on or before the Closing Date and may not be changed with respect to any officer or director without his or her written consent.
(d) Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall obtain and fully pay the premium for a six year prepaid “tail” policy for the extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of Parent’s existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, for claims reporting or discovery period of six years from and after the Effective Time, on terms and conditions providing coverage retentions, limits and other material terms (other than premiums payable) substantially equivalent to the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by Parent with respect to matters arising on or before the Effective Time, covering without limitation the transactions contemplated hereby.
58
8.5 Parent Public Filings; Nasdaq. During the Interim Period, Parent will keep current and timely file all of its public filings with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities Laws, and shall use its reasonable best efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of the Parent Ordinary Shares, the Parent Units and the Parent Warrants on Nasdaq. During the Interim Period, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause (a) Parent’s initial listing application with Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, to be agreed mutually by Parent and the Company, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been approved; (b) all applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable, to be satisfied; and (c) the Parent Common Shares, including the shares comprising the Aggregate Merger Consideration, and the Parent Warrants to be approved for listing on Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable, subject to official notice of issuance, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement and in any event prior to the Effective Time.
8.6 Certain Tax Matters.
(a) Each of Parent, the Company and Merger Sub shall (and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to) cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by another party hereto or ROPA, in connection with the filing of any relevant Tax Returns, and any audit or Tax proceeding. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant to any tax proceeding or audit, making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.
(b) Any Transfer Taxes payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be borne by the party legally responsible for such Transfer Taxes and, except as otherwise required by Law, such party shall duly and timely prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, any Tax Return relating to such Taxes.
(c) Each of Parent, the Company, and Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates shall file all Tax Returns consistent with the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment and the Merger Intended Tax Treatment (including attaching the statement described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-3(a) on or with its Tax Return for the taxable year of the Merger), and shall take no position inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise), in each case, unless otherwise required by a Taxing Authority as a result of a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any similar or corresponding provision of applicable Law).
(d) In the event the SEC requests or requires a tax opinion regarding whether the Domestication satisfies the Domestication Intended Tax Treatment, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Loeb & Loeb LLP (or other tax counsel to Parent) to furnish such opinion, and if such opinion request or requirement by the SEC is with respect to whether the Merger satisfies the Merger Intended Tax Treatment, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (or other tax counsel to the Company) to furnish such opinion. Each party shall use reasonable best efforts to execute and deliver customary tax representation letters to the applicable tax advisor in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such advisor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Loeb shall not be required to provide any opinion to any party regarding the Merger Intended Tax Treatment or the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the Company or its shareholders.
59
8.7 Parent Equity Incentive Plan.
(a) Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, Parent shall adopt a new equity incentive plan in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, with such changes or modifications thereto as the Company and Parent may mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (the “Parent Equity Incentive Plan”). The Parent Equity Incentive Plan shall initially have 6,000,000 Parent Common Shares available for issuance thereunder (as adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, subdivision, reverse share split, consolidation, share dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Parent Common Shares occurring prior to the date such shares are issued) (the “Initial Parent Equity Incentive Plan Authorized Shares”), and shall include an “evergreen” provision that is mutually agreeable to the Company and Parent that will provide for an automatic increase on the first day of each fiscal year in the number of shares available for issuance under the Parent Equity Incentive Plan as mutually determined by the Company and Parent.
(b) Parent and the Company agree that, out of the Initial Parent Equity Incentive Plan Authorized Shares, an initial allocation of 1,000,000 Parent Common Shares (as adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, subdivision, reverse share split, consolidation, share dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Parent Common Shares occurring prior to the date such shares are issued) shall be awarded and issued under the Parent Equity Incentive Plan simultaneously with the Advisor Shares at the Closing, to one or more Persons to be designated by ROPA, the vesting of which shall be subject to the share price metrics set forth on Schedule 8.9.
8.8 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Parent shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of Company Ordinary Shares or acquisitions of Parent Common Shares (including, in each case, securities deliverable upon exercise, vesting or settlement of any derivative securities) resulting from the transactions contemplated hereby by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent necessary for such issuance to be an exempt acquisition pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
8.9 Advisor Agreement and Shares.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Sponsor and Parent will mutually agree on the form of the Sponsor Advisor Agreement to be entered into at Closing, pursuant to which the Sponsor will act as an advisor to Parent and its board of directors following the Closing.
(b) At the Closing, Parent shall issue to the Sponsor 4,000,000 Parent Common Shares (as adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, subdivision, reverse share split, consolidation, share dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Parent Common Shares occurring prior to the date such shares are issued), the vesting of which shall be subject to the fulfillment of the share price metrics set forth on Schedule 8.9 (the “Advisor Shares”).
8.10 Post-Closing Company Group Restructuring. Following the Closing, Parent and the Company shall undertake a restructuring as follows (the “Post-Closing Restructuring”):
(a) Formation of New Titan. No earlier than two (2) days after the Closing Date, Parent shall cause the formation of a new wholly-owned Subsidiary organized under the laws of Norway (“New Titan”).
60
(b) Contribution of the Company’s Equity Interests. Immediately upon the formation of New Titan, Parent shall contribute to New Titan one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests of the Company, such that New Titan shall become the direct owner of all issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company.
(c) Tax Classification Election. Immediately following the contribution described in Section 8.10(b), New Titan shall file an entity classification election using IRS Form 8832 to treat the Company as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, effective no more than two (2) days after the contribution described in Section 8.10(b).
(d) Liquidation of the Company. No earlier than one (1) day and no later than sixty (60) days after the effective date of the election described in Section 8.10(c), New Titan shall cause the voluntary liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act, such that New Titan shall become the direct owner of all issued and outstanding equity interests of Titan.
ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
9.1 Condition to the Obligations of the Parties. The obligations of all of the parties to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by all of such parties of all the following conditions:
(a) No provisions of any applicable Law and no Order shall be in effect restraining, prohibiting or imposing any condition on the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
(b) Each consent, approval or authorization of any Governmental Authority required of Parent, its Subsidiaries, or the Company to consummate the Merger set forth on Schedule 9.1(b) shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.
(c) No Governmental Authority shall have issued an Order or enacted a Law, having the effect of prohibiting the Merger or making the Merger illegal, which Order or Law is final and non-appealable.
(d) The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(e) Each of the Parent Proposals shall have been approved at the Parent Shareholder Meeting.
(f) Parent’s initial listing application with Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been conditionally approved and, immediately following the Effective Time, Parent shall satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable, and Parent shall not have received any notice of non-compliance therewith, and the shares comprising the Aggregate Merger Consideration and any shares issued in connection with the PIPE Financing, as applicable, shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq or an Alternate Exchange, as applicable.
(g) The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the SEC that remains in effect and no proceeding seeking such a stop order shall have been initiated by the SEC and not withdrawn.
61
(h) The PIPE Financing shall have been consummated as of immediately prior to the Closing in accordance with the PIPE Subscription Agreements.
9.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver in Parent’s sole and absolute discretion, of all the following further conditions:
(a) The Company shall have duly performed or complied with, in all material respects, all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed or complied with (without giving effect to any materiality or similar qualifiers contained therein) by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (disregarding all qualifications contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), other than the Company Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such earlier date) except, in each case, for any failure of such representations and warranties (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) to be so true and correct that would not in the aggregate have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company.
(c) The Company Fundamental Representations (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date), other than de minimis inaccuracies.
(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company that is continuing.
(e) The aggregate Indebtedness of the Company Group at the Closing, including all accrued interest, fees and other amounts included in the definition of Indebtedness, shall not exceed $500,000.
(f) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company certifying the accuracy of the provisions of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 9.2.
(g) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by a director of the Company attaching true, correct and complete copies of (i) the Company’s memorandum and articles of association, stamped by the Cayman Registrar; (ii) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which the Company is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the Company Shareholder Written Consent; and (iii) a certificate of good standing or available equivalent of the Company, issued as of a recent date by the Cayman Registrar.
(h) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a resignation from the Company of each non-continuing director of the Company as designated by the Company in writing prior to the Closing, effective as of the Closing Date.
62
(i) Parent shall have received information satisfactory to Parent, in its sole discretion, that (i) the Billingen exploration permits are valid and in good standing, (ii) potential required applications for extensions of permits have been filed and that the Company and/or its Subsidiaries qualify for being granted such extensions, including by having undertaken sufficient exploration work or having plans to undertake such work prior to the permit expiration dates, (iii) no Swedish Authority consent is required for the Merger or the Post-Closing Restructuring, and (iv) the Post-Closing Restructuring can be completed under Norwegian law.
9.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or the waiver in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, of all of the following further conditions:
(a) Parent and Merger Sub shall each have duly performed or complied with, in all material respects, all of its respective obligations hereunder required to be performed or complied with (without giving effect to any materiality or similar qualifiers contained therein) by Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, at or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (disregarding all qualifications contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), other than the Parent Fundamental Representations, shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such earlier date), except, in each case, for any failure of such representations and warranties (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) to be so true and correct that would not in the aggregate have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Parent or Merger Sub.
(c) The Parent Fundamental Representations (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect) shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct at and as of such specific date), other than de minimis inaccuracies.
(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Parent that is continuing.
(e) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent certifying the accuracy of the provisions of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 9.3.
(f) The Company shall have received written evidence from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware that the Certificate of Domestication and the Parent Certificate of Incorporation have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(g) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by a director of Parent attaching true, correct and complete copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Parent authorizing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which Parent is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the Parent Proposals.
63
(h) The Company shall have received a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by a director of Merger Sub attaching true, correct and complete copies of (i) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors and sole shareholder of Merger Sub authorizing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which Merger Sub is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) a certificate of good standing or available equivalent of Merger Sub, issued as of a recent date by the Cayman Registrar.
(i) Each of Parent, the Sponsor Parties and the other shareholders of Parent, as applicable, shall have executed and delivered to the Company a copy of each Ancillary Agreement to which Parent, the Sponsor or such other shareholder of Parent, as applicable, is a party.
(j) Each of the Persons listed on Schedule 9.3(j) shall have executed and delivered to the Company a duly executed counterpart of the Lock-Up Agreement.
(k) Each of the Parent, the Sponsor and the Holders (as defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) immediately prior to the Closing Date shall have executed and delivered to the Company a duly executed counterpart of the Registration Rights Agreement, which Registration Rights Agreement shall provide registration rights thereunder to certain Sponsor Parties, ROPA and certain ROPA designees designated by ROPA to Parent in writing on or prior to the Closing Date.
(l) The size and composition of Parent’s post-Closing Board of Directors shall have been appointed as set forth in Section 2.9.
(m) The amount of Parent Closing Cash at the Closing shall equal or exceed $10,000,000.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination Without Default.
(a) In the event that (i) the Closing of the transactions contemplated hereunder has not occurred on or before June 1, 2027, provided that such date shall be automatically extended for an additional three months if the SEC has provided more than one round of comments with respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (such date as it may be extended, the “Outside Closing Date”); and (ii) the material breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement by the party (i.e., Parent or Merger Sub, on one hand, or the Company, on the other hand) seeking to terminate this Agreement was not the cause of, or did not result in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Closing Date, then Parent or the Company, as applicable, shall have the right, at its sole option, to terminate this Agreement without liability to the other party. Such right may be exercised by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, giving written notice to the other at any time after the Outside Closing Date.
(b) In the event a Governmental Authority shall have issued an Order or enacted a Law, having the effect of prohibiting the Merger or making the Merger illegal, which Order or Law is final and non-appealable, Parent or the Company shall have the right, at its sole option, to terminate this Agreement without liability to the other party; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall not be available to the Company or Parent if the failure by such party or its Affiliates to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority.
64
(c) This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent duly authorized by each of their respective boards of directors.
(d) This Agreement may be terminated at any time by Parent if the Mining Technical Report prepared in accordance with Section 7.4 has not been delivered to Parent within seventy-five (75) days following the date of this Agreement.
10.2 Termination Upon Default.
(a) Parent may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Company, without prejudice to any rights or obligations Parent or Merger Sub may have: (i) at any time prior to the Closing if the Company shall have breached any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant contained herein to be performed on or prior to the Closing, which has rendered or would reasonably be expected to render the satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.2(a) or 9.2(b) impossible (a “Terminating Company Breach”); except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days after receipt by the Company of notice from Parent of such breach, but only as long as the Company continues to use its reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Company Breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period; or (ii) at any time after the Company Shareholder Written Consent Deadline if the Company has not delivered the Company Shareholder Approval to Parent (provided, that upon the Company delivering the Company Shareholder Approval to Parent, Parent shall no longer have any right to terminate this Agreement under this clause (ii)).
(b) The Company may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Parent, without prejudice to any rights or obligations the Company may have, if at any time prior to the Closing, Parent shall have breached any of its covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties contained herein to be performed on or prior to the Closing, which has rendered or reasonably would render the satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.3(a) or 9.3(b) impossible (a “Terminating Parent Breach”); except that, if such Terminating Parent Breach is curable by Parent through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to 30 days after receipt by Parent of notice from the Company of such breach, but only as long as Parent continues to use its reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Parent Breach (the “Parent Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Parent Breach is not cured within the Parent Cure Period.
10.3 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this ARTICLE X, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force or effect without liability of any party (or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, Affiliate, agent, consultant or representative of such party) to the other parties hereto; provided that, if such termination shall result from the willful and material breach by a party of its covenants and agreements hereunder or common law fraud or willful and material breach in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such party shall not be relieved of liability to the other parties for any such willful and material breach or common law fraud occurring prior to such termination. The provisions of Section 8.3, this Section 10.3 and ARTICLE XI shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to this ARTICLE X.
65
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand, electronic mail, or nationally recognized overnight courier service, by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and if delivered after 5:00 PM Eastern Time, on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by email, on the date of transmission with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (c) three Business Days after mailing by prepaid certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows, or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
if to the Company:
Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd
c/o Ascentium (Cayman) Limited
4th Floor, Harbour Place
103 South Church Street
P.O. Box 10240
Grand Cayman KY1-1002, George Town, Cayman Islands
Attention: Rohan Patnaik
E-mail: ******
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Mitchell Raab; Honghui Yu
E-mail: ******
if to the Surviving Company or Parent (following the Closing):
Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.
c/o Ascentium (Cayman) Limited
4th Floor, Harbour Place
103 South Church Street
P.O. Box 10240
Grand Cayman KY1-1002, George Town, Cayman Islands
if to Parent or Merger Sub (prior to the Closing):
Digital Asset Acquisition Corp.
174 Nassau Street, Suite 2100
Princeton, NJ 08542
United States
Attention: Peter Ort, Principal Executive Officer; Jeff Tuder, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: ******
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Mitchell S. Nussbaum
E-mail: ******
66
11.2 Amendments; No Waivers; Remedies.
(a) This Agreement cannot be amended, except by a writing signed by each party, and cannot be terminated orally or by course of conduct. No provision hereof can be waived, except by a writing signed by the party against whom such waiver is to be enforced, and any such waiver shall apply only in the particular instance in which such waiver shall have been given.
(b) Neither any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or in requiring satisfaction of any condition herein nor any course of dealing shall constitute a waiver of or prevent any party from enforcing any right or remedy or from requiring satisfaction of any condition. No notice to or demand on a party waives or otherwise affects any obligation of that party or impairs any right of the party giving such notice or making such demand, including any right to take any action without notice or demand not otherwise required by this Agreement. No exercise of any right or remedy with respect to a breach of this Agreement shall preclude exercise of any other right or remedy, as appropriate to make the aggrieved party whole with respect to such breach, or subsequent exercise of any right or remedy with respect to any other breach.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no statement herein of any right or remedy shall impair any other right or remedy stated herein or that otherwise may be available.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no party shall seek, nor shall any party be liable for, punitive or exemplary damages under any tort, contract, equity or other legal theory with respect to any breach (or alleged breach) of this Agreement or any provision hereof or any matter otherwise relating hereto or arising in connection herewith.
11.3 Arm’s Length Bargaining; No Presumption Against Drafter. This Agreement has been negotiated at arm’s-length by parties of equal bargaining strength, each represented by counsel or having had but declined the opportunity to be represented by counsel and having participated in the drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement creates no fiduciary or other special relationship between the parties, and no such relationship otherwise exists. No presumption in favor of or against any party in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be made based upon which Person might have drafted this Agreement or such provision.
11.4 Publicity. Except as required by Law or applicable stock exchange rules and except with respect to the Additional Parent SEC Documents, the parties agree that neither they nor their Representatives shall issue any press release or make any other public disclosure prior to the Closing concerning the transactions contemplated hereunder without the prior approval of the other party hereto, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by any party. If a party is required to make such a disclosure as required by Law or applicable stock exchange rules, the party making such determination will, if practicable in the circumstances, use reasonable commercial efforts to allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such disclosure in advance of its issuance.
11.5 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses; provided, at and after the Closing, Parent shall pay all unpaid Company Transaction Expenses and Parent Transaction Expenses.
11.6 No Assignment or Delegation. No party may assign any right or delegate any obligation hereunder, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise, without the written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment or delegation without such consent shall be void.
67
11.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including the applicable statute of limitations, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York, except that the Domestication, the internal affairs of Parent prior to the Domestication and any provisions of this Agreement that are expressly or otherwise required to be governed by the Cayman Companies Act, shall be governed by the Laws of the Cayman Islands (without giving effect to choice of law principles thereof) in respect of which the parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands.
11.8 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which shall constitute one agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.
11.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Ancillary Agreements, sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related thereto (whether written or oral), all of which are merged herein. No provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement may be explained or qualified by any agreement, negotiations, understanding, discussion, conduct or course of conduct or by any trade usage. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, there is no condition precedent to the effectiveness of any provision hereof or thereof.
11.10 Severability. A determination by a court or other legal authority that any provision that is not of the essence of this Agreement is legally invalid shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. The parties shall cooperate in good faith to substitute (or cause such court or other legal authority to substitute) for any provision so held to be invalid a valid provision, as alike in substance to such invalid provision as is lawful.
11.11 Further Assurances. Each party shall execute and deliver such documents and take such action, as may reasonably be considered within the scope of such party’s obligations hereunder, necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
11.12 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 8.4, Section 11.19 and Section 11.20, and as expressly set forth with respect to ROPA in Section 3.4(a), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof confers any benefit or right upon or may be enforced by any Person not a signatory hereto.
11.13 Waiver. The Company has read the Prospectus and understands that Parent has established the Trust Account for the benefit of the public shareholders of Parent and the underwriters of the IPO pursuant to the Trust Agreement and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, Parent may disburse monies from the Trust Account only for the purposes set forth in the Trust Agreement. For and in consideration of Parent agreeing to enter into this Agreement, the Company, for itself and on behalf of the Company Shareholders, hereby agrees that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter prior to the Closing have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with Parent and hereby agrees that it will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason.
68
11.14 No Other Representations; No Reliance.
(a) NONE OF THE COMPANY, ANY COMPANY SHAREHOLDER NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER RELATING TO THE COMPANY OR THE BUSINESS OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLE IV, IN EACH CASE, AS MODIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES TO THIS AGREEMENT. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Company, any Company Shareholder nor any of their respective Representatives has made, and shall not be deemed to have made, any representations or warranties in the materials relating to the Company made available to Parent and its Representatives, including due diligence materials, or in any presentation of the business of the Company by management of the Company or others in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and no statement contained in any of such materials or made in any such presentation shall be deemed a representation or warranty hereunder or otherwise or deemed to be relied upon by Parent or Merger Sub in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in ARTICLE IV as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement. It is understood that any cost estimates, projections or other predictions, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or offering materials or presentations, including any offering memorandum or similar materials made available by the Company, any Company Shareholder or their respective Representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties of the Company or any Company Shareholder, and are not and shall not be deemed to be relied upon by Parent or Merger Sub in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in ARTICLE IV, in each case, as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in ARTICLE IV, in each case as modified by the Schedules: (a) Parent acknowledges and agrees that: (i) neither the Company, the Company Shareholders nor any of their respective Representatives is making or has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, in respect of the Company, the business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company, the nature or extent of any liabilities of the Company, the effectiveness or the success of any operations of the Company or the accuracy or completeness of any confidential information memoranda, projections, forecasts or estimates of earnings, or other information (financial or otherwise) regarding the Company furnished to Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives or made available to Parent and its Representatives in any “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby, or in respect of any other matter or thing whatsoever; and (ii) no Representative of any Company Shareholder or the Company has any authority, express or implied, to make any representations, warranties or agreements not specifically set forth in ARTICLE IV and subject to the limited remedies herein provided; (b) each of Parent and Merger Sub specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations or warranties that may have been made by any Person, and acknowledges and agrees that the Company Shareholders and the Company have specifically disclaimed and do hereby specifically disclaim any such other representation or warranty made by any Person; and (c) none of the Company, the Company Shareholders nor any other Person shall have any liability to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person with respect to any such other representations or warranties, including projections, forecasts, estimates, plans or budgets of future revenue, expenses or expenditures, future results of operations, future cash flows or the future financial condition of the Company or the future business, operations or affairs of the Company.
69
(b) NONE OF PARENT, MERGER SUB NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER RELATING TO PARENT, MERGER SUB OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ARTICLE V, IN EACH CASE, AS MODIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PARENT SEC DOCUMENTS. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither Parent, Merger Sub nor any of their respective Representatives has made, and shall not be deemed to have made, any representations or warranties in the materials relating to Parent and Merger Sub made available to the Company and the Company Shareholders and their Representatives, including due diligence materials, or in any presentation of the business of Parent by management of Parent or others in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and no statement contained in any of such materials or made in any such presentation shall be deemed a representation or warranty hereunder or otherwise or deemed to be relied upon by the Company and the Company Shareholders in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in ARTICLE V as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement and the Parent SEC Documents. It is understood that any cost estimates, projections or other predictions, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or offering materials or presentations, including any offering memorandum or similar materials made available by Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties of Parent and Merger Sub, and are not and shall not be deemed to be relied upon by the Company or Company Shareholders in executing, delivering and performing this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case except for the representations and warranties set forth in ARTICLE V, in each case, as modified by the Schedules to this Agreement and the Parent SEC Documents. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by Parent and Merger Sub in ARTICLE V, in each case as modified by the Schedules and the Parent SEC Documents: (a) the Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) neither Parent, Merger Sub nor any of their respective Representatives is making or has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, in respect of Parent, Merger Sub, the business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of Parent or Merger Sub, the nature or extent of any liabilities of Parent or Merger Sub, the effectiveness or the success of any operations of Parent or Merger Sub or the accuracy or completeness of any confidential information memoranda, projections, forecasts or estimates of earnings, or other information (financial or otherwise) regarding Parent or Merger Sub furnished to the Company, the Company Shareholders or their respective Representatives or made available to the Company, the Company Shareholders and their Representatives in any “data rooms,” “virtual data rooms,” management presentations or any other form in expectation of, or in connection with, the transactions contemplated hereby, or in respect of any other matter or thing whatsoever; and (ii) no Representative of Parent or Merger Sub has any authority, express or implied, to make any representations, warranties or agreements not specifically set forth in ARTICLE V and subject to the limited remedies herein provided; (b) the Company specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any such other representations or warranties that may have been made by any Person, and acknowledges and agrees that Parent and Merger Sub have specifically disclaimed and do hereby specifically disclaim any such other representation or warranty made by any Person; and (c) none of Parent, Merger Sub nor any other Person shall have any liability to the Company, the Company Shareholders or any other Person with respect to any such other representations or warranties, including projections, forecasts, estimates, plans or budgets of future revenue, expenses or expenditures, future results of operations, future cash flows or the future financial condition of Parent or the future business, operations or affairs of Parent.
70
11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES EACH HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY PROCEEDING (I) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR UNDER ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR (II) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO OR ANY FINANCING IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.15.
11.16 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of a federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, if such federal court does not have jurisdiction over any such Actions, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division, sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York (and any appellate court therefrom), for the purposes of any Action (a) arising under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Agreement or (b) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties in respect of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such Action in any such court, and further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such Action has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action (i) arising under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Agreement or (ii) in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties in respect of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (A) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts as described in this Section 11.16 for any reason, (B) that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any Action commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (C) that (x) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (y) the venue of such Action is improper or (z) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. Each party agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section 11.1 shall be effective service of process for any such Action.
11.17 Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of any legal action initiated by any party prior to the Closing arising under or out of, in connection with or in respect of, this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in such action, as determined and fixed by the court.
71
11.18 Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any and all remedies provided herein will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that the parties do not perform their respective obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise breach such provisions. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in each case, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages and this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief when expressly available pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity.
11.19 Non-Recourse. This Agreement may be enforced only against, and any dispute, claim or controversy based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought only against, the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth in this Agreement with respect to such party. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, ROPA and Rohan Patnaik), agent, attorney, advisor, lender or representative or Affiliate of any named party to this Agreement (which Persons are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 11.19) shall have any liability (whether in contract or tort, at law or in equity or otherwise, or based upon any theory that seeks to impose liability of an entity party against its owners or Affiliates) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of such named party or for any dispute, claim or controversy based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
11.20 Conflicts and Privilege.
(a) Parent and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Company), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (i) the Sponsor, the shareholders or holders of other equity interests of Parent or the Sponsor and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Surviving Company) (collectively, the “DAAQ Group”), on the one hand, and (ii) the Surviving Company and/or any member of the Company Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Loeb & Loeb LLP (“Loeb”), that represented Parent and/or the Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent the Sponsor and/or any other member of the DAAQ Group, in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Surviving Company, and even though such counsel may have represented Parent in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Surviving Company and/or the Sponsor. Parent and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Company), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Action arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among Parent, the Sponsor and/or any other member of the DAAQ Group, on the one hand, and Loeb, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Merger and belong to the DAAQ Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Surviving Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Company prior to the Closing with Parent or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Surviving Company.
72
(b) Parent and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Company), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (i) the shareholders or holders of other equity interests of the Company and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Surviving Company) (collectively, the “Titan Group”), on the one hand, and (ii) the Surviving Company and/or any member of the DAAQ Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (“Olshan”) that represented the Company prior to the Closing may represent any member of the Titan Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Surviving Company, and even though such counsel may have represented Parent and/or the Company in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Surviving Company, further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Action arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among the Company and/or any member of the Titan Group, on the one hand, and Olshan, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Merger and belong to the Titan Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Surviving Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by Parent prior to the Closing with the Company under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Surviving Company.
[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature pages to follow]
73
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Parent: | ||
| DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Peter Ort | |
| Name: | Peter Ort | |
| Title: | Principal Executive Officer and Co-Chairman | |
| Company: | ||
| TITAN STRATEGICS HOLDINGS LTD | ||
| By: | /s/ Adam Peter Clode | |
| Name: | Adam Peter Clode | |
| Title: | Sole Director | |
[Signature Page to Merger Agreement]
Exhibit 3.1
Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Parent
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
RENAISSANCE NUCLEAR, INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME OF THE CORPORATION
The name of the corporation is Renaissance Nuclear, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is [REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS]. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is [REGISTERED AGENT NAME].
ARTICLE III
BUSINESS PURPOSE
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 4.01 Authorized Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [555,000,000], of which [550,000,000] shares shall be designated as common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) and [5,000,000] shares shall be designated as preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.02 Common Stock. Except as otherwise required by law, as provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, and as otherwise provided in the resolution or resolutions, if any, adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) with respect to any series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share it holds. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall have equal rights of participation in the dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall have equal rights to receive the assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.
1
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:
(a) the designation of the series;
(b) the number of shares of the series;
(c) the dividend rate or rates on the shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series;
(d) whether the series will have voting rights, generally or upon specified events, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;
(e) whether the series will have conversion or exchange privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
(f) whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof, and if made subject to such redemption, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemptions, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption rates;
(g) the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series;
(h) the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series;
(i) the restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of any additional Preferred Stock; and
(j) any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.02 Number. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors of the Corporation which shall constitute the entire Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one (1) director, as fixed from time to time by resolution of a majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
2
Section 5.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation or other cause, may be filled by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by stockholders if such vacancy was caused by the action of the stockholders (in which event such vacancy may not be filled by the directors or a majority thereof). A director so elected shall be elected to hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom they have replaced, the election and qualification of a successor or such director’s death, resignation or removal.
Section 5.04 Written Ballot. Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”) shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.01 Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer. No amendment to, modification of or repeal of this Section 6.01 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment.
Section 6.02 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law as it now exists or may hereafter be amended any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director, officer, employee or agent at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Section 6.02 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be called only by: (i) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board; (ii) the Chair of the Board of Directors, if any; or (iii) the Secretary of the Corporation, following receipt of one or more written demands to call a special meeting of the stockholders from stockholders of record who own, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation then entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting that complies with the procedures for calling a special meeting of the stockholders as may be set forth in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
BYLAWS
Section 8.01 Board of Directors. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws without any action on the part of the stockholders.
3
Section 8.02 Stockholders. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; provided that, in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, such adoption, amendment, alteration or repeal shall be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
ARTICLE IX
FORUM SELECTION
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten (10) days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. This provision will not apply to claims arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
ARTICLE X
SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL OPT OUT
The Corporation shall not be governed or subject to Section 203 of the DGCL.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights conferred herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law that might permit a lesser vote or no vote and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provisions inconsistent with this Article XI and Articles VII, VIII , IX and X.
5
Exhibit 3.2
Form of Bylaws of Parent
BYLAWS
OF
RENAISSANCE NUCLEAR, INC.
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1.01 Registered Office. The registered office of Renaissance Nuclear, Inc. (the “Corporation”) will be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
Section 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may have other offices, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) from time to time shall determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of the Stockholders
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Remote Communications.
(a) Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, or by means of remote communication in the matter authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting.
(b) Meetings by Remote Communications. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication: (i) participate in a meeting of stockholders, and (ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder; (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting in accordance with these bylaws shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. The Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Board (as defined in Section 3.17) may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings.
(a) Purpose. Except as may be otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called only:
(i) by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Board;
1
(ii) by the Chair of the Board, if any; or
(iii) by the Secretary (as defined in Section 4.01), following receipt of one or more written demands to call a special meeting of the stockholders from stockholders of record who own, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation then entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting.
(b) Notice. A request to the Secretary shall be delivered to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal executive offices and signed by each stockholder, or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting and shall set forth:
(i) a brief description of each matter of business desired to be brought before the special meeting;
(ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the special meeting;
(iii) the text of any proposal or business to be considered at the special meeting (including the text of any resolutions proposed to be considered and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment); and
(iv) the information required in Section 2.12(b) of these bylaws (for stockholder nomination demands) or Section 2.12(c) of these bylaws (for all other stockholder proposal demands), as applicable.
(c) Business. Business transacted at a special meeting requested by stockholders shall be limited to the matters described in the special meeting request; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders.
(d) Time and Date. A special meeting requested by stockholders shall be held at such date and time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) days after the request to call the special meeting is received by the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held if the special meeting request was made in a manner that involved a violation of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”).
(e) Revocation. A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal executive offices, and if, following such revocation, there are unrevoked requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate less than the requisite number of shares entitling the stockholders to request the calling of a special meeting, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting.
2
Section 2.04 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place, if any, at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these bylaws by the Board, the chair of the meeting or, if directed to be voted on by the chair of the meeting, by the stockholders having a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, although less than a quorum. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 2.05 Notice of Meetings. Notice of the place (if any), date, hour, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and means of remote communication, if any, of every meeting of stockholders shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting (unless a different time is specified by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the DGCL) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the DGCL. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any stockholder who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 2.06 List of Stockholders. The Corporation shall prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder no later than the tenth (10th) day before each meeting of the stockholders. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list was provided with the notice of the meeting; or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.07 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the chair of the meeting or (b) the stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting entitled to vote thereon, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.04, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.
3
Section 2.08 Organization. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chair of the Board, if any, or, in their absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer (as defined in Section 4.01), or, in their absence or inability to act, the officer or director whom the Board of Directors shall appoint pursuant to a resolution of the majority of the members of the Board, shall act as chair of, and preside at, the meeting. The Secretary or, in the Secretary’s absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations, or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following:
(a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting;
(b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting;
(c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present;
(d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine;
(e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and
(f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Section 2.09 Voting; Proxies.
(a) General. Unless otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
(b) Election of Directors. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect.
(c) Other Matters. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any matter, other than the election of directors, properly brought before any meeting of stockholders, at which a quorum is present, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter.
4
(d) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The authorization of a person to act as proxy may be documented, signed and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL), provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with, information enabling the Corporation to determine the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.
Section 2.10 Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders. In advance of any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability. The inspector or inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector or inspectors in the performance of their duties. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspector or inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. When executing the duties of inspector, the inspector or inspectors shall:
(a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each;
(b) determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots;
(c) count all votes and ballots;
(d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and
(e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots.
Section 2.11 Fixing the Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote therewith at the adjourned meeting.
5
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 2.12 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.
(a) Annual Meetings. At a meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for the election of directors and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. Except for nominations that are included in the Corporation’s annual meeting proxy statement pursuant to Section 2.13, to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations or such other business must be:
(i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof;
(ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; or
(iii) otherwise properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time such notice of meeting is delivered and at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.12.
In addition, any proposal of business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must be a proper matter for stockholder action. For business (including, but not limited to, director nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(iii), the stockholder or stockholders of record intending to propose the business (the “Proposing Stockholder”) must have given timely notice thereof pursuant to this Section 2.12(a), in writing to the Secretary even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or Public Disclosure from the Board of Directors. To be timely, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice for an annual meeting must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (x) not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day which is not more than thirty (30) days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting or not later than seventy (70) days after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; and (y) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, including in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of: (1) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the annual meeting and (2) the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the first date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting. In no event will the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) for which notice has already been given or for which a public announcement of the meeting date has already been made, commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. For the purposes of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.13, “Public Disclosure” shall mean a disclosure made in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Services, The Associated Press, or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”) pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The number of nominees a Proposing Stockholder may nominate for election at an annual meeting (or in the case of a Proposing Stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a Proposing Stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of the beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected by stockholders generally at such annual meeting.
6
(b) Stockholder Nominations. For the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.12(a)(iii) or Section 2.12(d), a Proposing Stockholder’s timely notice to the Secretary (in accordance with the time periods for delivery of timely notice as set forth in this Section 2.12) shall set forth or include:
(i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice;
(ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee;
(iii) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee (if any); and
(iv) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.
The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(c) Other Stockholder Proposals. For all business other than director nominations, a Proposing Stockholder’s timely notice to the Secretary (in accordance with the time periods for delivery of timely notice as set forth in this Section 2.12) shall set forth as to each matter the Proposing Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:
(i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting;
(ii) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting;
(iii) the text of any proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment);
(iv) any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such Proposing Stockholder, beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the business is being proposed, and any control person; and
(v) any other information relating to such Proposing Stockholder, beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, any control person or any other participants (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
7
(d) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders called by the Board of Directors at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting:
(i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; or
(ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.12(d) is delivered to the Secretary and at the time of the special meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.12.
In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if such stockholder delivers a stockholder’s notice that complies with the requirements of Section 2.12(b) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of: (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting; or (y) the tenth (10th) day following the date of the first Public Disclosure of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment or postponement (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at a special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of the beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected by stockholders generally at such special meeting.
(e) Effect of Noncompliance.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12 or Section 2.13 shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting as shall be brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12. The chair of the meeting, as determined pursuant to Section 2.08, shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12. If any proposed nomination was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 2.12, or other business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 2.12, or if any stockholder, beneficial owner, control person, or any nominee for director acted contrary to any representation or other agreement required by this Section 2.12 (or with any law, rule, or regulation identified therein) or provided false or misleading information to the Corporation, then except as otherwise required by law, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed other business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting or propose a nomination at a special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.12 does not comply with or provide the information required under this Section 2.12 to the Corporation, including the evidence required by Section 2.12(e)(ii) by no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting or the Proposing Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation.
8
(ii) If any stockholder provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five (5) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met all of the applicable requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. Without limiting the other provisions and requirements of this Section 2.12, unless otherwise required by law, if any Proposing Stockholder provides such notice and either (A) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, or (B) fails to timely provide reasonable evidence of such compliance as required by this Section 2.12(e)(ii), then the Proposing Stockholder’s nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that the nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting, or other proxy materials for any annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) and the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for such stockholder’s nominees.
(f) Rule 14a-8. This Section 2.12 and Section 2.13 shall not apply to a proposal proposed to be made by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of the stockholder’s intention to present the proposal at an annual or special meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such meeting.
For purposes of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.13, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.13 Proxy Access.
(a) Inclusion of Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee in Proxy Statement. Subject to the provisions of this Section 2.13, the Corporation shall include in its proxy statement (including its form of proxy) for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of any stockholder nominee for election to the Board of Directors submitted pursuant to this Section 2.13 (each a “Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee”) provided:
(i) timely written notice of such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee satisfying this Section 2.13 (“Proxy Access Notice”) is delivered to the Corporation by a stockholder of record or stockholder group that, at the time the Proxy Access Notice is delivered, satisfies the ownership and other requirements of this Section 2.13 (such stockholder or stockholder group, the “Eligible Stockholder”);
(ii) the Eligible Stockholder expressly elects in writing at the time of providing the Proxy Access Notice to have its Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to this Section 2.13; and
(iii) the Eligible Stockholder and the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee otherwise satisfy the requirements of this Section 2.13.
9
(b) Timely Notice. To be timely, the Proxy Access Notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days nor more than one hundred fifty (150) days prior to the first anniversary of the date (as stated in the Corporation’s proxy materials) on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than sixty (60) days from the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, the Proxy Access Notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of: (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting; or (ii) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Proxy Access Notice.
(c) Information to be Included in Proxy Statement. In addition to including the name of the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting, the Corporation shall also include (collectively, the “Required Information”):
(i) the information concerning the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and
(ii) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, a written statement of the group), not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of its Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Proxy Access Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the annual meeting (a “Statement”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.13, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is untrue in any material respect (or omits a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading) or would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, or listing standard. Additionally, nothing in this Section 2.13 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy statement its own statements relating to any Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee.
(d) Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee Limits. The number of Proxy Access Stockholder Nominees (including Proxy Access Stockholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to this Section 2.13 but either are subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate) appearing in the Corporation’s proxy statement with respect to a meeting of stockholders shall not exceed the greater of: (x) two (2); or (y) twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of a nomination may be delivered pursuant to this Section 2.13 (the “Final Proxy Access Nomination Date”) or, if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%) (the “Permitted Number”); provided, however, that:
(i) in the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors at any time after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date and before the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the Permitted Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced;
10
(ii) any Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for a particular meeting of stockholders but either: (A) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the meeting, or (B) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of their election at least equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the annual meeting and entitled to vote on the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee’s election, shall be ineligible to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 2.13 for the next two (2) annual meetings of stockholders following the meeting for which the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee has been nominated for election;
(iii) any director in office as of the nomination deadline who was included in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee for any of the two (2) preceding annual meetings and whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate for election to the Board of Directors will be counted against the Permitted Number; and
(iv) any director recommended by the Board of Directors pursuant to an agreement, arrangement, or other understanding with a stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement, or other understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of stock from the Corporation by such stockholder or group of stockholders) will be counted against the Permitted Number.
In the event that the number of Proxy Access Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.13 exceeds the Permitted Number, each Eligible Stockholder shall select one Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (from greatest to least) of voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote on the election of directors as disclosed in the Proxy Access Notice. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder has selected one Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached.
(e) Eligibility of Nominating Stockholder; Stockholder Group. An Eligible Stockholder, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is being proposed, must have owned (as defined below) continuously for at least three (3) years a number of shares that represents three percent (3%) or more of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors (the “Required Shares”) as of both the date the Proxy Access Notice is delivered to or received by the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.13 and the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and must deliver a statement regarding the Eligible Stockholder’s, and the beneficial owner’s, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is being proposed, intent with respect to continued ownership of the Required Shares for at least one (1) year following the annual meeting. For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirement under this Section 2.13, the voting power represented by the shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned by one or more stockholders of record, or by the beneficial owners, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is being proposed, may be aggregated, provided that:
(i) the number of stockholders of record and, if and to the extent that a holder of record is acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners, of such beneficial owners, whose stock ownership is aggregated for the purpose of satisfying the ownership requirement under this Section 2.13 shall not exceed twenty (20); and
11
(ii) each stockholder of record or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated shall have held such shares continuously for at least three (3) years as required by this Section 2.13.
Whenever an Eligible Stockholder consists of a group of stockholders of record and/or beneficial owners, any and all requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 2.13 must be satisfied by and as to each such stockholder or beneficial owner, except that shares may be aggregated to meet the Required Shares as provided in this Section 2.13(e). With respect to any one particular annual meeting, no shares may be attributed to more than one Eligible Stockholder, and no stockholder of record or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may individually or as a member of a group qualify as or constitute more than one Eligible Stockholder under this Section 2.13.
(f) Funds. A group of two or more funds shall be treated as one stockholder of record or beneficial owner for this Section 2.13 provided that the other terms and conditions in this Section 2.13 are met (including Section 2.13(h)(v)(A)) and the funds are:
(i) under common management and investment control;
(ii) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer (or by a group of related employers that are under common control); or
(iii) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(g) Ownership. For purposes of this Section 2.13, a stockholder of record or a beneficial owner, as the case may be, shall be deemed to “own” only those outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock as to which the stockholder of record, or, if such stockholder is a nominee, custodian, or other agent that is holding the shares on behalf of a beneficial owner, that the beneficial owner on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is being proposed, possesses both:
(i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares; and
(ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares:
(A) sold by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed,
(B) borrowed by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or
(C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative, or similar agreement entered into by such stockholder, beneficial owner, or any of their respective affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of: (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such stockholder’s, beneficial owner’s, or affiliate’s full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares; and/or (2) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such stockholder, beneficial owner, or affiliate.
12
An Eligible Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed “owns” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Eligible Stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable, retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Stockholder’s and beneficial owner’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable, has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the Eligible Stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable. An Eligible Stockholder’s and beneficial owner’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the Eligible Stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable, has loaned such shares, provided that the Eligible Stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable, has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days’ notice and recalls such loaned shares not more than five (5) business days after being notified that any of its Proxy Access Stockholder Nominees will be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. The terms “owned,” “owning,” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. For purposes of this Section 2.13, the term “affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(h) Nomination Notice and Other Eligible Stockholder Deliverables. An Eligible Stockholder must provide with its Proxy Access Notice the following information in writing to the Secretary:
(i) one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three (3)-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within seven (7) calendar days prior to the date the Proxy Access Notice is delivered to or received by the Corporation, the Eligible Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three (3) years, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Stockholder’s and beneficial owner’s agreement to provide:
(A) within five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s and any applicable beneficial owner’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through the record date, and
(B) immediate notice if the Eligible Stockholder, or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting of stockholders;
(ii) the representation and agreement of the Eligible Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed that it:
(A) intends to continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements described in this Section 2.13 through the date of the annual meeting, including a statement regarding its intent with respect to continued ownership of the Required Shares for at least one (1) year following the annual meeting,
13
(B) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent,
(C) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the meeting any person other than the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2.13,
(D) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be, a “participant” in another person’s “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors,
(E) will not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation,
(F) has provided and will provide facts, statements, and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
(G) agrees to assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of its communications with the Corporation’s stockholders or out of the information that it provides to the Corporation,
(H) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.13,
(I) will file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication with the Corporation’s stockholders relating to the meeting at which the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
(J) will comply with all other applicable laws, rules, regulations, and listing standards with respect to any solicitation in connection with the meeting;
(iii) the written consent of each Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee to be named in the Corporation’s proxy statement, and form of proxy and, as a nominee and, if elected, to serve as a director;
14
(iv) a copy of the Schedule 14N (or any successor form) that has been filed with the SEC as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act;
(v) in the case of a nomination by a stockholder group that together is an Eligible Stockholder:
(A) documentation satisfactory to the Corporation demonstrating that a group of funds qualifies pursuant to the criteria set forth in Section 2.13(f) to be treated as one stockholder or person for purposes of this Section 2.13, and
(B) the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the nominating stockholder group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and
(vi) if desired, a Statement.
(i) Stockholder Nominee Agreement. Each Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee must:
(i) provide within five (5) business days of the Corporation’s request an executed agreement, in a form deemed satisfactory to the Corporation, providing the following representations:
(A) the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee has read and agrees to adhere to the Corporation’s policies or guidelines applicable to directors, including with regard to securities trading, and
(B) the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is not and will not become a party to: (1) any Voting Commitment that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law and
(C) the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is not and will not become a party to any Compensation Arrangement in connection with such person’s nomination for director or service as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation;
(ii) complete, sign, and submit all questionnaires required of the Corporation’s Board of Directors within five (5) business days of receipt of each such questionnaire from the Corporation; and
(iii) provide within five (5) business days of the Corporation’s request such additional information as the Corporation determines may be necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine whether such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee meets the requirements of this Section 2.13 or the Corporation’s requirements with regard to director qualifications and policies and guidelines applicable to directors, including whether:
(A) such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is independent under the independence requirements, including the committee independence requirements, set forth in the listing standards of the stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation’s capital stock are listed, any applicable rules of the SEC, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the directors (the “Independence Standards”),
15
(B) such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee has any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation that has not been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the Corporation’s policies or guidelines applicable to directors, including with regard to securities trading, and
(C) such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is not and has not been subject to: (1) any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or (2) any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(j) Eligible Stockholder/Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee Undertaking. In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or its stockholders ceases to be true and correct in any respect or omits a fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Stockholder or Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary in writing of any such inaccuracy or omission in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to make such information or communication true and correct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision of any such notification pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be deemed to cure any defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this Section 2.13.
(k) Exceptions Permitting Exclusion of Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee. The Corporation shall not be required to include pursuant to this Section 2.13 a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee in its proxy statement (or, if the proxy statement has already been filed, to allow the nomination of a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation):
(i) if the Eligible Stockholder who has nominated such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee has been proposed, has nominated for election to the Board of Directors at the meeting any person other than pursuant to this Section 2.13, or has or is engaged in, or has been or is a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee(s) or any nominee of the Board of Directors;
(ii) if the Corporation has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements in Section 2.12 of these bylaws;
(iii) who is not independent under the Independence Standards;
(iv) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would violate or cause the Corporation to be in violation of these bylaws, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, or other document setting forth qualifications for directors, the listing standards of the stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation’s capital stock are listed, or any applicable state or federal law, rule, or regulation;
16
(v) if the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is or becomes a party to any undisclosed Voting Commitment;
(vi) if the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is or becomes a party to any undisclosed Compensation Arrangement;
(vii) who is or has been, within the past three (3) years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914;
(viii) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years;
(ix) who is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act; or
(x) if such Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee or the applicable Eligible Stockholder, or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed, shall have provided information to the Corporation in respect of such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or shall have breached its or their agreements, representations, undertakings, or obligations pursuant to this Section 2.13.
(l) Invalidity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Board of Directors or the person presiding at the meeting shall be entitled to declare a nomination by an Eligible Stockholder to be invalid, and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation; and the Corporation shall not be required to include in its proxy statement any successor or replacement nominee proposed by the applicable Eligible Stockholder or any other Eligible Stockholder if:
(i) the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee, the applicable Eligible Stockholder, or applicable beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee is proposed shall have breached its or their agreements, representations, undertakings, or obligations pursuant to this Section 2.13, as determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding at the meeting; or
(ii) the Eligible Stockholder (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the meeting to present any nomination pursuant to this Section 2.13.
(m) Interpretation. The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 2.13 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 2.13 to any persons, facts, or circumstances, including the power to determine whether:
(i) a person or group of persons qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder;
(ii) outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock are “owned” for purposes of meeting the ownership requirements of this Section 2.13;
17
(iii) a notice complies with the requirements of this Section 2.13;
(iv) a person satisfies the qualifications and requirements to be a Proxy Access Stockholder Nominee;
(v) inclusion of the Required Information in the Corporation’s proxy statement is consistent with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and listing standards; and
(vi) any and all requirements of this Section 2.13 have been satisfied.
Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors (or any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall be conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Corporation and all record or beneficial owners of stock of the Corporation.
Section 2.14 Notices to the Corporation. Whenever notice is to be given to the Corporation by a stockholder under any provision of law or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, such notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. If delivered by electronic transmission, the stockholder’s notice shall be directed to the Secretary at the electronic mail address or facsimile number, as the case may be, specified in the Corporation’s most recent proxy statement.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 3.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and procedures, not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, or applicable law, as it may deem proper for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the Corporation.
Section 3.02 Number; Term of Office. Except as may be otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one (1) director, as fixed from time to time solely by resolution of a majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. Each director shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification, or removal.
Section 3.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Except as may be otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by stockholders if such vacancy was caused by the action of the stockholders (in which event such vacancy may not be filled by the directors or a majority thereof). A director so elected shall be elected to hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom the director has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.04 Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. A resignation that is conditioned on a director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. A verbal resignation shall not be deemed effective until confirmed by the director in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation.
18
Section 3.05 Removal. Except as prohibited by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders holding a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors may remove any director from office with or without cause.
Section 3.06 Fees and Expenses. Directors shall receive such reasonable fees for their services on the Board of Directors and any committee thereof and such reimbursement of their actual and reasonable expenses as may be fixed or determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.07 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such times and at such places, if any, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.08 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such times and at such places, if any, as may be determined by the Chair of the Board, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer on at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail or on at least three (3) days’ notice if given by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors then in office. The notice need not state the purposes of the special meeting and, unless indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 3.09 Telephone Meetings. Board of Directors or Board of Directors committee meetings may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation by a director in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.10 Adjourned Meetings. A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. At least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail, or at least three (3) days’ notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 3.11 Notices. Subject to Section 3.08, Section 3.10 and Section 3.12 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such director’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, email, or by other means of electronic transmission.
Section 3.12 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing signed by, or by electronic transmission by, the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board of Directors or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.
19
Section 3.13 Organization. At each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, if any, or, in the Chair’s absence, another director or officer selected by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution of the majority of the members of the Board shall preside. The Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, an assistant secretary of the Corporation shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all assistant secretaries of the Corporation, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 3.14 Quorum of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by these bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by applicable law, the presence of a majority of the total number of directors on the Board of Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.15 Action by Majority Vote. Except as otherwise provided by these bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.16 Directors’ Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Section 3.17 Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors may appoint one of its members to be its chair (the “Chair of the Board”). The Chair of the Board may be removed as Chair of the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of stockholders. The Chair of the Board shall perform such other duties and services as shall be assigned to or required of the Chair of the Board by the Board of Directors and these bylaws.
Section 3.18 Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. If a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board of Directors; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these bylaws. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter, and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this ARTICLE III.
20
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.01 Positions and Election. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and shall include a chief executive officer (the “Chief Executive Officer”), a president (the “President”), a chief financial officer (the “Chief Financial Officer”), a treasurer (the “Treasurer”) and a secretary (the “Secretary”). The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect or appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant treasurers, assistant secretaries and other officers in accordance with these bylaws. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.02 Term. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors then in office. The removal of an officer shall be without prejudice to such officer’s contract rights, if any. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering a resignation in writing, or by electronic transmission, to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Should any vacancy occur among the officers, the position shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by appointment made by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the provisions of these bylaws and the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control over the business of the Corporation and over its officers. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chief Executive Officer, and any other duties as may be from time to time assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors, in each case subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04 President. The President shall report and be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned or delegated to the President by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or that are incident to the office of president.
Section 4.05 Vice Presidents. Each vice president of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or that are incident to the office of vice president.
Section 4.06 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep full and complete records of the proceedings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings, and shall perform like duties for committees of the Board of Directors when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer. The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
21
Section 4.07 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the principal financial officer of the Corporation and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.08 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody, and disbursement of corporate funds. The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be deposited in such banks as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall have such further powers and duties as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.
Section 4.09 Other Officers. Such other officers as the Board of Directors may elect or appoint shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to appoint such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
Section 4.10 Duties of Officers May Be Delegated. In case any officer is absent, or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Chief Executive Officer or the President or the Board of Directors may delegate for the time being the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.01 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify and hold harmless a person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.02 Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under Section 5.01 or otherwise. Payment of such expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person may be made by the Corporation, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation in their discretion deems appropriate.
22
Section 5.03 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this ARTICLE V will not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL.
Section 5.04 Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify and hold harmless any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity.
Section 5.05 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in any such capacity, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
Section 5.06 Repeal, Amendment or Modification. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this ARTICLE V shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VI
Stock Certificates and Their Transfer
Section 6.01 Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board of Directors. The certificates representing shares of stock shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed such a certificate ceases to be an officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if the signatory were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 6.02 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books administered by or on behalf of the Corporation only by the direction of the registered holder thereof or such person’s attorney, lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent or other designated agent of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued.
23
Section 6.03 Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
Section 6.04 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors or the Secretary may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen or destroyed certificate. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors or the Secretary may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
Section 7.01 Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.02 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last day of December in each year.
Section 7.03 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed, or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person, or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
Section 7.04 Conflict with Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation. These bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 7.05 Books and Records. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be maintained on any information storage device, method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases); provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time, and, with respect to the stock ledger, the records so kept comply with Section 224 of the DGCL. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
Section 7.06 Forum for Adjudication of Disputes.
(a) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for:
(i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation;
(ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders;
24
(iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware;
(iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; or
(v) any action asserting a claim relating to the business of the Corporation, the conduct of its affairs, or the rights or powers of the Corporation or its stockholders, directors or officers;
in each case, subject to said court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.
If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of this Section 7.06 is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce this Section 7.06 (an “Enforcement Action”); and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.06(a).
(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.06(b).
Section 7.07 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these bylaws.
Section 7.08 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these bylaws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in any such waiver. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
These bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided that the Corporation may, in its Certificate of Incorporation, confer the power to adopt, amend or repeal these bylaws upon the Board of Directors. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the Board of Directors will not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.
25
Exhibit 10.1
PARENT SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This PARENT SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of October 7, 2026, by and among the Persons set forth on Schedule I hereto (each, a “Parent Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Parent Shareholders”), Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (which shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to the Closing) (“Parent”), and Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Parent Shareholders are the holders of record and the “beneficial owners” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of such number of Parent Ordinary Shares, Parent Units and Parent Warrants as are indicated opposite each such Parent Shareholder’s name set forth on Schedule I attached hereto (all such securities of Parent (including securities underlying such securities), or any successor or additional equity securities of Parent of which ownership is hereafter acquired by any such Parent Shareholder prior to the termination of this Agreement are referred to herein as the “Subject Securities”);
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent and the Company have entered into that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other transactions, Merger Sub is to merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, on the day that is at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Time and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, Parent shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Parent’s organizational documents, Section 388 of the DGCL and the Cayman Companies Act (together, the “Domestication”); and
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent and the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated therein, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
SUPPORT AGREEMENT; COVENANTS
Section 1.1 Binding Effect of Merger Agreement. Each Parent Shareholder hereby acknowledges that it, he or she has read the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with its, his or her tax and legal advisors. Until the Expiration Time (as defined below), each Parent Shareholder shall be bound by and comply with Sections 6.2 (Exclusivity) and 11.4 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such Sections) as if (a) such Parent Shareholder was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions, and (b) each reference to the “Parent” contained in Section 6.2 of the Merger Agreement also referred to each such Parent Shareholder.
Section 1.2 No Transfer. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earliest of (x) the Effective Time, (y) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with Article X (Termination) thereof and (z) the liquidation of Parent (the earlier of (x), (y) and (z), the “Expiration Time”), each Parent Shareholder shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, transfer, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of or transfer, each with respect to any Subject Securities owned by such Parent Shareholder, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Securities owned by such Parent Shareholder or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii) (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, a “Transfer”); provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any Permitted Transfer. “Permitted Transfer” shall mean any Transfer (a) to any of Parent’s officers, directors or consultants, any Affiliate or any family member of any of Parent’s officers, directors or consultants; (b) in the case of a Person who is not an individual, to any Affiliate of such Person or to any member(s) of such Person or any of their Affiliates or any employees or consultants of such Affiliates; (c) in the case of an individual, to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an Affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (d) in the case of an individual, by virtue of Laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (e) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; or (f) to any other Person, with the consent of Parent and the Company; provided, however, that, prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of any Permitted Transfer described in clauses (a) through (f), the transferee in such Permitted Transfer (a “Permitted Transferee”) shall have executed and delivered to Parent and the Company a joinder or counterpart of this Agreement pursuant to which such Permitted Transferee shall be bound by all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Agreement. Parent shall not register any sale, assignment or transfer of any Subject Securities on Parent’s stock ledger (book entry or otherwise) that is not in compliance with this Section 1.2.
Section 1.3 New Shares. In the event that (a) any Parent Common Shares, Parent Warrants, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent are issued to a Parent Shareholder after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any offering, share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other similar event of Parent Common Shares, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent of, on or affecting the Parent Common Shares, Parent Warrants, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent owned by such Parent Shareholder or otherwise, (b) a Parent Shareholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Parent Common Shares, Parent Warrants, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent after the date of this Agreement, or (c) a Parent Shareholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Parent Common Shares, Parent Warrants, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent after the date of this Agreement (such Parent Common Shares, Parent Warrants, Parent Units or other equity securities of Parent, collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such Parent Shareholder shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Subject Securities owned by such Parent Shareholder as of the date hereof.
Section 1.4 Certain Agreements of the Parent Shareholders.
(a) At any meeting of the shareholders of Parent, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the shareholders of Parent is sought, each Parent Shareholder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that it, he or she shall (i) appear at each such meeting, in person or by proxy, or otherwise cause all of its, his or her Parent Common Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering, all of its, his or her Parent Common Shares:
(i) in favor of each Parent Proposal, including, without limitation, any other consent, waiver, approval is required under Parent’s organizational documents or under any agreements between Parent and its shareholders, or otherwise sought by Parent with respect to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or the Parent Proposals;
2
(ii) against any Alternative Proposal or any proposal relating to a business combination transaction (other than the Parent Proposals and the transactions contemplated thereby);
(iii) against any merger agreement or merger, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by Parent (other than the Merger Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby);
(iv) against any change in the business, management or Board of Directors of Parent (other than in connection with the Parent Proposals and the transactions contemplated thereby);
(v) against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Parent, Merger Sub or the Sponsor under the Merger Agreement or this Agreement, as applicable, (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (D) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of capital stock of, Parent; and
(vi) in favor of any extension of Parent’s deadline to consummate a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in the Parent Articles, to the extent permitted under the Parent Articles.
Each Parent Shareholder hereby agrees that it, he or she shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.
(b) Each Parent Shareholder shall comply with, and fully perform all of its, his or her obligations, covenants and agreements set forth in, that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2025, by and among Parent, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto (the “Letter Agreement”), including the obligations of such Parent Shareholder therein to not redeem, sell or tender, or submit a request to Parent’s transfer agent or otherwise exercise any right to redeem, sell or tender, any Parent Common Shares owned by such Parent Shareholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Section 1.5 Further Assurances. Each Parent Shareholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional documents, and take, or cause to be taken, all such further actions and do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or reasonably requested by the Company or Parent under applicable Laws to effect the actions and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein, as applicable. Each Parent Shareholder agrees that such Parent Shareholder will not take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such Parent Shareholder herein untrue or incorrect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling such Parent Shareholder from performing its, his or her obligations hereunder.
3
Section 1.6 No Inconsistent Agreement. Except as provided hereunder or under the Letter Agreement, each Parent Shareholder hereby represents and covenants that it, he or she (i) has not entered into, shall not enter into, any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of such Parent Shareholder’s Subject Securities that is inconsistent with such Parent Shareholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) shall not grant a proxy or power of attorney to enter into, any agreement or undertaking that would restrict, limit, be inconsistent with or interfere with the performance of its, his or her obligations hereunder.
Section 1.7 No Challenges. Each Parent Shareholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective successors, directors, officers, agents or equity holders (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or the consideration or approval thereof by the shareholders of Parent or the board of directors of Parent or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement.
Section 1.8 Conversion of Parent Class B Ordinary Shares. Immediately prior to the Domestication, each Parent Shareholder irrevocably elects, in accordance with the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Parent, to convert each Parent Class B Ordinary Share held by such Parent Shareholder into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share on a one-for-one basis and shall take all actions and execute and deliver all instruments reasonably necessary or advisable to effect such conversion.
Section 1.9 Consent to Disclosure. Each Parent Shareholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (and, as and to the extent otherwise required by applicable securities Laws or the SEC or any other applicable securities authorities, any other documents or communications provided by Parent or the Company to any Governmental Authority or to securityholders of Parent or the Company) of such Parent Shareholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of Subject Securities, and the nature of such Parent Shareholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Parent or the Company, a copy of this Agreement. Each Parent Shareholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by Parent or the Company for any applicable regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including filings with the SEC).
Section 1.10 Dissenters’ Rights. Each Parent Shareholder hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise or attempt to exercise, any right to dissent, right to demand payment or right of appraisal or any similar provision under applicable Law (including pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act) in connection with the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the other transactions as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
4
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Parent Shareholders. Each Parent Shareholder represents and warrants to Parent and the Company, as of the date hereof, as follows:
(a) Organization; Due Authorization. (i) if such Parent Shareholder is not an individual, such Parent Shareholder is duly organized and validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within such Parent Shareholder’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions on the part of such Parent Shareholder and (ii) if such Parent Shareholder is an individual, the signature on this Agreement is genuine, and such Parent Shareholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Parent Shareholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such Parent Shareholder, enforceable against such Parent Shareholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies). If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the applicable Parent Shareholder.
(b) Ownership. Such Parent Shareholder is the record and beneficial owner (as defined in the Securities Act) of, and has good, valid and marketable title to, all of its, his or her Subject Securities, and there exist no Liens or any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such Subject Securities (other than transfer restrictions under the Securities Act)) affecting any such Subject Securities, other than Liens pursuant to (i) this Agreement, (ii) Parent’s organizational documents, (iii) the Merger Agreement, (iv) the Letter Agreement or (v) any applicable securities Laws. Such Parent Shareholder’s Subject Securities are the only equity securities in Parent owned of record or beneficially by such Parent Shareholder on the date of this Agreement. Such Parent Shareholder has full voting power, full power of disposition and full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein whether by ownership or by proxy, in each case, with respect to its, his or her Subject Securities, and none of such Parent Shareholder’s Subject Securities are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Subject Securities, except as provided hereunder and under the Letter Agreement. Except for such Parent Shareholder’s Subject Securities, such Parent Shareholder does not hold or own any rights to acquire (directly or indirectly) any other equity securities of Parent or any other equity securities convertible into, or which can be exchanged for, equity securities of Parent.
(c) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Parent Shareholder does not, and the performance by such Parent Shareholder of its, his or her obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not constitute or result in, (i) if such Parent Shareholder is not an individual, conflict with or result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Parent Shareholder, (ii) require any consent or approval from any third party that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any such third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Parent Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, to the extent the creation of such Lien would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Parent Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement.
(d) Litigation. There are no Actions pending against such Parent Shareholder, or to the knowledge of such Parent Shareholder threatened against such Parent Shareholder, before (or, in the case of threatened Actions, that would be before) any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority, which in any manner questions the beneficial or record ownership of such Parent Shareholder’s Subject Securities or the validity of this Agreement, or challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Parent Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement. There is no outstanding Order imposed upon such Parent Shareholder, or, if applicable, any of its Subsidiaries.
5
(e) Brokers’ Fees. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement based upon arrangements made by such Parent Shareholder, for which Parent or any of its Affiliates may become liable.
(f) Affiliate Arrangements. Except as set forth on Schedule II attached hereto, such Parent Shareholder is not party to, nor has any rights with respect to or arising from, any Contract with Parent or its Subsidiaries.
(g) Such Parent Shareholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent such Parent Shareholder from performing any of such Parent Shareholder’s obligations hereunder.
(h) Acknowledgment. Such Parent Shareholder understands and acknowledges that each of Parent and the Company is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Parent Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of such Parent Shareholder contained herein.
(i) Adequate Information. Such Parent Shareholder is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Parent and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and has independently and without reliance upon Parent or the Company and based on such information as such Parent Shareholder has deemed appropriate, made its, his or her own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Parent Shareholder acknowledges that Parent and the Company have not made and do not make any representation or warranty to such Parent Shareholder, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Parent Shareholder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Securities held by such Parent Shareholder are irrevocable.
ARTICLE
III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.1 Termination. This Agreement and all of its provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (a) the Expiration Time and (b) the written agreement of each Parent Shareholder, Parent and the Company. Upon such termination of this Agreement, all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will terminate, without any liability or other obligation on the part of any party hereto to any Person in respect hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no party hereto shall have any claim against another (and no person shall have any rights against such party), whether under contract, tort or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from liability arising in respect of any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination. This Article III shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 3.2 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
6
Section 3.3 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Any proceeding or Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in a federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, if such federal court does not have jurisdiction over any such Actions, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division, sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York (and any appellate court therefrom), and each of the parties hereto irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Action, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any proceeding or Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 3.3.
(b) EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 3.4 Assignment. No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof or delegate any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any such assignment, transfer or delegation without such prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
Section 3.5 Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent any breach, or threatened breach, of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.
Section 3.6 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed by Parent, the Company and each Parent Shareholder, and which makes reference to this Agreement.
Section 3.7 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties hereto further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.
7
Section 3.8 Notices. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the respective addresses set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to a Parent Shareholder, at the address set forth on Schedule I.
Section 3.9 Headings; Counterparts. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 3.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the subject matter hereof.
Section 3.11 Adjustment for Stock Split. If, and as often as, there are any changes in Parent or the Subject Securities by way of share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations or the like, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Parent Shareholders, Parent, the Company, or the Subject Securities, as so changed.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have each caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| PARENT: | ||
| DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Peter Ort | |
| Name: | Peter Ort | |
| Title: | Principal Executive Officer | |
| PARENT SHAREHOLDERS: | ||
| DAAQ SPONSOR LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Peter Ort | |
| Name: | Peter Ort | |
| Title: | Managing Member | |
| /s/ Peter Ort | ||
| Name: | Peter Ort | |
| /s/ Jeff Tuder | ||
| Name: | Jeff Tuder | |
| /s/ Rebecca Rettig | ||
| Name: | Rebecca Rettig | |
| /s/ Kristin Smith | ||
| Name: | Kristin Smith | |
| /s/ Thomas Trowbridge | ||
| Name: | Thomas Trowbridge | |
[Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement]
| /s/ Boaz Avital | ||
| Name: | Boaz Avital | |
| /s/ CJ Jouhal | ||
| Name: | CJ Jouhal | |
| /s/ David Namdar | ||
| Name: | David Namdar | |
| /s/ Curtis Weldon | ||
| Name: | Curtis Weldon | |
[Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement]
| COMPANY: | ||
| TITAN STRATEGICS HOLDINGS LTD | ||
| By: | /s/ Adam Peter Clode | |
| Name: | Adam Peter Clode | |
| Title: | Sole Director | |
[Signature Page to Parent Support Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
COMPANY SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This COMPANY SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of October 7, 2026, by and among the Persons set forth on Schedule I hereto (each, a “Company Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Company Shareholders”), Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (which shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to the Closing) (“Parent”), and Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Company Shareholders are the holders of record and the “beneficial owners” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of such Company Ordinary Shares as are indicated opposite each such Company Shareholder’s name on Schedule I attached hereto (all such shares, or any successor or additional voting or non-voting equity securities of the Company of which ownership is hereafter acquired by any such Company Shareholder prior to the termination of this Agreement are referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent and the Company have entered into that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other transactions, Merger Sub is to merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, on the day that is at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Time and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, Parent shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Parent’s organizational documents, Section 388 of the DGCL and the Cayman Companies Act; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent and the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated therein, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Article
I
VOTING AGREEMENT; COVENANTS
1.1 Binding Effect of Merger Agreement. Until the Expiration Time (as defined below), each Company Shareholder shall be bound by and comply with Sections 6.2 (Exclusivity) and 11.4 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such Sections) as if (a) such Company Shareholder was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions, and (b) each reference to the “Company” contained in Section 6.2 of the Merger Agreement also referred to each such Company Shareholder.
1.2 Voting Agreement. (a) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earliest of (x) the Effective Time and (y) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with Article X (Termination) thereof (the earlier of (x) and (y), the “Expiration Time”), each Company Shareholder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), and in any action by written consent of the shareholders of the Company distributed by the Board of Directors of the Company or otherwise undertaken as contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, such Company Shareholder shall, if a meeting is held, appear at the meeting, in person or by proxy, or otherwise cause all of its, his or her Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum, and such Company Shareholder shall vote or provide consent (or cause to be voted or consented), in person or by proxy, all of its, his or her Subject Shares:
(i) to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger (the “Company Transaction Proposals”), including without limitation any other consent, waiver or approval required under the Company’s organizational documents or under any agreements between the Company and its shareholders, or otherwise sought by the Company with respect to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or the Company Transaction Proposals;
(ii) against any merger agreement or merger, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company (other than the Merger Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby);
(iii) against any change in the business (to the extent in violation of the Merger Agreement), management or Board of Directors of the Company (other than in connection with the Company Transaction Proposals and the transactions contemplated thereby); and
(iv) against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company or the Company Shareholders under the Merger Agreement or this Agreement, as applicable, (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled, or (D) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of the Company, including the voting rights of any share capital of the Company.
(b) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Time, each Company Shareholder hereby agrees that it, he or she shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of each Company Shareholder specified in this Section 1.2 shall apply whether or not the Merger or any action described above is recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Board of Directors of the Company has previously recommended the Merger but changed such recommendation.
1.3 No Transfer. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Time, each Company Shareholder agrees that such Company Shareholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, transfer, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of or transfer, each with respect to any Subject Shares owned by such Company Shareholder, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Shares owned by such Company Shareholder, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii) (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, a “Transfer”); provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any Permitted Transfer. “Permitted Transfer” shall mean any Transfer (a) in the case of a Person who is not an individual, to any Affiliate of such Person or to any member(s) of such Person or any of their Affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an Affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of Laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; or (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; provided, however, that, prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of any Permitted Transfer described in clauses (a) through (d), the transferee in such Permitted Transfer (a “Permitted Transferee”) shall have executed and delivered to Parent and the Company a joinder or counterpart of this Agreement pursuant to which such Permitted Transferee shall be bound by all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall not register any sale, assignment or transfer of any Subject Shares on the Company’s stock ledger (book entry or otherwise) that is not in compliance with this Section 1.3. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Time, each Company Shareholder shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, engage in any transaction involving the securities of Parent prior to the Closing.
2
1.4 New Shares. In the event that (a) any Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company are issued to a Company Shareholder after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any offering, share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other similar event of the Company Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of the Company of, on or affecting the Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company owned by such Company Shareholder, (b) a Company Shareholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing, or (c) a Company Shareholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company after the date of this Agreement (such Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company, the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such Company Shareholder shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Subject Shares owned by such Company Shareholder as of the date hereof.
1.5 Further Assurances. Each Company Shareholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional documents, and take, or cause to be taken, all such further actions and do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or reasonably requested by the Company or Parent under applicable Laws to effect the actions and to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein, as applicable. Each Company Shareholder agrees that such Company Shareholder will not take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such Company Shareholder herein untrue or incorrect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling such Company Shareholder from performing its, his or her obligations hereunder.
1.6 No Inconsistent Agreement. Each Company Shareholder hereby represents and covenants that such Company Shareholder (i) has not entered into, shall not enter into, any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares that is inconsistent with such Company Shareholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) shall not grant a proxy or power of attorney to enter into, any agreement or undertaking that would restrict, limit, be inconsistent with or interfere with the performance of such Company Shareholder’s obligations hereunder.
1.7 No Challenges. Each Company Shareholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective successors, directors, officers, agents or equity holders (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or the consideration and approval thereof by the shareholders of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company or the governing bodies of any of the Subsidiaries of the Company or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement.
3
1.8 Consent to Disclosure. Each Company Shareholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (and, as and to the extent otherwise required by applicable securities Laws or the SEC, any other documents or communications provided by Parent or the Company to any Governmental Authority or to securityholders of Parent or the Company) of such Company Shareholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of Subject Shares and the nature of such Company Shareholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Parent or the Company, a copy of this Agreement. Each Company Shareholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by Parent or the Company for any applicable regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including filings with the SEC).
1.9 Dissenters’ Rights. Each Company Shareholder hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise or attempt to exercise, any right to dissent, right to demand payment or right of appraisal or any similar provision under applicable Law (including pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act) in connection with the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the other transactions as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Article
II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 Company Shareholder Representations. Each Company Shareholder represents and warrants to Parent and the Company, as of the date hereof, that:
(a) such Company Shareholder has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked;
(b) such Company Shareholder has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it, he or she is bound (including any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Agreement;
(c) (i) if such Company Shareholder is not an individual, such Company Shareholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within such Company Shareholder’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions on the part of such Company Shareholder and (ii) if such Company Shareholder is an individual, the signature on this Agreement is genuine, and such Company Shareholder has legal competence and capacity to execute the same;
4
(d) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Company Shareholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such Company Shareholder, enforceable against such Company Shareholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies);
(e) if this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the applicable Company Shareholder;
(f) such Company Shareholder is the record and beneficial owner (as defined in the Securities Act) of, and has good, valid and marketable title to, all of such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares, and there exist no Liens or any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such Subject Shares (other than transfer restrictions under the Securities Act)) affecting any such Subject Shares, other than Liens pursuant to (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Company’s organizational documents, (iii) the Merger Agreement or (iv) any applicable securities Laws. Such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares are the only equity securities in the Company owned of record or beneficially by such Company Shareholder on the date of this Agreement. Such Company Shareholder has full voting power, full power of disposition and full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein whether by ownership or by proxy, in each case, with respect to such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares, and except as provided in this Agreement, none of such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Subject Shares. Except for such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares, such Company Shareholder does not hold or own any rights to acquire (directly or indirectly) any other equity securities of the Company or any other equity securities convertible into, or which can be exchanged for, equity securities of the Company;
(g) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Company Shareholder does not, and the performance by such Company Shareholder of its, his or her obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not constitute or result in, (i) if such Company Shareholder is not an individual, conflict with or result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Company Shareholder, or (ii) require any consent or approval from any third party that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Company Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiary, to the extent the creation of such Lien would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Company Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement;
(h) there are no Actions pending against such Company Shareholder or, to the knowledge of such Company Shareholder, threatened against such Company Shareholder, before (or, in the case of threatened Actions, that would be before) any Governmental Authority, which in any manner questions the beneficial or record ownership of such Company Shareholder’s Subject Shares or the validity of this Agreement, or challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Company Shareholder of its, his or her obligations under this Agreement; there is no outstanding Order imposed upon such Company Shareholder, or, if applicable, any of such Company Shareholder’s Subsidiaries;
5
(i) no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with this Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Company Shareholder;
(j) such Company Shareholder has had the opportunity to read the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with such Company Shareholder’s tax and legal advisors;
(k) such Company Shareholder has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent such Company Shareholder from performing any of Company Shareholder’s obligations hereunder;
(l) such Company Shareholder understands and acknowledges that each of Parent and the Company is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Company Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of such Company Shareholder contained herein; and
(m) such Company Shareholder is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Parent and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and has independently and without reliance upon Parent or the Company and based on such information as such Company Shareholder has deemed appropriate, made its, his or her own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Company Shareholder acknowledges that Parent and the Company have not made and do not make any representation or warranty to such Company Shareholder, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Company Shareholder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Shares held by such Company Shareholder are irrevocable.
Article
III
MISCELLANEOUS
3.1 Termination. This Agreement and all of its provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earlier of (a) the Expiration Time, and (b) as to each Company Shareholder, the written agreement of Parent, the Company and such Company Shareholder. Upon such termination of this Agreement, all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will terminate, without any liability or other obligation on the part of any party hereto to any Person in respect hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no party hereto shall have any claim against another (and no person shall have any rights against such party), whether under contract, tort or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from liability arising in respect of any material breach of this Agreement or fraud prior to such termination. This ARTICLE III shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
3.2 Waiver. Each provision in this Agreement may only be waived by written instrument making specific reference to this Agreement signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such provision so waived is sought. No action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including any investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. No failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.
6
3.3 Rights of Third Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the parties hereto, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
3.4 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
3.5 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Any proceeding or Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in a federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, if such federal court does not have jurisdiction over any such Actions, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division, sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York (and any appellate court therefrom), and each of the parties hereto irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Action, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any proceeding or Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 3.5.
(b) EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
3.6 Assignment. No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof or delegate any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any such assignment, transfer or delegation without such prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
3.7 Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent any breach, or threatened breach, of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.
7
3.8 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed by Parent, the Company and each Company Shareholder, and which makes reference to this Agreement.
3.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties hereto further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.
3.10 Notices. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent or given in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement to the applicable party, with respect to the Company and Parent, at the respective addresses set forth in Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement, and, with respect to a Company Shareholder, at the address set forth on Schedule I.
3.11 Headings; Counterparts. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
3.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the subject matter hereof.
3.13 Adjustment for Stock Split. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Company or the Subject Shares by way of share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations or the like, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Company Shareholders, Parent, the Company, or the Subject Shares, as so changed.
3.14 No Partnership, Agency or Joint Venture. This Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship among the Company Shareholders, the Company and Parent, and is not intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship among the parties hereto or among any other Company Shareholders entering into agreements with the Company or Parent. Each Company Shareholder has acted independently regarding its, his or her decision to enter into this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Company or Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Subject Shares.
3.15 Capacity as Company Shareholder. Each Company Shareholder signs this Agreement solely in such Company Shareholder’s capacity as a shareholder of the Company, and not in any other capacity, including, if applicable, as a director (including “director by deputization”), officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or affect any actions or inactions by such Company Shareholder or any representative of such Company Shareholder, as applicable, serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, acting in such Person’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including with respect to any exercise or discharge of such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable Laws.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have each caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| PARENT: | |||
| DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP. | |||
| By: | /s/ Peter Ort | ||
| Name: | Peter Ort | ||
| Title: | Principal Executive Officer | ||
[Signature Page to Company Support Agreement]
| COMPANY: | |||
| TITAN STRATEGICS HOLDINGS LTD | |||
| By: | /s/ Adam Peter Clode | ||
| Name: | Adam Peter Clode | ||
| Title: | Sole Director | ||
[Signature Page to Company Support Agreement]
| COMPANY SHAREHOLDER: | |||
| ROPA Investments (Gibraltar) Limited | |||
| By: | /s/ Rohan Patnaik | ||
| Name: | Rohan Patnaik | ||
| Title: | Sole Director | ||
[Signature Page to Company Support Agreement]
Exhibit 10.3
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [●], 2026, by and among Renaissance Nuclear, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) (formerly known as Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company prior to its domestication as a Delaware corporation), DAAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), certain current and/or former shareholders, officers and directors of Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), identified on the signature pages and as set forth on Schedule I hereto (such persons, the “Company Holders”), and other persons and entities identified on the signature pages and as set forth on Schedule I hereto (collectively with the Sponsor, the Company Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement, the “Holders” and each, a “Holder”).
A. Parent and the Company have entered into that certain Merger Agreement dated as of October 7, 2026 (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). Capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
B. On the date hereof, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Holders received Parent Common Shares in connection with the transactions contemplated therein.
C. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for Parent to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Holders have agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. Lock-Up.
(a) During the Lock-up Period provided in Section 1(d) hereof, each Holder agrees that it, he or she will not offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Lock-up Shares (as defined below), establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate with respect to or decrease a call equivalent position with respect to, any of the Lock-up Shares, enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic or voting consequences of ownership of the Lock-up Shares, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of any such Lock-up Shares, in cash or otherwise, publicly disclose the intention to make or to enter into any transaction specified above (such transaction, a “Transaction”), or engage in any Short Sales (as defined below) with respect to the Lock-up Shares (the “Lock-up”).
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, during the Lock-up Period, Parent will (i) place a stop order on all the Lock-up Shares, including those which may be covered by a registration statement or prospectus, and (ii) notify Parent’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on the Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct Parent’s transfer agent not to process any attempts by any Holder to resell or transfer any Lock-up Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement. In addition to any other applicable legends, each certificate or book entry position representing the Lock-up Shares shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF [●], BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SHARES (THE “ISSUER”) AND THE ISSUER’S STOCKHOLDER NAMED THEREIN. A COPY OF SUCH LOCK-UP AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
(c) For purposes hereof, “Short Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.
(d) The term “Lock-up Period” means, subject to Section 1(e), the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the eighteen-month anniversary thereof, during which the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up in five equal installments in accordance with the following schedule:
| i. | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| ii. | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the nine-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| iii. | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the twelve-month anniversary of the Closing Date; |
| iv. | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the fifteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date; and |
| v. | 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up on the eighteen-month anniversary of the Closing Date. |
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at any time during the Lock-up Period, the Uranium Spot Trade Price for any 20 Trading Days within any 30 consecutive Trading Day period equals or exceeds:
| i. | $135, then 20% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate; |
| ii. | $157, then 40% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate; and |
| iii. | $179, then 60% of the Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up, in the aggregate. |
For the avoidance of doubt, the percentages set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above represent the aggregate percentage of Lock-up Shares subject to release pursuant to this Section 1(e) and are not cumulative, and in no event shall more than 60% of the Lock-up Shares be released pursuant to this Section 1(e). Any Lock-up Shares released pursuant to this Section 1(e) shall be in addition to, and shall not reduce, any Lock-up Shares that have been or are to be released pursuant to the time-based schedule set forth in Section 1(d).
2
(f) The term “Lock-up Shares” means, in the case of each Holder, 70% of the Parent Common Shares and any other equity securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or representing the rights to receive Parent Common Shares, if any, beneficially owned by such Holder immediately following the Closing, as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lock-up Shares shall not include (i) Parent Common Shares acquired by any such Holder in open market transactions during the Lock-up Period or (ii) the Advisor Shares.
(g) The term “Trading Day” means any day on which both TradeTech, LLC and UxC, LLC publish a U₃O₈ spot price; provided that, if either TradeTech, LLC or UxC, LLC ceases publishing such spot price or does not publish such spot price for five consecutive Business Days, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the remaining publisher publishes a U₃O₈ spot price or, if neither publisher continues to publish such spot price, any day on which a comparable replacement uranium pricing source selected by the Company in good faith publishes a U₃O₈ spot price.
(h) The term “Uranium Spot Trade Price” means, for any Trading Day, the arithmetic average of the U₃O₈ spot prices per pound most recently published by TradeTech, LLC and UxC, LLC as of such Trading Day and reported on Cameco Corporation’s uranium price webpage; provided that, if only one such price is available, the available price shall control.
2. Beneficial Ownership. Each Holder hereby represents and warrants that it, he or she does not beneficially own, directly or through its nominees (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), any Parent Common Shares, or any economic interest in or derivative of such shares, other than the Parent Common Shares set forth opposite such Holder’s name on Schedule I attached hereto under the column “Parent Common Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately Following Closing”.
3. Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, a Holder may transfer Lock-up Shares in connection with, as applicable, (a) transfers or distributions to such Holder’s current or former general or limited partners, managers or members, shareholders, other equity holders, consultants or direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), including any investment fund, special purpose vehicle or other entity that controls or manages, is under common control or management with, or is controlled or managed by, such Holder, or to the estates of any of the foregoing; (b) transfers by bona fide gift or gifts to a member of such Holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is such Holder or a member of such Holder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, or to a charitable organization; (c) by virtue of a will, testamentary document or the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such Holder; (d) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or as required by a divorce settlement; (e) transfers to Parent’s officers, directors or their affiliates; (f) transfers pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, stock sale, recapitalization, consolidation or other transaction involving a change of control of Parent or which results in all of the holders of Parent Common Shares having the right to exchange their Parent Common Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the consummation of such transaction; provided, however, that in the event that such tender offer, merger, recapitalization, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-up Shares subject to this Agreement shall remain subject to this Agreement; and (g) to the extent required by any legal or regulatory order; provided, however, that, in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (e), it shall be a condition to any such transfer that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto; and (ii) each party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer or disposition prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period.
3
4. Representations and Warranties. Each of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to the others that (a) such party has the full right, capacity and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and is a binding and enforceable obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of such party’s obligations under this Agreement will not conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding to which such party is a party or to which the assets or securities of such party are bound. Each Holder has independently evaluated the merits of his/her/its decision to enter into and deliver this Agreement, and such Holder confirms that he/she/it has not relied on the advice of the Company, the Company’s legal counsel, Parent, Parent’s legal counsel, or any other person.
5. No Additional Fees/Payment. Other than the consideration specifically referenced herein, the parties hereto agree that no fee, payment or additional consideration in any form has been or will be paid to any Holder in connection with this Agreement.
6. Removal of Restrictive Legends and Withdrawal Stop Transfer Instructions Upon Release. Upon the release of any portion of a Holder’s respective Lock-up Shares from the Lockup in accordance with Section 1 hereof, Parent shall promptly (but in no event more than two Business Days following the date of such release) instruct Parent’s transfer agent in writing to remove any restrictive legend above and/or withdraw any stop transfer instructions with respect to the applicable portion of the Lock-Up Shares.
7. Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or nationally recognized overnight courier service, by 5:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and if delivered after 5:00 PM on the first Business Day, addressee’s day and time, after such delivery; (b) if by electronic mail, on the date of transmission with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (c) three Business Days after mailing by prepaid certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
| (a) | If to Parent, to: |
Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.
[Address]
Attention:
E-mail:
with a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):
[__________]
[Address]
Attention:
E-mail:
| (b) | If to a Holder, to the address set forth on Schedule I attached hereto; |
or to such other address(es) as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.
Notices or other communications to any other Holder that becomes a party hereto pursuant to a joinder agreement or other instrument executed by such Holder and binding such Holder to the terms of this Agreement shall be delivered to the address set forth in such joinder agreement or other instrument.
4
8. Enumeration and Headings. The enumeration and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original, electronic or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective upon delivery to each party of an executed counterpart or the earlier delivery to each party of original, photocopied, or electronically transmitted signature pages that together (but need not individually) bear the signatures of all other parties.
10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the terms, covenants, provisions and conditions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is entered into for the benefit of and is enforceable by Parent and its successors and assigns. No party hereto may, except as set forth herein, assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual, and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
11. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and a determination by a court or other legal authority that any provision that is not of the essence of this Agreement is legally invalid shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to substitute (or cause such court or other legal authority to substitute) for any provision so held to be invalid a valid provision, as alike in substance to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
12. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements related hereto (whether written or oral), to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. No provision of this Agreement may be explained or qualified by any agreement, negotiations, understanding, discussion, conduct or course of conduct or by any trade usage. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein, there is no condition precedent to the effectiveness of any provision hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, amended or modified as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto, and cannot be terminated orally or by course of conduct. No provision hereof can be waived, except by a writing signed by the party against whom such waiver is to be enforced, and any such waiver shall apply only in the particular instance in which such waiver shall have been given.
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 may reasonably be considered within the scope of such party’s obligations hereunder, in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
14. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
15. Dispute Resolution. Sections 11.15 and 11.16 of the Merger Agreement are incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall survive the Closing.
16. Governing Law. Section 11.7 of the Merger Agreement is incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to this Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
17. Prior Agreement. For those parties to the letter agreement dated as of April 28, 2025, by and among Parent, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto (the “Letter Agreement”) who are also parties to this Agreement, the lock-up provisions in this Agreement shall supersede the lock-up provisions in the Letter Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 7 of the Letter Agreement. Such provisions of the Letter Agreement shall be of no further force or effect as to such parties.
[Signature Page Follows]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
| Renaissance Nuclear, Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| HOLDERS: | ||
| [__________] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
Schedule I
Parent Common Shares Subject to Lock-Up
| Holder Name | Address | Parent Common Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately Following Closing |
Lock-Up Shares1 | |||
| 1 | For each Holder, insert number of Parent Common Shares equal to 70% of the Parent Common Shares listed for such Holder under column “Parent Common Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately Following Closing”. |
Exhibit 10.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], is made and entered into by and among Renaissance Nuclear, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (formerly known as Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company prior to its domestication as a Delaware corporation), DAAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), certain former shareholders of Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Target”), identified on Schedule 1 and party hereto (such stockholders, the “Target Holders”) and certain other persons and entities party hereto (collectively with the Sponsor, the Target Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 or Section 5.10 of this Agreement, the “Holders” and each, a “Holder”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, the Sponsor and the other holders party thereto are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2025 (the “Existing RRA”);
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2026 (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Target, pursuant to which the Company deregistered from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation (the “Domestication”) and, following the Domestication, Merger Sub merged with and into the Target (the “Merger”), with the Target surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, prior to the Domestication, each Parent Class B Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Domestication, in accordance with the Parent Articles, converted into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share;
WHEREAS, on the date of the Domestication, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share was converted automatically into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company, (ii) each whole Parent Warrant outstanding and unexercised was converted automatically into a Domesticated Parent Warrant to acquire one share of Common Stock, and (iii) each then issued and outstanding Parent Unit separated and converted automatically into one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one redeemable Parent Warrant and each such Parent Class A Ordinary Share and each such whole Parent Warrant converted automatically into one share of Common Stock and one Domesticated Parent Warrant, respectively;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, certain Target Holders received shares of Common Stock;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Existing RRA, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Existing RRA);
WHEREAS, holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities desire to amend and restate the Existing RRA in its entirety and enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders with certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.
“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.1.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Domestication” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Existing RRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
2
“Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1.2.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.
“Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated April 28, 2025, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the other parties thereto.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.
“Lock-up Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Lock-Up Agreement.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.1.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom such Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and the Company and any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2.1.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post- effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) any outstanding shares of Common Stock held by a Holder immediately following the Closing, including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to a Holder pursuant to the Merger Agreement (including the Advisor Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement)), and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise, conversion, vesting or settlement of any other equity security of the Company held by a Holder immediately following the Closing; (b) any outstanding shares of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of other equity security of the Company acquired by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; (c) any Additional Holder Common Stock; and (d) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a), (b) or (c) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement by the applicable Holder; (B)(i) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, (ii) new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and (iii) subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 or any successor rule promulgated under the Securities Act (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations including as to manner or timing of sale); and (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
3
“Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a registration statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented, out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration, listing and filing fees, including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) in an Underwritten Offering or Other Coordinated Offering, reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders, up to $150,000 in the aggregate.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1 Shelf, the Form S-3 Shelf or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).
“Shelf Takedown” shall mean any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2.
“Target” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Target Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
4
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS AND OFFERINGS
2.1 Shelf Registration.
2.1.1 Filing. Within thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date (the “Filing Date”), the Company shall submit to or file with the Commission a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf”), if the Company is then eligible to use a Form S-3 Shelf, in each case, covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such submission or filing) on a delayed or continuous basis as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the 60th calendar day following the Filing Date; provided that the Company shall have the Shelf declared effective within five business days after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the staff of the Commission that the Shelf will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review by the Commission; provided further that if such date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, such date shall be extended to the next business day on which the Commission is closed for business and if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown then such date shall be extended by the same number of business days that the Commission remains closed. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. The Company shall maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.1, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.
2.1.2 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.2, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.
5
2.1.3 Additional Registration Statement(s). Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of such Holder, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered twice per calendar year for each of the Sponsor and the Target Holders.
2.1.4 Requests for Underwritten Offerings. Subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time on or after (x) in the case of Registrable Securities that are subject to the Lock-up Agreement, the date that is three months prior to the date such securities shall be released from the Lock-up (as defined in the Lock-up Agreement), and (y) in all other cases, the date hereof, the Sponsor or a Target Holder (any of the Sponsor or a Target Holder being in such case, a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering; provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $25 million (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Offerings shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Offering. Subject to Section 2.4.4, the initial Demanding Holder shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Sponsor and the Target Holders may each demand not more than one (1) Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 in any twelve (12) month period, for an aggregate of not more than two (2) Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 in any twelve (12) month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.
2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Offering (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, before including any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities proposed to be sold by Company or by other holders of shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that all of the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering), (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of persons other than Holders of Registrable Securities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
6
2.1.6 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering; provided that the Sponsor or a Target Holder may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Offering if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Offering by the Sponsor, the Target Holders or any of their respective Permitted Transferees, as applicable. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.6.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. Subject to Section 2.4.3, if the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, (v) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing securityholders, (vi) for a rights offering, (vii) for an equity line of credit or an at the market offering of securities, (viii) a Block Trade or (ix) an Other Coordinated Offering, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such registered offering, a “Piggyback Registration”); provided, in the case of an “overnight” or “bought” offering, such requests must be made by the Holders within two (2) business days after delivery of any such notice by the Company; provided further that if the Company has been advised in writing by the managing Underwriter(s) that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing, or distribution of the shares of Common Stock in an Underwritten Offering, then (1) if no Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the managing Underwriter(s), the Company shall not be required to offer such opportunity to such Holders or (2) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the managing Underwriter(s), then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.2.2. Subject to the foregoing proviso and to Section 2.2.2, the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering.
7
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) if the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a demand by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(c) if the Registration or registered offering and Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in Section 2.1.5.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Offering, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.6) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration (which, in no circumstance, shall include a Shelf) at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.6), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3.
8
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1.6, any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Offering under Section 2.1.4 hereof.
2.3 Reserved.
2.4 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.
2.4.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, at any time and from time to time following (x) in the case of Registrable Securities that are subject to the Lock-up Agreement, the date that is three months prior to the date such securities shall be released from the Lock-up (as defined in the Lock-up Agreement), and (y) in all other cases, the date hereof, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”), or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, (x) with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed $25 million in the aggregate or (y) with respect to all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters, brokers, sales agents or placement agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.
2.4.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in- interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and any brokers, sales agents or placement agents (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.4.2.
2.4.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.
2.4.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and any brokers, sales agents or placement agents (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering (in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).
2.4.5 A Demanding Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than two (2) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.4 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4 hereof.
9
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or have ceased to be Registrable Securities;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least five percent (5%) of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or have ceased to be Registrable Securities;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided that the Company shall have no obligation to furnish any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”);
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
10
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be (a) necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable or (b) advisable in order to reduce the number of days that sales are suspended pursuant to Section 3.4), furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein), including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4;
3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering, or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, in each of the following cases to the extent customary for a transaction of its type, permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s or entity’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives, Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided, further, that the Company may not include the name of any Holder or any information regarding any Holder in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and providing each such Holder a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration (subject to such broker, placement agent or sales agent providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountants and the Company’s counsel) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters for a transaction of its type as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, to the extent customary for a transaction of its type, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the broker, placement agents or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, broker, placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;
11
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or the broker, placement agent or sales agent of such offering or sale;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule then in effect), which requirement will be deemed satisfied if the Company timely files Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K as may be required to be filed under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act;
3.1.15 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter, broker, sales agent or placement agent if such Underwriter, broker, sales agent or placement agent has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration as an Underwriter, broker, sales agent or placement agent, as applicable.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Registration Statement and Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that it is necessary or advisable to include such information in the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. In addition, no person or entity may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person or entity (i) agrees to sell such person’s or entity’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting, sales, distribution or placement arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting or other agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting, sales, distribution or placement arrangements. For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
12
3.4.2 Subject to Section 3.4.4, if the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board such Registration, be seriously detrimental to the Company and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 3.4.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from the Company that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed, and in each case maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents.
3.4.3 Subject to Section 3.4.4, (a) during the period starting with the date thirty (30) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.4, Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering and the Company and Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4 or 2.4.
3.4.4 The right to delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3.4.2 or a registered offering pursuant to Section 3.4.3 shall be exercised by the Company, in the aggregate, on not more than two occasions for not more than thirty (30) consecutive calendar days on each occasion or not more than sixty (60) total calendar days, in each case, during any twelve (12)-month period.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect), including causing an opinion of the Company’s counsel be provided. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6 Restrictive Legend Removal. Subject to receipt from the Holder by the Company and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) of such customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection therewith, the Holder may request that the Company remove any legend from the book entry position evidencing its Registrable Securities and the Company will, if required by the Transfer Agent, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause an opinion of the Company’s counsel to be provided, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Transfer Agent to the effect that the removal of such restrictive legends in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act following the earliest of such time as such Registrable Securities (i) are eligible for resale by pursuant to an effective Registration, (ii) have been sold or transferred pursuant to an effective Registration, (iii) have been sold pursuant to Rule 144, or (iv) are eligible for resale under Rule 144(b)(1) or any successor provision without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions applicable to the sale or transfer of such Registrable Securities. If restrictive legends are no longer required for such Registrable Securities pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.6 and within three (3) trading days of any request therefor from the Holder accompanied by such customary and reasonably acceptable representations and other documentation referred to above establishing that restrictive legends are no longer required, (i) deliver to the Transfer Agent irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent shall make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry Registrable Securities, together with any opinion of the Company’s counsel required by the Transfer Agent pursuant to the foregoing sentence of this Section 3.6, and/or (ii) cause the Transfer Agent to electronically transmit such new, unlegended Registrable Securities to the Holder by crediting the account of such Holder’s prime broker with DTC through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian system. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent, its legal counsel (including for purposes of giving the opinion referenced herein) and all DTC fees associated with such issuance.
13
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents and each person or entity who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of a Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made), except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person or entity who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of a Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made), but only to the extent that such untrue statement is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person or entity who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus one local counsel if necessary in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified party) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
14
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and documented out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and documented out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.1.5. No person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
4.1.6 Each person or entity entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV who is not a party to this Agreement is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Article IV and shall be entitled to enforce the provisions hereof as if such person or entity were a party hereto.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or nationally recognized overnight courier service, by 5:00 PM on a business day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and if delivered after 5:00 PM on the first business day, addressee’s day and time, after such delivery; (b) if by electronic mail, on the date of transmission with affirmative confirmation of receipt; or (c) three business days after mailing by prepaid certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows, or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions: if to the Company, to: Renaissance Nuclear, Inc., [ADDRESS], Attention: [__________], E-mail: [__________], with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: [__________], [ADDRESS], Attention: [__________], E-mail: [__________], and, if to any Holder (including the Sponsor or any Target Holder), at such Holder’s address or electronic mail address as set forth in the Company’s books and records.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. Subject to Section 5.10, this Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees to which it transfers Registrable Securities; provided that with respect to the Sponsor and the Target Holders, the rights hereunder that are personal to such Holders may not be assigned or delegated in whole or in part, except that (i) each of the Target Holders shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder by such Target Holder to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of such Target Holder (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce or multiply any rights of such Target Holder or such transferees) and (ii) the Sponsor shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the Sponsor to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of the Sponsor (including the general and limited partners of the Sponsor), which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include a transfer of its rights in connection with a distribution of any Registrable Securities held by the Sponsor to its members (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce or multiply any rights of the Sponsor or such transferees).
5.2.1 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
15
5.2.2 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons or entities that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.
5.2.3 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement, including the joinder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 or Section 5.10 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument. The parties may exchange executed signature pages by electronic mail or other electronic means.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (1) THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL DISPUTES OR CONTROVERSIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OR RULES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT SUCH PRINCIPLES OR RULES WOULD REQUIRE OR PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION, AND (2) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (OTHER THAN ANY ACTION REQUIRED TO BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AS PROVIDED ABOVE) SHALL BE THE FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR, IF SUCH FEDERAL COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COMMERCIAL DIVISION, SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
5.5 TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of (a) the Company and (b) the Holders of a majority of the total Registrable Securities, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof shall also require the written consent of the Sponsor so long as the Sponsor and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof shall also require the written consent of each Target Holder so long as such Target Holder and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and provided, further, that any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
16
5.7 Other Registration Rights. Other than as provided in (i) the Existing RRA, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated April 28, 2025, by and between the Company and the Sponsor, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated April 28, 2025, by and among the Company, Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC and Clear Street LLC, and (iii) any subscription agreement entered into by the Company and the investors party thereto in connection with a PIPE Financing (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the Company represents and warrants that no person or entity, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person or entity. The Company hereby agrees and covenants that it will not grant rights to register any shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock) pursuant to the Securities Act that are more favorable, pari passu or senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder without (a) the prior written consent of (i) the Sponsor, for so long as the Sponsor and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and (ii) a Target Holder, for so long as such Target Holder and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; or (b) granting economically and legally equivalent rights to the Holders hereunder such that the Holders shall receive the benefit of such more favorable or senior terms and/or conditions. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate, with respect to any Holder, on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
5.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
5.10 Additional Holders; Joinder. In addition to persons or entities who may become Holders pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, subject to the prior written consent of each of (i) the Sponsor (so long as the Sponsor and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock) and (ii) a Target Holder (so long as such Target Holder and its respective affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), the Company may make any person or entity who acquires shares of Common Stock or rights to acquire shares of Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such person or entity, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the shares of Common Stock then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock.
5.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
5.12 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. Upon the Closing, the Existing RRA shall no longer be of any force or effect.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| RENAISSANCE NUCLEAR, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| HOLDERS: | ||
| DAAQ SPONSOR LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| TARGET HOLDERS (for entities): | ||
| [TARGET HOLDER] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
|
Address for Notice: [____________] [____________] Email: [_________]
|
||
| TARGET HOLDERS (for individuals): | ||
| [TARGET HOLDER] | ||
| Name: [TARGET HOLDER] | ||
|
Address for Notice: [____________] [____________] Email: [_________] |
||
Schedule 1
Target Holders
Exhibit A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [●] (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Renaissance Nuclear, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the ______ day of __________, 20__.
| Signature of Holder | ||
| Print Name of Holder | ||
| Title: | ||
| Address: | ||
| E-mail: | ||
Agreed and Accepted as of
____________, 20__
[__________]
| By: |
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 10.5
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on October 7, 2026, by and between Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“DAAC”), DAAQ Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the undersigned subscriber (“Subscriber”).
This Subscription Agreement substitutes and replaces any other previously signed Subscription Agreements (if any) among the Subscriber, Sponsor and DAAC.
WHEREAS, DAAC is entering into a Merger Agreement by and between Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Titan Strategics Holdings”), and DAAC (such merger agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement” and the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, the “Transaction”);
WHEREAS, Titan Strategics Holdings and ROPA Investments (Gibraltar) Limited, a Gibraltar corporation (“ROPA”), have undertaken a restructuring resulting in Titan Strategics Holdings becoming (i) a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ROPA, and (ii) the direct owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in Titan Strategics AS (“Titan”), a corporation formed under the laws of Norway;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, DAAC will form a Cayman Islands exempted company as a wholly-owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction and as more fully described in the Agreement, DAAC shall de-register from the Register of Companies in the Cayman Islands by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware and domesticate as a Delaware corporation (the “Domestication”), and upon which, (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into Titan Strategics Holdings (the “Merger”), following which Titan Strategics Holdings will be the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of DAAC, with DAAC remaining as the publicly listed combined company after its re-domestication as a Delaware corporation (DAAC, in its capacity as the publicly listed combined company after the Domestication is referred to herein as “PubCo”); and (ii) contemporaneous with the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will change its name to a name to be mutually agreed by the parties prior to the closing of the Transaction; and (iii) DAAC will change its name to “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.”;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, DAAC is seeking commitments from interested investors to purchase shares of the common stock of PubCo (the “Shares”) as set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Subscribed Securities”), in a private placement for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Price” and the aggregate of such Per Share Price for all Subscribed Securities (as defined below) being referred to herein as the “Purchase Price”);
WHEREAS, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase, or to introduce other accredited investors (the “Other Subscribers”) to subscribe for and purchase, from PubCo, in connection with the consummation of the Transaction, the Subscribed Securities and PubCo desires to issue and sell, or cause to be issued and sold, to Subscriber and such Other Subscribers the Subscribed Securities in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price; and
WHEREAS, the Subscriber, Sponsor and DAAC are executing and delivering this Subscription Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the Closing (as defined below), Subscriber hereby subscribes for and agrees to purchase, or to introduce the Other Subscribers to purchase, and PubCo hereby agrees to issue and sell, or cause to be issued and sold, to Subscriber and such Other Subscribers, upon the payment of the Purchase Price, the Subscribed Securities (such subscription and issuance, the “Subscription”). Any Other Subscriber participating in the Subscription must execute a joinder agreement to this Subscription Agreement, in a form mutually acceptable to DAAC and Subscriber (a “Joinder Agreement”), setting forth the number of Subscribed Securities to be purchased by such Other Subscriber. DAAC acknowledges that, except with respect to the delivery of the Additional Shares, any Other Subscribers executing a Joinder Agreement shall have the rights and benefits of Subscriber hereunder with respect to their Subscribed Securities.
2. Closing.
(a) The consummation of the Subscription and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) is contingent upon the substantially concurrent consummation of the Transaction and shall occur on the Closing Date concurrently with the consummation of the Transaction.
(b) At least five Business Days (as defined below) before the anticipated Closing Date, DAAC shall deliver written notice to Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) specifying: (i) the anticipated Closing Date and (ii) the wire instructions for delivery of the Purchase Price to PubCo or its designee. No later than two Business Days after receiving the Closing Notice, Subscriber shall (i) deliver to PubCo such information as is reasonably requested in the Closing Notice in order for PubCo to issue or cause to be issued the Subscribed Securities to Subscriber and any Other Subscribers and (ii) deliver the Purchase Price by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified in the Closing Notice, such funds to be held in escrow by a third-party escrow provider selected by DAAC until the Closing or as otherwise provided herein in accordance with Section 2(d). Upon satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the conditions set forth in this Section 2, at the Closing the Purchase Price shall be released from escrow automatically and without further action by DAAC, PubCo, Sponsor or Subscriber.
2
(c) On the Closing Date, PubCo shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Subscriber and any Other Subscriber who has executed a Joinder Agreement: (i) the Subscribed Securities, against payment of the Purchase Price to be released from the escrow, and cause the Subscribed Securities to be registered in book entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under this Subscription Agreement or state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber or such Other Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by either of the foregoing, as applicable, on PubCo’s share register and provide to Subscriber or such Other Subscriber evidence of such issuance from the transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), and (ii) a written record from PubCo or its Transfer Agent evidencing the issuance to Subscriber or such Other Subscriber of the Subscribed Securities on and as of the Closing Date. In addition, on the Closing Date, in consideration of the Subscriber’s purchase of the Subscribed Securities contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, PubCo shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to Subscriber: (i) 250,000 newly issued shares of PubCo common stock (the “Additional Shares”), and cause the Additional Shares to be registered in book entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under this Subscription Agreement or state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable, on PubCo’s share register and provide to Subscriber evidence of such issuance from the Transfer Agent), and (ii) a written record from PubCo or its Transfer Agent evidencing the issuance to Subscriber of the Additional Shares on and as of the Closing Date. Immediately prior to the issuance of the Additional Shares and immediately following the Domestication, Sponsor agrees to forfeit to PubCo for no consideration a number of Shares equal to the number of Additional Shares (the “Forfeiture Shares”).
(d) In the event that the consummation of the Transaction does not occur within five Business Days after the anticipated Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice (unless otherwise agreed to in writing by DAAC and Subscriber), such third-party escrow provider, as applicable, shall promptly (but in no event later than seven Business Days thereafter) cause the return of the funds so delivered by Subscriber or any Other Subscriber by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by Subscriber, and any book entries shall be deemed cancelled; provided, however, that unless this Subscription Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 8 below, such return of funds shall not terminate this Subscription Agreement or relieve Subscriber or any Other Subscriber of its obligation to redeliver funds to PubCo on the new Closing Date following PubCo redelivering to Subscriber a new Closing Notice and to purchase the Subscribed Securities and the Additional Shares at the Closing. For the purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which either the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or governmental authorities in the Cayman Islands (for so long as DAAC remains domiciled in Cayman Islands) are authorized or required by law to close.
3
(e) The Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver by DAAC and Sponsor, on the one hand, or Subscriber, on the other, of the conditions that, on the Closing Date:
| (i) | no suspension of the qualification of the Subscribed Securities or the Additional Shares for offering or sale or trading in any jurisdiction, or initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be continuing; |
| (ii) | all conditions precedent to the closing of the Transaction set forth in Article 9 of the Agreement (other than those conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or waived, and the closing of the Transaction shall be scheduled to occur substantially concurrently with or immediately following the Closing; |
| (iii) | no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction with respect to the sale of the Shares shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose any such restraint or prohibition; and |
| (iv) | the Subscribed Securities and the Additional Shares shall be qualified for listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Nasdaq”) or an approved stock exchange as permitted under the Agreement (an “Approved Exchange”). |
(f) The obligation of DAAC and Sponsor to consummate the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver by DAAC and Sponsor of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
| (i) | all representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by Subscriber of each of the representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date; and |
4
| (ii) | Subscriber shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing. |
(g) The obligation of Subscriber to consummate the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver by Subscriber of the additional conditions that, on the Closing Date:
| (i) | all representations and warranties of DAAC and Sponsor contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than (x) representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality, Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), or Sponsor Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) and (y) the representations and warranties of DAAC in Section 3(o), which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality, Company Material Adverse Effect, or Sponsor Material Adverse Effect, which representations and warranties shall be true in all respects) as of such date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by DAAC and Sponsor of each of the representations and warranties of DAAC or Sponsor, as applicable, contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date; |
| (ii) | DAAC and Sponsor shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; |
| (iii) | there shall have been no Company Material Adverse Effect since the date hereof; and |
| (iv) | except to the extent consented in writing by the Subscriber, no amendment, modification or waiver of the Agreement shall have occurred that materially and adversely affects the economics of the Subscribed Securities or Additional Shares that Subscriber is acquiring pursuant to this Subscription Agreement. |
5
(h) No later than two business days prior to the Closing, Subscriber shall deliver to DAAC a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or appropriate Form W-8.
(i) At and from the Closing, PubCo, Sponsor and Subscriber shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the Subscription as contemplated in this Subscription Agreement.
3. DAAC Representations and Warranties. DAAC represents and warrants to Subscriber that (for purposes of this Section 3, unless otherwise stated, (i) the “Company” shall refer to DAAC prior to the consummation of the Transaction and Domestication and PubCo following the consummation of the Transaction and Domestication, and (ii) “Subscribed Securities” shall be deemed to include the “Additional Shares”):
(a) DAAC (i) is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (to the extent such concept exists in such jurisdiction) and, as of the Closing Date, following the Domestication and Merger, PubCo will be duly incorporated, validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to conduct its business and, if applicable, is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than its jurisdiction of incorporation) in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties or assets requires such license or qualification, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Securities. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Company Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken together as a whole (on a consolidated basis), that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, stockholders equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken together as a whole (on a consolidated basis).
6
(b) As of the Closing Date, the Subscribed Securities will be duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to Subscriber or any Other Subscriber against full payment of the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under PubCo’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. As of the date hereof, except pursuant to, or as contemplated by, the outstanding redeemable warrants of DAAC, each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share of DAAC at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (the “warrants”) of which the number of such redeemable warrants outstanding are set forth in the SEC Reports (as defined below), or (iii) the units of DAAC, with each unit comprised of one ordinary share of DAAC and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant of DAAC, of which the number of such units outstanding are set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of common stock or other equity interests in the Company (collectively, “Equity Interests”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Equity Interests. As of the date hereof, with the exception of Merger Sub, the Company has no subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. There are no shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any Equity Interests, other than as contemplated by the Agreement. Except as disclosed in the Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules thereto), there are no securities or instruments issued by the Company or to which the Company is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered, by (i) the issuance of the Subscribed Securities, (ii) the Merger or (iii) the Transaction, except in each case for such anti-dilution or similar provisions the application of which has been effectively waived.
(c) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by DAAC, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Subscriber and Sponsor, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of DAAC and, following the Transactions, PubCo, enforceable against DAAC and PubCo in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies.
(d) The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject; (ii) the organizational documents of the Company; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties that, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Securities.
7
(e) The Company is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, guarantee, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Company is a party or by which the Company’s properties or assets are bound or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that have not had and would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Neither DAAC nor any of its (i) predecessors, (ii) affiliates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), (iii) directors, (iv) executive officers, (v) beneficial owners of 20% or more of its outstanding voting equity securities (calculated on the basis of voting power), (vi) promoters or (vii) investment managers (including any of such investment managers’ directors, executive officers or officers participating in the placement contemplated by this Agreement) or general partners or managing members of such investment managers (including any of such general partners’ or managing members’ directors, executive officers or officers participating in the placement contemplated by this Subscription Agreement) is subject to the disqualification provisions of Rule 506(d)(1)(i-viii) of Regulation D under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”). DAAC has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to Subscriber a copy of any disclosure provided thereunder.
(g) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth in Section 5 of this Subscription Agreement, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization (including Nasdaq) or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Subscribed Securities), other than (i) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (ii) the filing of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 6 below, (iii) the filing of a Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D under the Securities Act, if applicable, (iv) those required by Nasdaq, including with respect to obtaining stockholder approval of the Transaction, (v) those required to consummate the Transaction as provided under the Agreement, (vi) the filing of notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, if applicable, and (vii) the failure of which to obtain would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Securities.
8
(h) As of their respective dates, all reports (the “SEC Reports”) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission since its initial registration statement of the units and until the date hereof under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments. There are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the Commission staff with respect to any of the SEC Reports.
(i) As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of DAAC are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “DAAQ”. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of DAAC, threatened against DAAC by Nasdaq or the Commission with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister its ordinary shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of its ordinary shares on Nasdaq. DAAC has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of its ordinary shares under the Exchange Act or the listing of the ordinary shares on Nasdaq. Following the Merger, PubCo’s shares of common stock are expected to be registered under the Exchange Act and listed for trading on an Approved Exchange.
(j) The Company is in compliance with all applicable laws, except where such non-compliance would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Except for such matters as have not had and would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Subscribed Securities, as of the date hereof, there is no (i) suit, action, proceeding or arbitration before a governmental authority or arbitrator pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental authority or arbitrator outstanding against the Company.
(l) Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 below, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Subscribed Securities by the Company to Subscriber.
(m) Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Subscribed Securities.
(n) Except for Evolution Capital Pty Ltd, (i) the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement entitling any agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement for which Subscriber could become liable; and (ii) the Company is not aware of any person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of any Shares to the Subscriber.
9
(o) As of the Closing, DAAC has not entered into any side letter or similar agreement with any Other Subscribers in connection with this Subscription Agreement.
(p) The Company is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Subscribed Securities will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4. Sponsor Representations and Warranties. Sponsor represents and warrants to Subscriber that:
(a) The Sponsor (i) is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to conduct its business and, if applicable, is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than its jurisdiction of formation) in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties or assets requires such license or qualification, except, with respect to the foregoing clause (iii), where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Sponsor’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Forfeiture Shares (a “Sponsor Material Adverse Effect”).
(b) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Sponsor, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Subscriber and DAAC, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Sponsor, enforceable against the Sponsor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies.
(c) The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement and the compliance by the Sponsor with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Sponsor pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Sponsor is a party or by which the Sponsor is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Sponsor (including the Forfeiture Shares) is subject; (ii) the organizational documents of the Sponsor; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Sponsor or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect.
10
(d) The Sponsor is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Sponsor, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, guarantee, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Sponsor is a party or by which the Sponsor’s properties or assets (including the Forfeiture Shares) are bound, or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency, taxing authority or regulatory body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Sponsor or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect.
5. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants to DAAC that (for purposes of this Section 5, unless otherwise stated, “Subscribed Securities” shall be deemed to include the “Additional Shares”):
(a) Subscriber (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, and (ii) has the requisite power and authority to enter into, consummate the transactions contemplated by, and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
(b) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Subscriber, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by DAAC and Sponsor, this Subscription Agreement shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies.
(c) The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the purchase of the Subscribed Securities and the compliance by Subscriber with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject; (ii) the organizational documents of Subscriber; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of its properties that, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), would reasonably be expected to have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change, development, occurrence, condition or effect with respect to Subscriber that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Subscriber’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the purchase of the Subscribed Securities.
11
(d) Subscriber (i) is (x) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or (y) an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Annex A hereto; (ii) is acquiring the Subscribed Securities only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is subscribing for the Subscribed Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a qualified institutional buyer and Subscriber has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (iii) is not acquiring the Subscribed Securities with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction (and has provided DAAC with the requested information on Annex A following the signature page hereto). Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Subscribed Securities. Subscriber has no present intent to effect a “change of control” of DAAC or PubCo as such term is understood under the rules promulgated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
(e) Subscriber understands that the Subscribed Securities are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the offering and sale of the Subscribed Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any applicable state securities laws. Subscriber understands that the Subscribed Securities may not be resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to DAAC, PubCo or a subsidiary thereof, or (ii) pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each of cases (i) and (ii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any book entry positions representing the Shares shall contain a restrictive legend (the “Restricted Legend”) to such effect. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Securities will be subject to these securities law transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Subscribed Securities and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Subscribed Securities for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscribed Securities will not immediately be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and that the provisions of Rule 144(i) will apply to the Subscribed Securities. Subscriber understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of any of the Subscribed Securities.
12
(f) In making its decision to purchase the Subscribed Securities, Subscriber has relied solely upon independent investigation made by Subscriber. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that Subscriber has received such information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Securities, including with respect to DAAC, PubCo (including Titan Strategics Holdings and Titan) and the Transaction. Subscriber represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have (i) had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as Subscriber and such undersigned’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Subscribed Securities and (ii) conducted and completed independent due diligence with respect to the Subscription and the Subscribed Securities. Based on such information as Subscriber has deemed appropriate and without reliance upon DAAC or any of its Representatives (as defined below), Subscriber has independently made its own analysis and decision to enter into the Subscription, and has not relied on any statements or other information provided by any of DAAC, PubCo, Titan Strategics Holdings, Titan or any of their respective affiliates or Representatives (collectively, the “Covered Persons”), with respect to DAAC, PubCo, Titan Strategics Holdings, Titan or the Subscribed Securities, except for the representations and warranties of DAAC set forth herein. In addition, except for the representations and warranties of DAAC set forth herein, Subscriber is relying exclusively on its own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence (including professional advice it deems appropriate) with respect to the Subscription, the Subscribed Securities and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of DAAC, PubCo, Titan Strategics Holdings, Titan and their respective affiliates, including but not limited to all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters. As used in this Subscription Agreement: (i) “Representatives” means, collectively, with respect to any person, such person’s officers, directors, employees or other representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors, accountants or agents, and (ii) “affiliates” means, with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person; for purposes of this definition, “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
(g) Subscriber hereby acknowledges and agrees that no disclosure or offering document has been prepared in connection with the offer and sale of the Subscribed Securities by any Covered Person, and no Covered Person has made or will make any representation or warranty (except for the representations and warranties of DAAC set forth herein), whether express or implied, of any kind or character and has not provided any advice or recommendation in connection with the Subscription.
(h) Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Subscribed Securities solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber and DAAC and the Subscribed Securities were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber and DAAC. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Subscribed Securities, nor were the Subscribed Securities offered to Subscriber, by any other means. Subscriber acknowledges that DAAC represents and warrants that the Subscribed Securities (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber shall be responsible for any of Subscriber’s tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, and that none of DAAC, PubCo, Titan Strategics Holdings, Titan nor any of their respective affiliates or Representatives has provided any tax advice or any other representation or guarantee regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement. Except for Evolution Capital Pty Ltd, the purchase of the Subscribed Securities has not been solicited by or through anyone other than DAAC.
(i) Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Subscribed Securities. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Subscribed Securities, and Subscriber has had an opportunity to seek, and has sought, such accounting, legal, business and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.
13
(j) Subscriber has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Subscribed Securities and determined that the Subscribed Securities are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in DAAC. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists. Subscriber has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the Subscription.
(k) Subscriber understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Subscribed Securities or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
(l) Neither Subscriber nor, to the knowledge of the Subscriber, any of its officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function is: (i) a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List or any other similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC or in any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or any individual European Union member state or by the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Sanctions Lists”) or a person or entity prohibited by any OFAC sanctions program; (ii) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons on a Sanctions List; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national or the government, including any political subdivision agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, the Crimea region of Ukraine or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state or the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515; or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, a “Prohibited Investor”). Subscriber agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that Subscriber is permitted to do so under applicable law. Subscriber and, to the knowledge of the Subscriber, each of its officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function, are and, since April 24, 2019, have been in compliance with: (x) applicable anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope, (y) applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws or regulations regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 U.S. Code sections 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder, or (z) except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect, any laws with respect to import and export control and economic sanctions, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and economic sanctions regulations and executive orders administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control. Subscriber further represents and warrants that, to the extent applicable, it maintains, either directly or through the use of a third-party administrator, policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Subscribed Securities were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor, and that such funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Subscribed Securities were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor.
(m) Subscriber does not have, as of the date hereof, any “put equivalent position” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, any “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, and any type of direct or indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and or other short sale positions, whether through a broker dealer or otherwise, with respect to the securities of DAAC (collectively, “Short Sales”). Subscriber will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and until the closing of the Transaction, engage in any Short Sales with respect to the Subscribed Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case (i) other entities under common management with Subscriber that have no knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of Subscriber’s participation in the Transaction (including Subscriber’s affiliates) or (ii) Subscriber is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Subscriber’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Subscriber’s assets, then, in each case, the foregoing representation shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Subscribed Securities covered by this Agreement.
14
(n) If Subscriber is an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of ERISA, a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code , or an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a “Plan”) subject to the fiduciary or prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code, Subscriber represents and warrants that neither PubCo, nor any of its respective affiliates (the “Transaction Parties”) has acted as the Plan’s fiduciary, or has been relied on for advice, with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Subscribed Securities, and none of the Transaction Parties shall at any time be relied upon as the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision to acquire, continue to hold or transfer the Subscribed Securities.
(o) Neither (i) Subscriber, (ii) any of its directors, executive officers, other officers that may serve as a director or officer of any company in which it invests, general partners or managing members, nor (iii) any beneficial owner of DAAC’s voting equity securities (in accordance with Rule 506(d) of the Securities Act) held by Subscriber is subject to any Disqualification Event, except for Disqualification Events covered by Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act and disclosed reasonably in advance of the Closing in writing in reasonable detail to DAAC.
(p) At the Closing, Subscriber will have sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2(b) above.
(q) Subscriber acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to DAAC, PubCo, Titan Strategics Holdings, Titan and their respective affiliates.
(r) Subscriber agrees that, notwithstanding Section 10(j) below, after the Closing, PubCo may rely upon the representations and warranties made by Subscriber to DAAC and PubCo in this Subscription Agreement.
(s) Subscriber has no binding commitment to dispose of, or otherwise transfer (directly or indirectly) any of the Subscribed Securities.
15
6. Registration of Registrable Securities.
(a) DAAC agrees that, within 30 calendar days following the Closing Date (the “Filing Date”), PubCo will file with the Commission (at PubCo’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Registrable Securities (the “Registration Statement”), and PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but in any event no later than the earlier of (i) 60 calendar days after the Filing Date thereof (or, in the event the Commission notifies PubCo that it will “review” the Registration Statement, the 90th calendar day following the Filing Date thereof) and (ii) 15 Business Days after the date PubCo is notified in writing by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Date”). PubCo will provide a draft of the Registration Statement to Subscriber for review (but not comment) at least three Business Days in advance of the filing of the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission prevents PubCo from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 under the Securities Act for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the applicable stockholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of Registrable Securities which is equal to the maximum number of Registrable Securities as is permitted to be registered by the Commission. In such event, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each selling stockholder named in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling stockholders and as promptly as practicable after being permitted to register additional Registrable Securities under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, PubCo shall amend the Registration Statement or file a new Registration Statement to register such additional Registrable Securities and cause such amendment or Registration Statement to become effective not later than the time periods set forth in Section 6(a). Without limiting the foregoing obligations, For purposes of clarification, any failure by PubCo to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Date or to effect such Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Date shall not otherwise relieve PubCo of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement as set forth above in this Section 6(a). PubCo will pay all fees and expenses in connection with its obligation under this Section 6(a).
(b) DAAC agrees that, except for such times as PubCo is permitted hereunder to suspend the effectiveness or use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, PubCo will use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement, or another shelf registration statement that includes the Registrable Securities, to remain effective with respect to Subscriber until the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities shall have been sold under the Registration Statement, and (ii) the first date on which Subscriber can sell all of its Registrable Securities (or shares received in exchange therefor) under Rule 144 under the Securities Act without limitation as to the manner of sale or the amount of such securities that may be sold and without the requirement for PubCo to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable). For as long as the Registration Statement shall remain effective pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, PubCo will use commercially reasonable efforts to file all reports, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable Subscriber to resell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, qualify the Registrable Securities for listing on the applicable stock exchange on which PubCo’s shares of common stock are then listed, and update or amend the Registration Statement as necessary to include the Registrable Securities.
16
(c) Subscriber agrees to disclose its beneficial ownership, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Registrable Securities to PubCo (or its successor) upon request to assist PubCo in making the determination described above. DAAC’s and PubCo’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to PubCo such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of PubCo held by Subscriber and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by PubCo to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and Subscriber shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as PubCo may reasonably request that are customary for a selling stockholder in similar situations; provided that Subscriber shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Registrable Securities.
(d) Subscriber agrees PubCo shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement during any customary blackout or similar period or as permitted hereunder. In the case of the registration effected by PubCo pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, PubCo shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration. In no event shall Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless requested by the Commission. If the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, Subscriber will have an opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement. Subscriber shall not be entitled to use the Registration Statement for an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, PubCo may delay or postpone filing of such Registration Statement, and from time to time require Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or suspend the use or effectiveness of any such Registration Statement, if it determines that in order for the registration statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act, or PubCo’s Chief Executive Officer or CFO believes such filing or use could materially affect a bona fide business or financing transaction of PubCo or would require premature disclosure of information that could materially adversely affect PubCo (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided that PubCo shall not declare more than two Suspension Events in any 12-month period; provided further, that no Suspension Event shall be declared within the 30 days following the conclusion of a prior delay in the filing of or initial effectiveness of, or suspension of use of, the Registration Statement (“Suspension Period”); provided further, that the total Suspension Period in any consecutive 12-month period shall not exceed an aggregate of 90 days.
17
(e) At its expense, PubCo shall advise Subscriber within one Business Day: (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose; (ii) of the receipt by PubCo of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (iii) subject to the provisions in this Subscription Agreement, of the occurrence of a Suspension Event or any other event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, PubCo shall not, when so advising Subscriber of such events, provide Subscriber with any material, non-public information regarding PubCo. At its expense, PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable, and upon the occurrence of any event contemplated above (other than a permitted Suspension Event), PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as soon as reasonably practicable, prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Upon receipt of written notice from PubCo of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus), not misleading, the undersigned agrees that (1) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the undersigned receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which PubCo agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by PubCo that it may resume such offers and sales, and (2) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by PubCo unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or regulatory request or requirement. If so directed by PubCo, the undersigned will deliver to PubCo or, in the undersigned’s sole discretion, destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities in the undersigned’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities shall not apply (x) to the extent the undersigned is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (A) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (B) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (y) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
(g) PubCo shall cooperate with the holders of the Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such Registration Statement or Rule 144 free of any restrictive legends and representing such number of Shares and registered in such names as the holders of the Registrable Securities may reasonably request prior to sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement or Rule 144; provided, that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System. Subscriber shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
18
(h) For purposes of this Section 6 and Section 7, “Registrable Securities” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the Subscribed Securities (as defined in the recitals to this Subscription Agreement), the Additional Shares (as defined in Section 2(c) hereof) and any other equity security issued or issuable with respect to the Subscribed Securities or Additional Shares by way of share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event, and “Subscriber” shall include any affiliate of the undersigned Subscriber to which the rights under this Section 6 shall have been duly assigned.
(i) PubCo shall indemnify and hold harmless Subscriber (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement), its officers, directors and agents, trustees, partners, members, managers, stockholders, affiliates, employees, employees of its investment manager or advisors, investment manager or advisors and each person who controls Subscriber (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), amounts paid in settlement and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or incorporated by reference therein), any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, that such Losses arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions were made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to PubCo by Subscriber expressly for use therein or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by PubCo of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement. PubCo shall notify Subscriber promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 6 of which PubCo is aware.
(j) Subscriber shall indemnify and hold harmless PubCo, its directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls PubCo (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or incorporated by reference therein), any prospectus included in the Registration Statement any form of prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, but only to the extent that such Losses arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions were made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to PubCo by Subscriber expressly for use therein. In no event shall the liability of Subscriber be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Subscriber shall notify PubCo promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 6 of which Subscriber is aware.
19
(k) Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (A) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (B) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(l) If the indemnification provided under this Section 6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 6, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 6(l) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Each indemnifying party’s obligation to make a contribution pursuant to this Section 6(l) shall be individual, not joint and several, and in no event shall the liability of any Subscriber hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Subscriber upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
7. Other Covenants.
(a) With a view to making available to Subscriber the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit Subscriber to sell securities of PubCo to the public without registration, PubCo agrees, until Subscriber no longer holds Registrable Securities, to use commercially reasonable efforts to:
| (i) | make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144; |
| (ii) | file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of PubCo under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as PubCo remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and |
| (iii) | furnish to Subscriber so long as it owns Registrable Securities, as promptly as practicable upon request, (x) a written statement by PubCo, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and (y) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit Subscriber to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration. |
20
(b) If requested by Subscriber, PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the removal of the Restricted Legend within two (2) Business Days from:
| (i) | any Registrable Securities being sold by Subscriber under the Registration Statement so long as the Registration Statement is effective and no stop order or Suspension Event is in effect; |
| (ii) | any Registrable Securities being sold by Subscriber under Rule 144 so long as such sale complies with Rule 144 in all respects (and Subscriber certifies to PubCo of such compliance) and PubCo is in compliance with the current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) and with Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable; or |
| (iii) | following the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, all of Subscriber’s Registrable Securities so long as all of its Registrable Securities may be sold by Subscriber under Rule 144 without any volume and manner of sale restrictions (and Subscriber certifies to PubCo accordingly) without the requirement for PubCo to be in compliance with the current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1), and PubCo is in compliance with Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable. |
To the extent required by the Transfer Agent, PubCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its legal counsel to deliver a customary opinion within two Business Days of the delivery of all reasonably necessary representations and other documentation from Subscriber as reasonably requested by PubCo, its counsel or the Transfer Agent by Subscriber to the Transfer Agent to the effect that the removal of the Restricted Legend in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act. Any fees (with respect to the Transfer Agent, PubCo counsel or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of such legend pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be borne by PubCo.
(c) Subscriber hereby agrees that, from the date of this Subscription Agreement, none of Subscriber, its controlled affiliates, or any person or entity acting on behalf of Subscriber or any of its controlled affiliates or pursuant to any understanding with Subscriber or any of its controlled affiliates will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of PubCo prior to the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) nothing herein shall prohibit other entities under common management with Subscriber that have no knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of Subscriber’s participation in the Transaction (including Subscriber controlled affiliates and/or affiliates) from entering into any Short Sales and (ii) in the case of a Subscriber that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Subscriber’s assets and the portfolio managers have no knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Subscriber’s assets, this Section 7(c) shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Purchase Price covered by this Subscription Agreement.
21
8. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of DAAC or PubCo, Sponsor and Subscriber to terminate this Subscription Agreement, (c) the event that any conditions contained in Section 2 herein are not satisfied on or prior to the Closing and, as a result thereof, the Subscription and the other transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are not or will not be consummated at the Closing; or (d) June 1, 2027, if the Closing has not occurred by such date; provided, however, that nothing herein will relieve any party hereto from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party hereto will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach. DAAC or PubCo shall notify Subscriber of the termination of the Agreement promptly after the termination thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, if this Subscription Agreement terminates following the delivery by Subscriber of the Purchase Price, DAAC or PubCo shall instruct the Escrow Agent to promptly (but not later than two Business Days thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber, whether or not the closing of the Transaction shall have occurred.
9. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber hereby acknowledges that DAAC has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of its initial public offering (the “IPO”) and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of DAAC’s public stockholders and certain other parties (including the underwriters of the IPO). For and in consideration of DAAC entering into this Subscription Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Subscriber hereby (i) agrees that it does not now, and shall not at any time hereafter, have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any assets held in the Trust Account, and shall not make any claim against the Trust Account, regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Subscription Agreement or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to hereafter as the “Released Claims”), (ii) irrevocably waives any Released Claims that it may have against the Trust Account now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with DAAC, and (iii) will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever; provided however, that nothing in this Section 9 shall (a) be deemed to limit any Subscriber’s right to distributions from the Trust Account by virtue of Subscriber’s record of beneficial ownership of PubCo’s shares of common stock, (b) be deemed to limit subscriber’s right to exercise any redemption rights with respect to shares of common stock owned by Subscriber, (c) serve to limit or prohibit Subscriber’s right to pursue a claim against DAAC for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief, or (d) serve to limit or prohibit any claims that Subscriber may have in the future against DAAC’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account.
22
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) All notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by electronic mail, on the date of transmission to such recipient, (iii) one Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid), or (iv) four Business Days after being mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, and, in each case, addressed to the intended recipient at its address specified on the signature page hereof or to such electronic mail address or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 10(a).
(b) Subscriber acknowledges that DAAC, PubCo and Sponsor will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, Subscriber agrees to promptly notify DAAC if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of Subscriber set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality or “material adverse effect,” in which case no longer accurate in all respects). Each of DAAC and Sponsor acknowledges that Subscriber and others will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of DAAC or Sponsor, as applicable, contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, each of DAAC and Sponsor agrees to promptly notify Subscriber if it becomes aware that any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of DAAC or Sponsor, as applicable, set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality or “material adverse effect,” in which case no longer accurate in all respects).
(c) Each of the parties hereto is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(d) Each of the parties hereto shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(e) DAAC shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent, stamp taxes and all of DTC’s fees associated with the issuance of the Subscribed Securities and the Additional Shares.
(f) Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Subscriber hereunder (other than the Subscribed Securities and the Additional Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned. Except as otherwise provided herein, neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to DAAC or Sponsor hereunder may be transferred or assigned; provided, that, DAAC may, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, transfer or assign its rights and obligations under this Subscription Agreement to PubCo in connection with the consummation of the Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subscriber may assign its rights and obligations under this Subscription Agreement without DAAC’s prior written consent to one or more of its affiliates or to any fund or account managed by the same investment adviser as Subscriber, or by an affiliate of such investment adviser, or, with PubCo’s prior written consent, to another person; provided that no such assignment shall relieve Subscriber of its obligations hereunder if any such assignee fails to perform such obligations; provided further that in the case of any such assignment, the assignee shall be deemed to make the representations and warranties of Subscriber provided for herein to the extent of such assignment.
23
(g) All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing.
(h) DAAC may request from Subscriber such additional information as it may deem reasonably necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Subscribed Securities, and Subscriber shall provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided that DAAC expressly agrees to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential, unless otherwise required by law.
(i) This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such modification, waiver, or termination is sought.
(j) This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties hereto, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, this Subscription Agreement shall not supersede any confidentiality or other non-disclosure agreements that may be in place between or among the parties hereto.
(k) Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
(l) If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
(m) This Subscription Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., .pdf or 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. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
24
(n) This Subscription Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.
(o) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise.
(p) This Subscription Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.
(q) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OR RELATED TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY HERETO AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OTHER SUCH PARTY, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT.
25
(r) The parties hereto agree that all disputes, legal actions, suits and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Subscription Agreement must be brought exclusively in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK OR ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM (collectively the “Designated Courts”). Each party hereto hereby consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Designated Courts. No legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to this subscription agreement may be brought in any other forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives all claims of immunity from jurisdiction and any objection which such party may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding in any Designated Court, including any right to object on the basis that any dispute, action, suit or proceeding brought in the Designated Courts has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum or venue. Each of the parties hereto also agrees that delivery of any process, summons, notice or document to a party hereof in compliance with Section 10(a) above shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in a Designated Court with respect to any matters to which the parties hereto have submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above.
(s) DAAC has disclosed to Subscriber certain non-public information regarding the Transaction, including the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Subscriber acknowledges its agreement to treat such information confidentially until such time as all such “material non-public information” (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) is either publicly disclosed by DAAC (including as contemplated by the following sentence) or deemed by DAAC to be no longer relevant. In accordance therewith, DAAC shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first Business Day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing, to the extent not previously publicly disclosed, such material non-public information unless DAAC determines, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, that any of such information is no longer material. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, DAAC shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber, its investment adviser or any of their respective affiliates, or include the name of Subscriber, its investment adviser or any of their respective affiliates in any press release or in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent (including by e-mail) of Subscriber, except as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations and to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under Nasdaq regulations, in which case DAAC shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice (including by e-mail) of such permitted disclosure, and shall reasonably consult with Subscriber regarding such disclosure.
26
(t) The obligations of Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Subscriber who has executed a Joinder Agreement, and Subscriber shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of such Other Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement. Nothing contained herein or any Joinder Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or Other Subscriber pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Subscriber and Other Subscribers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that Subscriber and other Subscribers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber acknowledges that no Other Subscriber has acted as agent for Subscriber in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Other Subscriber will be acting as agent of Subscriber in connection with monitoring its investment in the Subscribed Securities or enforcing its rights under this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Subscription Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be made in the manner provided in Section 10(a) above.
If to Subscriber, to the address provided on Subscriber’s signature page hereto.
If to DAAC or PubCo, prior to the closing of the Transaction:
Digital Asset Acquisition Corp.
174 Nassau Street, Suite 2100
Princeton, NJ 08542
Attention: Peter Ort, Principal Executive Officer; Jeff Tuder, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: ******
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention: Mitchell S. Nussbaum
Email: ******
If to PubCo, after the closing of the Transaction:
Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.
c/o Ascentium (Cayman) Limited
4th Floor, Harbour Place
103 South Church Street
P.O. Box 10240
Grand Cayman KY1-1002, George Town, Cayman Islands
If to Sponsor:
DAAQ Sponsor LLC
174 Nassau Street, Suite 2100
Princeton, NJ 08542
Attention: Peter Ort, Principal Executive Officer; Jeff Tuder, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: ******
or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
27
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.
| Digital Asset Acquisition Corp. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to PIPE Subscription Agreement]
28
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.
| SUBSCRIBER | ||
| Print Name: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Address for Notices: | ||
Name in which securities are to be registered:
| Number of Subscribed Securities subscribed for: | 1,500,000 | |||
| Price Per Subscribed Security: | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Aggregate Purchase Price: | $ | 15,000,000 |
You must pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the escrow account of PubCo specified by PubCo in the Closing Notice.
[Signature Page to PIPE Subscription Agreement]
29
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.
| DAAQ Sponsor LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to PIPE Subscription Agreement]
ANNEX A
ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF SUBSCRIBER
This Annex A should be completed and signed
by Subscriber
and constitutes a part of the Subscription Agreement.
| A. | QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS (Please check the box, if applicable) |
| ☐ | Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act). |
| B. | ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS (Please check the box) |
| ☐ | Subscriber is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors, and has marked and initialed the appropriate box below indicating the provision under which it qualifies as an “accredited investor.” |
| C. | AFFILIATE STATUS (Please check the applicable box) |
SUBSCRIBER:
| ☐ | is: |
| ☐ | is not: |
an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of PubCo or acting on behalf of an affiliate of PubCo.
Rule 501(a), in relevant part, states that an “accredited investor” shall mean any person who comes within any of the below listed categories, or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the below listed categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person. Subscriber has indicated, by marking and initialing the appropriate box below, the provision(s) below which apply to Subscriber and under which Subscriber accordingly qualifies as an “accredited investor.”
| ☐ | Any bank, registered broker or dealer, SEC or state registered investment adviser, exempt reporting adviser, insurance company, registered investment company, insurance company, business development company, small business investment company or rural business investment company; |
| ☐ | Any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
| ☐ | Any employee benefit plan, within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if a bank, insurance company, or registered investment adviser makes the investment decisions, or if the plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
| ☐ | Any corporation, similar business trust, partnership, limited liability company or any organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000; |
| ☐ | Any director, executive officer, or general partner of PubCo; |
| ☐ | Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent, at the time of his or her purchase exceeds $1,000,000. For purposes of calculating a natural person’s net worth: (a) the person’s primary residence shall not be included as an asset; (b) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of calculation exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and (c) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the residence shall be included as a liability; |
| ☐ | Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year. |
| ☐ | Any trust with assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed to acquire the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person; |
| ☐ | Any natural person who is a “knowledgeable employee” as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
| ☐ | Any “family office” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Investment Advisers Act”), which was not formed for the purpose of investing in PubCo, has assets under management in excess of $5,000,000 and whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; or |
| ☐ | Any “family client,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act, of a family office, whose prospective investment in PubCo is directed by such family office, and such family office is one (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that was not formed for the specific purpose of investing in PubCo, and (iii) whose prospective investment in PubCo is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such prospective investment; or |
| ☐ | Any entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors meeting one or more of the above tests or one of the following tests. |
[Specify which tests: ]
| SUBSCRIBER | ||
| Print Name: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Exhibit 99.1
DIGITAL ASSET ACQUISITION CORP. TO COMBINE WITH TITAN STRATEGICS, EXPLORATION LICENSE HOLDER OVER RANSTAD, SWEDEN’S LARGEST PREVIOUSLY PRODUCING URANIUM MINE; COMBINED COMPANY TO BE NAMED “RENAISSANCE NUCLEAR, INC.” AND PUBLICLY LISTED
| ● | Titan holds the exploration licenses over Ranstad, Sweden’s largest previously producing uranium mine, and approximately 207 km² of the surrounding Billingen uranium district, in a NATO and EU member state. |
| ● | Originally built by AB Atomenergi, the state-controlled company behind Sweden’s first nuclear reactor, and later co-managed by LKAB, today one of Europe’s largest mining companies. |
| ● | 242 historical holes drilled by the Swedish state, more than 200 inside Titan’s license area. Historical assays averaged approximately 350 ppm U3O8 over about 7 meters, in a flat, layer-cake horizon that in places comes within approximately 9 meters of surface. |
| ● | The EU imports virtually all of its uranium, around one pound in six from Russia. Sweden lifted its uranium ban on January 1, 2026, reopening alum shales that host an estimated one million tonnes of uranium (IAEA/OECD-NEA “Red Book”). |
| ● | Partnering with Digital Asset Acquisition Corp., whose team includes 40-year uranium and nuclear executive Jim Cornell, who recently advised on IQM Quantum Computers Oyj (Nasdaq: IQMX) public listing. |
| ● | Pro-forma combined company enterprise value of $318 million. |
| ● | Received signed commitment of $15 million of common equity in the form of a PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) investment from an accredited investor. |
PRINCETON, NJ, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Asset Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: DAAQ) (“DAAQ”), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced that it has entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement” and the transactions contemplated by that agreement, the “Business Combination”) with Titan Strategics Holdings Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Titan”), and the direct owner of one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests in Titan Strategics AS, the exploration license holder over the former Ranstad uranium mine and the surrounding Billingen uranium district in Sweden. Upon closing, the combined company (the “Pubco”) is expected to operate under the new name of Renaissance Nuclear, Inc. The proposed Business Combination remains subject to the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
Titan Strategics AS holds the exploration permits for the Billingen Uranium Project in south-central Sweden, a district-scale land package that takes in the former Ranstad mine. Ranstad was the cornerstone of Sweden’s plan for nuclear fuel self-sufficiency and produced uranium from 1965 to 1969, until low prices at the time forced its closure. In the 1970s, LKAB became a co-manager and drew up plans to restart and expand it. Now, with the ban lifted, AI driving power demand and Europe racing to replace Russian nuclear fuel, Titan intends to bring this historic district back to life with modern exploration. The project sits about 5 kilometers from Skövde and 150 kilometers from Gothenburg, Scandinavia’s largest container port, with highway, rail and grid power already in place.
The proposed Business Combination will bring together proven leadership in mine development, nuclear energy and capital markets.
The combined company is expected to be led by Executive Chairman Adam Clode, a mining executive with more than 25 years’ experience taking projects from resource definition to production. Mr. Clode started his career developing a gold asset for Newmont Mining Corporation in Ghana; served as Site Manager at Equinox Minerals’ Lumwana copper project in Zambia (Equinox was later acquired by Barrick for approximately $7.8 billion); and, as Manager of Projects, delivered African Minerals’ $3 billion Tonkolili iron ore development in Sierra Leone through to first ore shipment, supporting the team that secured more than $2 billion in strategic funding. DAAQ Co-Chairmen Pete Ort and Jeff Tuder bring over 30 years of investing, advising and experience with special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. Their most recent SPAC, Real Asset Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: RAAQ), closed its combination with IQM Quantum Computers Oyj (Nasdaq: IQMX) in July 2026, creating the first European quantum computing company listed on a major U.S. exchange. DAAQ’s advisors add decades of uranium and nuclear operating experience.
Adam Clode, Executive Chairman of the post-closing combined business, commented: “Ranstad is where the Swedish state mined uranium to secure its energy independence. Today, the EU imports virtually every pound of the uranium its reactors need. We hold the licenses over Sweden’s largest formerly producing uranium mine and the district around it, backed by decades of state-funded drilling. Our plan is simple: recover the historical data, confirm it with modern drilling and build toward a maiden resource. DAAQ gives us the capital markets access to move fast.”
Peter Ort, Co-Chairman & Principal Executive Officer of DAAQ, added: “Titan has something genuinely rare: exploration rights over a formerly producing uranium mine inside the EU and NATO, in a country that has just reopened its doors to uranium. With the EU importing almost all of its uranium, we believe assets like Ranstad have strategic value the market has yet to recognize. We believe Titan is well-positioned to deliver meaningful value for shareholders.”
Europe’s Uranium Security Gap
EU reactors run almost entirely on imported uranium. In 2025, EU utilities received about 14,700 tonnes of natural uranium, all from outside the EU, around 16% of it from Russia (Euratom Supply Agency). Brussels’ REPowerEU roadmap aims to phase out remaining Russian energy imports, including nuclear. Demand is rising too: nuclear already supplies about 30% of Sweden’s electricity, the government plans the equivalent of up to ten new large reactors by 2045, and Vattenfall’s Videberg Kraft project has selected Rolls-Royce SMRs for Ringhals. Worldwide, AI and data centers are driving demand for always-on, carbon-free power, while industry analysts point to a structural gap between mine supply and reactor needs.
Billingen: A District-Scale Opportunity
Two exploration licenses, Billingen nr 100 and Billingen nr 200, cover approximately 207 km² (20,713 hectares). They were granted by the Swedish Mining Inspectorate on January 16, 2025, run to January 16, 2028 and can be extended under the Swedish Minerals Act, subject to approval by the Swedish Mining Inspectorate. They take in the Ranstad mine site and the Billingen plateau, where the uranium sits in a flat layer of alum shale that can be traced for kilometers.
According to Titan’s compilation and interpretation of historical Swedish government drilling records, between 1957 and 1975, the Swedish state drilled 242 holes across the Billingen area, more than 200 of them inside Titan’s license area. Assay records for the 11 holes drilled inside the license area in 1974–75 average approximately 350 ppm U3O8 (about 0.035%) over about 7 meters, with the best hole grading 564 ppm U3O8. On the eastern flank, drilling hit the uranium layer as shallow as about 9 meters. These historical results have not yet been verified by a Qualified Person under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules under Regulation S-K 1300 (“SK-1300”).
The same layer carries vanadium, molybdenum, nickel and zinc, and modern processing tested on comparable Swedish alum shale has shown the potential to recover vanadium alongside uranium. An independent “Qualified Person” (as defined in SK-1300) is preparing an SK-1300 Technical Report Summary.
Proposed Business Combination Overview
The proposed Business Combination implies a pro-forma combined company enterprise value of $318 million, excluding additional earnout shares. The transaction is expected to deliver approximately $65 million in gross transaction proceeds, consisting of cash held in DAAQ’s trust account (assuming no redemptions by DAAQ’s public shareholders) and including a minimum of $15 million of common equity in the form of a PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) investment from institutional investors. The combined company expects to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, exploration and advancement of the Billingen Uranium Project, and transaction expenses. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Titan’s existing equity holders will convert 100% of their equity into 25,000,000 shares of Pubco and are expected to own approximately 70% of Pubco upon consummation of the proposed Business Combination, excluding warrants, shares reserved under equity compensation plans and any DAAQ investors who elect to redeem their shares. The proposed Business Combination is expected to be completed in early 2027, subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder and regulatory approvals. The combined public company is expected to be named “Renaissance Nuclear, Inc.” and to list its common stock and warrants to purchase common stock on either Nasdaq or the NYSE, subject to satisfaction of initial listing requirements. The proposed Business Combination has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of Titan and the board of directors of DAAQ. Additional information about the proposed Business Combination, including a copy of the Merger Agreement, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by DAAQ with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.
Advisors
Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, is serving as the exclusive financial advisor and lead capital markets advisor to DAAQ. Loeb & Loeb LLP and Ashurst Perkins Coie are serving as legal counsel to DAAQ, and Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP is serving as legal counsel to Titan.
2
About Titan Strategics AS
Titan Strategics AS holds the exploration licenses over Ranstad, Sweden’s largest formerly producing uranium mine, and approximately 207 km² of the surrounding Billingen uranium district. Titan Strategics AS aims to define a modern S-K 1300 Mineral Resource at Billingen and build a European nuclear fuel platform that reduces Europe’s dependence on imported uranium.
About Digital Asset Acquisition Corp.
Digital Asset Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: DAAQ) is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. DAAQ is seeking to pursue an initial business combination target that capitalizes on the expertise and ability of DAAQ’s management team and advisors across a range of industries.
Important Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It
The proposed Business Combination will be submitted to shareholders of DAAQ for their consideration. DAAQ and Titan intend to jointly file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus (a “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). A definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to DAAQ’s shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination and other proposals. DAAQ may also file other relevant documents regarding the Business Combination with the SEC. DAAQ’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in connection with DAAQ’s solicitation of proxies for its extraordinary meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the Business Combination, because these documents will contain important information about DAAQ, Titan and the Business Combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the Business Combination and other documents filed with the SEC by DAAQ, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: DAAQ’s principal executive offices at 174 Nassau Street, Suite 2100, Princeton, New Jersey 08542.
Participants in the Solicitation
DAAQ and Titan and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Business Combination under the rules of the SEC. Information about (i) the directors and executive officers of DAAQ is set forth in the DAAQ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2026, and (ii) a description of the interests of the directors and executive officers of DAAQ and Titan, and the Business Combination, will be contained in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when available, which documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
3
Forward-Looking Statements
The disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding estimates and forecasts or other financial, performance and operational metrics and projections of market opportunity; (2) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination and the projected future financial performance of Titan following the proposed Business Combination; (3) changes in the market for Titan’s expansion plans and opportunities; (4) the sources and uses of cash in connection with the proposed Business Combination; (5) the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of DAAQ following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (6) current and future potential commercial and customer relationships; (7) the ability to operate efficiently at scale; (8) anticipated investments in capital resources and research and development, and the effect of these investments; (9) the amount of redemption requests made by DAAQ’s public shareholders; (10) the ability of DAAQ to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future; (11) the failure to achieve the minimum cash at closing requirements; (12) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the combined company’s common stock on Nasdaq following the proposed Business Combination, including but not limited to redemptions exceeding anticipated levels or the failure to meet Nasdaq’s initial listing standards in connection with the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; and (13) expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this release, and on the current expectations of DAAQ’s and Titan’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of DAAQ and Titan. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in DAAQ’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2026, and/or will be contained in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when available, and in those other documents that DAAQ and Titan have filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties above are not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that neither DAAQ nor Titan presently know or that DAAQ and Titan currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward looking statements reflect DAAQ’s and Titan’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. DAAQ and Titan anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause DAAQ and Titan’s assessments to change. However, while DAAQ and Titan may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, DAAQ and Titan specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing DAAQ’s and Titan’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction, or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the Business Combination, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute either advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.
Contacts:
Peter
Ort
Principal Executive Officer and Co-Chairman
Digital Asset Acquisition Corp.
pete@curaleaassociates.com
4